Girls Just Want to Have Fun

How to make sure they are playing

By Catherine Rondina

Seventeen-year-old Jackie Kosta of Thornhill, ON loves to play soccer, she's been a rep team player for the past four years and has been involved in organized sports most of her young life. Unfortunately Jackie is a rare case in the world of female sport. In fact only one-third of Canadian girls between the ages of five and 12 are physically active, (compared with 50 per cent of boys). Even more concerning is the finding that by the time girls hit their teens, their participation rate drops to less than 25 percent.

Over the last few decades we have come to realize the value of physical activity for people of all ages, regardless of gender, yet the emphasis on organized sports and over all physical activity still seems to be very one sided. Even though there are a growing number of girls out there that are like Jackie, young women are still not getting involved in the capacity they should be.

For Fiona Hough, Director of Educational Programmes for Outward Bound Canada the need to get young girls more physically active is a challenge. "My philosophy" says Hough, "is that everybody should be involved in some kind of active physical activity. The reason that it's so important to focus on girls is that it's still a little untraditional and considered not very feminine to be overly physical." Hough points out that physical attributes are often seen as being tough or more a male thing in our society. "It's a shame," notes Hough, "because the benefits for all people and kids especially are huge. To be physically skilled at something or to be physically active is good for the brain, it's good for social development, it's good for leadership development and most importantly for developing a healthy lifestyle." Hough feels that girls who adopt an active lifestyle from an early age set a pattern for future fitness and wellbeing.

Setting a Healthy Pattern

Carol Kosta, Jackie's mother couldn't agree more. "Being part of a team has provided Jackie with a lot of skills," says Kosta who has kept her daughter involved in sports all her life. " Playing organized sports has given Jackie the opportunity to work cooperatively with teammates, maintain a high level of fitness, stay in shape and have a good mental attitude towards sports."

So if we know that being sports minded is good for girls why are there so few young females involved in sports? "Beyond just the sociological ideas, there's the fact that not as many sports are available to girls as they are to boys" continues Hough, who believes that girls should be exposed to sports participation as early as possible. Hough feels that with very young girls the focus should be non-competitive and directed at having fun and just getting out there.

Things are slowly changing, school programs are beginning to diversify more and include sports that may have been traditionally thought of as boy's activities. "Realistically I don't know how many girls would want to be on the school Rugby team," laughs Hough, " I know I wouldn't. But the opportunity should be there." Hough feels that this is where the barrier comes into play for girls. "If there's girl sitting on the sidelines of a game and thinking it looks like fun, she often doesn't have many options to get involved," states Hough.

Technique and the Feminine Side

"Something we do have to keep in mind," explains Hough, "is the fact that girls and boys, men and women are different. We like to say that girls can do it too, but physically we are different." Hough feels we need to focus on what it is that girls do well in any sporting situation. 'I've been involved in teaching outdoors skills for about 15 years," notes Hough, "and I've seen a lot of kids go through learning a skill and my observation has been that boys have a more of a doers type of learning style. They don't want a lot of instruction they just want to get out there and do it. While girls are different," continues Hough, who notes that her observations are just a generalization "they're more likely to excel technically, they may not have the same kind of bulk or raw guts, but they are more focused on the technique of the skill.'' Hough who is a master white-water canoeist herself, feels that these traits have developed in her skills, as well as in other young girls because they feel they have to technically do better in order to get the same results as the boys do.

Hough concludes that participating in physical activity has huge ramifications for girls, especially when it comes to building self-esteem and confidence. "They need to develop a sense of their physical body being a great thing and build their body awareness on a positive level," says Hough.

Getting into the Game

When it comes to getting girls involved in sports a little bit of parental encouragement can do wonders. Here are some ways to get your daughter in the game:

Emphasize fun Let your daughter know that having fun is the first rule of any sport. Place the importance on fun and fitness not competition or weight reduction.

Be her teacher Having the skills to play a sport is most essential. Boys are raised with dad often showing them the ropes - give your daughter the same opportunities and play catch with her too.

Set an example You can't encourage your daughter to get active while you sit on the sidelines. Join a team yourself and show your daughter that sports are important to woman of all ages.

Give her role models Many young girls feel they don't have the role models to look up to. Try to show you daughter that there are females athletes everywhere and make her aware of their accomplishments.

Leave the fouls out Not every sport your daughter signs up for is going to be a winner. She may beg to play tennis but if after a couple if lessons she's still not enjoying it - drop it and try another activity.

Cheer her on It's important that your daughter knows you're supporting her efforts. Go to her games, get involved with the team, cheer from the sidelines and follow her team's progress.