As someone who’s life was literally changed because of sport, I will always be a proponent for inspiring the next generation of athletes, especially female athletes. Sport has opened up doors for me that I never even imagined possible, and now having a daughter, I am even more passionate about encouraging young girls to play sports.
Unfortunately we live in a world where often the narrative is that female sports are inferior or that being strong isn’t beautiful. By the age of 14, many girls are dropping out of sports at two times the rate of boys (Women’s Sports Foundation Research)
I believe it’s important to teach our kids, especially our girls, of the imense value of sport & physical activity.
My daughter and I recently attended a Kansas City Current soccer match and it was an incredible experience.
Between the fan fare, energy, turnout, and excitement, I now understand firsthand why KC is considered to be the soccer capital of America. I surely hope that the next generation of female athletes will pull encouragement from that.
If you see it, you can be it.
Knowing how pivotal of a role sport can play in molding a person’s future, here are five ways we can encourage the next generation of female athletes:
1) Offer equal opportunities and support
According to the Women’s Sports Foundation’s extensive research, girls have 1.3 million fewer opportunities to play high school sports than their male counterparts. This lack of access, specifically in high school, is problematic because cost and proximity to home can be an additional barrier to young girls having to play club sports or having to get private sports lessons.
We can help combat this lack of access by fundraising for girls sports in middle and high school, and by stressing the importance of sport for the next generation to school policy makers. If the school board fully grasps the benefits for our children to have the option to play sports, they may be less likely to eliminate them when budget cuts are necessary.
2) Emphasize skill development over appearance
Since female sports have been known to have a large focus on appearance of the athletes compared to male sports, we must continue to take strides to decrease this stigma so it’s not a deterrent for young girls.
We can do this by holding sports commentators accountable so they’re not discussing how a female athlete looks while they’re calling games, matches, or meets.
We can do this by holding fans and spectators accountable when their focus shifts from the skill level of the female athlete to her looks.
We can do this by celebrating the female athletes’ achievements and praise her marks over her body type or her beauty.
We can do this by applauding female athletes for their performances and skills more than whether or not someone thinks they’re beautiful.
Sports are meant to boost self-confidence and should be a safe place where young girls don’t feel pressured to conform to society’s beauty standards to be valued.
3) Provide them with positive role models
Having aspirational mentors or role models in sport can be valuable in paving the way for young female athletes. A young girl may feel less self conscious about her muscles or strong demeanor, if she sees a professional or elite level athlete achieving high levels of success in their sport.
This is why I always felt a huge responsibility to go to schools and speak, attend seminars/luncheons, and be available as an example to young girls when I was competing. Even in retirement, I hope that the next generation of female athletes can see what my generation of athletes and those who come before me were able to achieve and feel inspired from that.
Imagine the collective impact on young girls if every pro female athlete did a small amount of outreach and encouraged them to stick with sports. A small bit of positivity can go a long way.
4) Create a safe and inclusive environment
For many people, including myself, sports serves as a safe place for self expression, and personal development. Having the outlet to mature, learn, and develop as an athlete in my formative years contributed to the self-confidence that I have now as an adult.
And I wish every girl that desires this will have the freedom to experience it.
When a young girl is embraced and allowed to express herself in sport, she may be more inclined to stick with it for the long haul. Every girl deserves the right to feel safe and welcomed on the field/court/track/pool etc, and any barrier to that needs to be challenged. There shouldn’t be any room for discrimination, bullying, sexual assault, or anything that can contribute to the the environment being unpleasant for the athlete.
5) Promote a healthy balance between sports and other interests.
While we are encouraging young girls to try sports and work hard in that area, it’s also important to maintain a balance between that and other hobbies that bring them joy. I am and always will be a proponent of the “more than an athlete” mantra which highlights that you can be a stand out athlete and so much more simultaneously.
A big part of longevity in sport is not allowing your identity to be tied up in it, so maintaining other interests can be a useful outlet when sports aren’t going well, or even if you need an an escape from the pressure of it all.
Although showing commitment to sport is important, having the space to nurture other interests can decrease burnout and help keep sports fun for the athlete in the long run.
By encouraging young girls to play sport, we are helping to create a more diverse and inclusive sports culture. This will eventually pave the way for future achievements and advancements in women’s sports.
Sport has the ability to help break down stereotypes and societal barriers, encourage teamwork and leadership skills, and enhance physical and mental well-being. With all these benefits, it’s important that we are proactive in encouraging the next generation of female athletes to stick with it, and then for them to turn around and do the same for the athletes behind them.
Together, we can all make a difference for our future sports stars.
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Dr. Tiffany Ofili Porter 