National Girls & Women In Sports Day 2023
Today is about celebration and awareness.
As a mother of two athletic girls, and a former athlete myself, this day has a special place in my heart.I started skating pretty much as soon as I could stand & competed at 3 USFSA National Championships as a pair skater (1992, 1993, & 1995).
It is disheartening to see the stats among young girls in sports:
43% ‘sporty’ girls disengage from sport following primary school
68% fear of being judged
61% lack confidence
47% pressure of schoolwork
43% don’t feel safe (1)
The drop out rates are attributed to so many factors:
Lack of access & opportunities
Safety and transportation issues
Societal pressures
Lack of support and funding leading to poor experiences
Resources/Cost
Lack of positive role models (5)
For me, skating was so much more than my scores and medals. It provided an outlet when I badly needed one. It forced me to take responsibility, have accountability, and be punctual (well … most of the time)! I also learned how to juggle many aspects of my life; keeping up with schoolwork, making time for family obligations and friends all while participating in sports. I learned how to work as a team and develop characteristics such as dependability, dedication, grit, & perseverance.
Grit and perseverance have been the most important characteristics that have carried over into my adult life. They have provided me the ability to fall down, brush myself off, get up, and keep going. I learned how to recover from failures with grace, and developed the ability to separate a failed action with being a failure.
But let’s not forget about the life-long friendships and ever lasting memories I have with my partner (teammates) and friends. I only hope that my girls get have these experiences as well.
Building awareness & providing programs that give access, exposure and availability for young girls are imperative if we want to reverse these trends.
My daughter participated in Girls on the Run in 4th and 5th grade & I can say firsthand how it was such a positive impactful experience for her, as well as us as parents. It was certainly was influential in her making varsity cross country as a freshman, but also the desire to give back and volunteer to help girls in sports programs.
Another local program is Girls Play Sports (GPS) here in Evanston. GPS provides strong, positive role models and provide a safe environment, as well as exposure and accessibility to a variety of sports and topics for girls and women in sports.
I encourage parents and children to explore these programs:
Girls on the Run: https://www.girlsontherun.org
Girls Play Sports: https://teamgps.sportngin.com
Or help support girls in sports programs: Donate to Girls on the Run: donate@girlsontherun.org
Volunteer with Girls on the Run: https://www.girlsontherun.org/get-involved/volunteer/
Sponsor Girls Play Sports: https://teamgps.sportngin.com/becomeasponsor
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