Clara Beckwith-Jamieson / Staff reporter
Sports are so important to many people in many different ways, but unfortunately, not all people are treated the same or given the same resources. Often, women don’t enjoy the same opportunities and resources when it comes to sports.
Sports can help people improve their physical and mental health, as well as being a social activity that brings many people joy. Ruby Hanna, grade 11 and soccer player, said that sports give her a “sense of community and belonging” and are “something to look forward to in your day.”
Unfortunately, teen girls drop out of sports at a high rate. One in three girls have stopped participating in their sports by the time they reach their late teens, while for boys this number is only one in every ten.
These numbers can be seen at Gleneagle. The school offers many different sports teams to participate in, but there are times where teams are forced to merge or stop entirely because of low attendance. This seems to be more common with the girls’ sports teams. This year, girls cross country competed as a combined team of juniors and seniors because of low numbers, and the field hockey team played without a complete line. Last year, senior girls basketball did not run and the senior girls netball team didn’t get to participate in provincials because there were not enough players.
The reasons for girls leaving their sports vary from person to person, but commonly include lack of programs that fit their needs, or a lack of confidence in playing sports.
Women’s sports overall lack as many programs as men’s. This means that the diversity of programs is lower for women, making it difficult for lots of women to find a program for their skill level.
The programs that do exist for women can also lack resources and opportunities. Women’s sports don’t always have the same level of facilities and coaches that are offered to men because of low funding. Men in sports also receive around $179 million more in athletic scholarships each year according to the Women’s Sports Foundation.
Even at the national level women struggle to find an equal place. Athletes at the same level are often paid less if they are women. People attribute this to women’s sports having a smaller audience. However, it can even be difficult for those who do care about women’s sports to follow them, considering only 4% of sports media coverage in print and broadcast is dedicated to women.
Makenna Kamiya, grade 11 rugby and volleyball player, said that “women don’t have that same exposure and there is nothing to really encourage women to join sports if all they see is men succeeding.” She believes “we need to do a better job as women, and just as everyone of promoting women’s sports.”
Seeing women who are role models in sports can help to increase the chances of girls staying in sports. Having athletes, coaches, and referees that are like them can show people that it is possible to continue in their sports. Hanna said that “seeing players such as Christine Sinclair or other people who are good at sports who are role models and women makes it super fun.”
Another way to foster change is by caring about women’s teams at all levels, from school teams to national teams. Watching and supporting these teams can show that people do want women in sports.
Sources: