Young Women Need Encouragement and Aspirational Role Models

Many people think that girls are not as interested in sports as boys. Women’s Sports Foundation     research shows that boys and girls between the ages of 6 and 9 are equally interested in sports participation. However, by the age of 14, girls drop out of sports at a rate that is six times greater than boys. Girls and women simply do not receive the same positive reinforcement about their sports participation.

However, the trend is clear: the increased participation and success of female athletes at the Olympic Games, increased recognition and coverage of women’s college sports, increased opportunities for young women to train and compete at elite-level gyms, and an increase in corporate partnerships with internationally recognized coaches will allow state, regional, national and world champions to change the face of sports for our young women.

(Benefits - Why Sports Participation for Girls and Women:  The Foundation Position. Women’s Sports Foundation, Aug. 14, 2000)