My breath wavered as I took a gulp from my water bottle and scanned the empty court before fixing my gaze on my “teammates.” Some stood alone like I did, while others were laughing, whispering, and recording videos in a circle, surrounded by expensive gym bags and sneakers.
I held back the sudden rush of water filling my eyes as the coaches bellowed, “Water break is up.”
My heartbeat quickened, and my thoughts clouded again with worry and panic over what they thought of my abilities or my gym shorts. I was mentally draining myself for an environment that never fully supported me, but rather sought to crush me. At this point, I was paying to be excluded.
Basketball was truly a haven for me, and one of the most formative hobbies I had as a young teenager. It was something that brought me immense joy, and was one of the first things I’d felt passionate about. As a result, I dedicated a lot of time and effort to my craft.
So, when the opportunity presented itself to play for the travel team, I jumped at the chance. I felt confident knowing that the coach had seen my skills and could speak to them, and I was confident I’d fit right in.
During my first practice, only one or two girls spoke to me. I knew that they were a tough crowd, but I was determined to simply play and let the rest fall naturally. However, over time, the icy feeling of not being welcomed each practice never subsided — only my playing ability did.
Over time, this lack of acceptance began to affect my mental health and seep into other aspects of life — most prominently, my self-esteem. However, after speaking with various classmates and girls I’ve met at BU, I noticed that I wasn’t the only one who experienced toxicity in youth sports.
The statistics
According to the US Soccer Foundation, by age 14, girls are two times more likely to drop out of youth sports than boys. According to Women in Sport, 68% dropped due to the fear of being judged and 61% cited lack of confidence.
This phenomenon is not only present in Massachusetts or at universities, but is a universal experience for so many girls, and is one of the many contributors to young girls’ low-self esteem and mental health disorders. According to the Women’s Sports Foundation, mental health disorder rates are 1.5 to 2.5 times lower among girls who played sports. Given the multitude of evidence signifying that there are numerous positives to keeping girls in sports, it’s clear how detrimental this phenomenon is to so many young girls’ sports careers.
How to Keep Women in Sports
To combat young girls feeling inadequate in comparison to their peers, lacking confidence, and overall losing their passion for sports, there are a few critical steps that should be taken to reduce dropout rates. Keeping women in sports is crucial to create confidence, teamwork, and leadership skills. These abilities can be translated into the working world, and driving young girls out of sports causes them to miss out on these opportunities to grow.
- Encouragement
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The teenage years are especially difficult for girls, and the added pressure of societal expectations and judgment from others makes them even worse. It’s the responsibility of coaches and parents to continue to encourage young girls in their respective sports, and be a source of praise rather than pressure. This encouragement can be done by changing the way criticism is phrased, and using more positive statements when assessing performance.
- Coaching
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Coaches should work towards cultivating a team culture that is based on friendship and respect rather than competition between each other. Coaches shape environments and the way teammates treat each other. Coaches should aim to cultivate team culture through team outings, encouraging inclusion (and taking action when that is not happening), and being a leading example by engaging with all team members.
The CW - Utilizing Team Therapists or Mentors
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Although it is uncommon for youth teams to have team therapists, having an unbiased adult who can be trusted for athletes to speak to would be an invaluable resource. Similarly, older athletes can mentor younger athletes so they can have someone to confide in. Having support systems like these can help decrease the likelihood that girls drop out of sports. Having a big-little system established will allow each athlete to have a role model and friend to confide in. Overall, establishing a support system outside of the immediate team can alleviate some pressures and feelings of judgment from peers.
Sports for many young girls, including myself, are one of the first tangible achievements and teachers of discipline and dedication. It is a loss to have young girls drop out because they have been failed by their environments or adults.
I hope these tips can help cultivate a more inclusive women’s sports culture!
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