Bridging the Gap

The research is clear: sports have a positive impact on a young girl’s life.

Yet a girl’s opportunity to play sports can depend on what her family can afford, whether she can get to practice, and whether a welcoming program exists nearby. Those barriers can keep girls from experiences that help them build connections, confidence, and skills they’ll use far beyond the game.

The research makes a compelling case for expanding access to sports and investing in the quality of the programs girls join. That’s why EPIC for Girls funds local organizations creating opportunities for girls of color to play. Through the EPICenter, we also help those organizations build the support and skills they need to keep showing up for girls.

The Gap

Only 33% of girls from low-income families play sports, compared to 68% of boys. – source

In 2017, 41% of children in households below the federal poverty threshold participated in a sports team or lessons, compared with 76% of children in households at or above four times that threshold. – source

In 2017, just 58% of children ages 6–17 participated in a team sport or took sports lessons outside school hours. Participation was lower among girls, racial and ethnic minorities, and children from lower-income households. – source

Although media coverage of female athletes has nearly tripled in the last three years, women still receive far less coverage (just 16% of total sports coverage) than their male counterparts. Increasing the visibility of female athletes is essential to providing more role models in sports who can inspire girls to continue playing. – source

More than 3.2 million girls participated in high school athletics last year, compared with 4.6 million boys. – source

NCAA Demographics database shows 56% of all Division 1 athletes are White vs. 21% Black. The database further indicates greater underrepresentation of Black female students in many Division 1 sports, including: Lacrosse – 2.2%, Swimming – 2%, Soccer – 5.3%, Softball – 8.2%, and Volleyball 12%.

The Barriers

Families with low incomes identified participation costs as a reason children dropped out. The study found cost was a particular concern for Black and Hispanic families. – source

Urban parents identified difficulty getting children to practice as a barrier. – source

Urban parents also identified a lack of accessible programming; girls need options that fit different interests and reasons for playing. – source

The Impact

Girls who played sports reported 1.5 times higher levels of meaning and purpose than girls who had never played. – source

In sports settings focused on effort, improvement, and teamwork, 3% of girls reported depression symptoms, compared with 24.7% in settings where winning and outperforming others defined success. – source

Among women surveyed who played sports in their youth, 67% said they carried skills and lessons from sports into adulthood. – source

Nearly half credited skills learned through sports with helping develop their leadership. – source

Women also cited learning from mistakes (53%) and handling pressure (51%) as lessons from sports.  – source

The Girls and Sports Impact Report says girls who play sports are 11% more likely to say they’re happy the way they are and 16% less likely to wish they could change their appearance. 

Mental health disorders are 1.5 to 2.5 times lower for girls who play sports vs those who never played. – source

In a survey of 1,100 women aged 18 and up, 85% of women who were involved in athletics believe the skills they developed playing sports impacted their success in their careers. – source