Why Are Girls Leaving the Game?

Did you know 70% of children quit playing sports by age 13? By age 14, girls quit at twice the rate of boys. These are alarming drop-offs that result in missed opportunities to reap the lifelong physical, psychological and social benefits of athletic engagement. So what exactly is going on with the girls?
 
Studies show that a significant portion of girls who quit a sport in their early teen years do so because of low body confidence. Young girls feel they don’t match appearance expectations of athletes they see in the media. They use filtered, perfectly-curated images from social media as a metric and their self-esteem takes a major hit when they feel they don’t measure up. Teen girls also cite self-consciousness and a fear of being judged as reasons they step away from a game they previously enjoyed. This psychological barrier can be an overwhelming source of anxiety and become quite debilitating for many. Given the profound and positive effects physical activity has on mental wellbeing, we have to find ways to keep our girls engaged.
 
This is going to require a concerted effort to reframe the sports experience for adolescent girls. Teams, organizations, coaches, and even parents must shift from a performance and appearance-driven model to one that simply prioritizes enjoyment, personal growth and social connection. Relatedly, we must look beyond competitive team sports and embrace diverse, flexible, and fun ways to move. Inclusive, supportive and non-judgmental environments that praise effort over outcome and capability over appearance will ensure girls feel confident in who they are and empower them through adolescence and beyond.