Their uniforms don't have to be pink, but encouraging girls to participate in sports is important.

Play Like A Girl

If you take a look onto any youth playing field in New Westminster, you’ll notice they are dominated by boys. The girls in New Westminster simply aren’t playing as many sports as the boys.

Jen Arbo, Registrar from KidSport New West, said that 76% of their applicants are boys. Anecdotally, they are hearing from parents that their daughters wish to participate in sports AND other activities like dance, but often there are scheduling conflicts or there simply aren’t as many girls’ teams. KidSport itself has extended its funding to include activities like gymnastics, cheer and circus school. There aren’t as many girls’ teams because it seems like there aren’t enough girls to fill the teams, but without those teams available, the girls can’t sign up for them, leading organizations to believe there isn’t the interest.

There is also the issue of profile. Turn on TSN, ESPN or SportsNet, and nine times out of ten, the sport televised is being played by men. Professional level athleticism is almost exclusively dominated by men. Add to that cultural barriers and biases that exist to exclude girls or reduce participation, and its no wonder that girls aren’t getting in the game as much as boys.

This imbalance is being noticed. Corporations such as the Canadian Dairy Foundation have started Women Champions aimed at raising the profile of elite female athletes and their sports. Organizations such as the Women’s Sport Foundation started by tennis star Billie Jean King, aim to help make sport more accessible for girls and women at all ages and levels.

According to a recent article by The Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS);

Studies have shown that girls who play sports are more likely to graduate from college, find a job, and be employed in male-dominated industries.

According to research by Michigan State University’s Institute for the Study of Youth Sports, approximately 70% of children in the U.S. are dropping out of organized sports before the age of 13. This is particularly alarming for women because studies have shown that girls who play sports are more likely to graduate from college, find a job, and be employed in male-dominated industries.

So how do you get the girls in your life more engaged with athletics?

  1. Watch women’s sports. On the TV, in the stadium, at the rink or on field. Our Canadian women’s teams play at the same level if not better than many of the men’s teams. Canada’s women’s soccer team just made it to the Rio Olympics in 2016, thanks in no small part to the effort of Christine Sinclair. Sinclair is six time FIFA World player of the year, and in 2012 won the Lou Marsh trophy as Canada’s Athlete of the year.
  2. Be an example. If you are a mom, aunt or older female in a girl’s life, show her by doing. Play some pick up basketball, dust off that lacrosse stick or grab the soccer ball and hit the field with her.
  3. If there is a lack of access to a sport in your area, look into funding from the Government of BC and VIA Sport who provide access to grants that encourage the formation of teams, the advancement of female athletes of all ages and levels and more.
  4. Donate to and support organizations making a positive impact in the elevation of women and girls sports.

You may not have the next Christine Sinclair in your house, but if she doesn’t get the chance to play, how will she ever find out?