Girls in Sports

I definitely have had a lot of positive benefits in my life from athletics, and even though I do not have a girl, I hope The Boy will also play a sport. I really do not care if he chooses basketball or soccer, etc, but that he experience what athletics can bring to ones life.

Thanks for sharing this article. I agree that High School Sports provide tremendous and long lasting benefits, especially regarding developing disciplines and healthy habits. I played sports in High School but not in college. But as a result of being accustomed to sports, it was easy for me to join a gym, start & continue a workout regimen simply because it became a way of life for me. I see several of my girlfriends who have never participated in any organized sports and how difficult it is to have an interest in any type of exercise. I’m thankful that my dad allowed us to participate in whatever sport or activity we chose. I have a 2 year old little girl and she is very active. We go to playgrounds and she will “run laps”. I will definitely encourage her to participate in whatever sport she chooses because the benefits are life long!!

I think even in individual sports, especially at the high school level, there is a lot of team involvement. For me, gymnastics, cross country and track were as much a team environment as fast-pitch softball and rowing, though rowing was a special level of team, because we went through the training together even if performance was individual.

There is definitely a team element to individual sports-just having other girls (or guys) around to warm up with, go on a long run with or run intervals, tempo runs or hill repeats with is a huge benefit, especially for those who need others to push them. The friendships developed with the team members is also a huge benefit. Erin, I agree that we would support “almost” any sport the kids want to play. And with Gabriel, he will be limited in the sports he can play (no football or wrestling, for example).

Good coaching is also a key to an athlete’s success and what he or she takes from the experience, even at an early age. I can already see it when we play basketball games against other teams whose coaches aren’t teaching fundamentals or real organized play. Even at this age (K-2nd graders), imparting a love for the game while teaching basic skills and fundamentals is key. If kids go through programs not learning these things, we, as coaches (and parents) are not doing them any great service. In one game, my co-coach and I, who are always out on the floor instructing our kids every step of the way, were frustrated to see the other team’s coaches not doing the same. Their play was a free-for-all and Lisa, the ref. and I ended up instructing the other kids after it became apparent that the coaches would not or could not. It calls into question how much these kids are getting from their season and if they go through their sports careers in similar fashion, I wonder how great the benefits are.