Girls in Sports
Posted by C G on 10/9/2019
Girls in Sports, a group of words some may not realize
can mean more than just their daughter participating in a physical activity.
Girls in Sports has many benefits, no matter what age you are. To give you a
little background, I have been around sports my whole life, from watching older
brothers’ play every sport imaginable in the Midwest to myself playing from 6
to 23 years old. I started in local parks and recreation and ended up at the
collegiate level. Sports are different both physically and mentally at the various
levels, but they also have similarities. The top 4 similarities for why Girls
in Sports are more than just a game are: friendships, self-confidence,
achieving goals, and health benefits.
Friendships
Throughout my years of playing sports, I developed many
friendships. In the beginning of most seasons, it was awkward because I had no
idea who these other girls were on my team, but by the end of the season these
strangers developed into new friends. I was always the shy girl growing up, but
sports helped me grow out of my shell more and more as the years went by. My
friends to this day are the girls I played sports with throughout the years. If
I had not participated in sports, there is no way a shy girl like myself would
have the lifelong friendships that I have today.
Self-Confidence
Self-Confidence is one of the biggest reasons why to me Girls
in Sports are more than just a game. I struggled being confident, always
comparing myself or second guessing myself. Being around my team was always a
safe place where there was no judgement. Little by little, being around the
atmosphere of a team with your teammates cheering you on and giving you high
fives can have a positive impact on your self-esteem and confidence. Teammates
are there to help each other through good as well as bad times. The atmosphere
of being a part of a team is used extensively in the corporate world. Thus, the
experience of being part of a youth sports team was, in hindsight, the building
blocks for my entry in the “real” world.
Achieving
Goals
In the development stages of playing a sport, girls will
learn a lot and develop many skills. Setting and achieving goals is the
cornerstone for learning and developing skills. For basketball, a goal could be
as simple as calling for the ball or going after every loose ball. In
volleyball it could be to get three hits each possession. Throughout my
basketball career (my main sport of focus), I set a goal for myself to be able
to touch the rim. I set that goal for
myself, put in the work to achieve the goal and eventually I was able to touch the
rim. There is no better feeling than setting a goal for yourself and seeing all
your hard work come to fruition.
Health
Benefits
Studies recommend that children should be active for up
to 60 minutes a day. Putting your daughter into a sport is a great way for them
to get active without thinking they are being forced to participate in physical
activity. For me, playing in a sport always
resulted in having fun and on top of that interacting with the other girls on
the team. There are a number of studies that state being active cannot only
help your physical health, but also your mental health. A sport is a fun way to
exercise!
Girls, just like boys, belong in sports for the long run
to learn life lessons through friendships, self-confidence, achieving goals and
staying healthy.
Written by:
Hillary Held
Program Director
East Belleville YMCA