Too many girls in Canada are missing out on sports, research shows

New research shows girls lag behind boys when it comes to participation in sports in Canada, prompting calls to close the gap and keep girls active.

According to the Rally Report 2024: A Call to Reimagine Sport So All Girls Can Play, which was released on Monday, 63 percent of girls surveyed between the ages of six and 18 reported participating in team or individual sports on a weekly basis. That's compared to 68 percent of boys. Team sports include basketball and volleyball, while individual sports include tennis and swimming.

The survey was conducted by Canadian Women & Sport, a national non-profit organization that acts as a voice for girls and women in sports in Canada, and IMI Consulting, a consulting firm, which surveyed 2,068 girls as part of a larger representative survey of Canadians. in July 2024.

Allison Sandmeyer-Graves, CEO of Canadian Women & Sport, said there is a resounding sentiment in the report that girls believe sports are for boys.

“Girls still say that sports do not feel like they are designed with their needs and interests in mind, and that they encounter obstacles that keep them from participating in sports or in the ways they would like,” Sandmeyer-Graves said.

“It is clear that in our society and in these sporting environments, girls continue to receive the message that they are simply not valued in the same way as boys.”

The report, funded by Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities, which helps children overcome financial and accessibility barriers to sports and recreation, found a number of barriers to girls' participation in sports. These barriers include time commitment, fatigue or injury, cost and lack of confidence. More needs to be done to ensure girls do not miss out on the benefits of being active, the report said.

According to the report, the number of girls missing out on the benefits of sport rises from almost four in ten to five in ten by the age of 16. Girls from lower-income families and of all racial backgrounds are also less likely to participate. And this is especially true if the girls have a disability, the report says.

Number of girls leaving the sport increases in teenage years: study

Sandmeyer-Graves said leaders of sports organizations must take action to encourage girls' participation in sports because of the physical and mental health benefits they provide. These leaders include administrators, board members, coaches and activity leaders, she said.

“We believe in it so strongly and the girls themselves tell us very clearly that there are significant benefits for those who participate in sport now and throughout their lives,” Sandmeyer-Graves said.

“What we remain concerned about, however, is that rates are still lower than boys', that more than a million girls are still missing out on the benefits of sport. And the number of girls leaving the sport grows as they get older into those teenage years. ” she added

The report calls for greater investment in girls' sports organisations, girls-focused coaching practices and safe environments where all girls feel welcome and supported in sport.

It also recommends that coaches and activity leaders learn how to communicate with girls; diverse female athletes are given leadership opportunities; families are educated about the benefits of sport; girls have choices when it comes to uniforms, access to private changing rooms; body diversity is promoted; and an open dialogue to destigmatize the menstrual cycle in sports.

“How do you create an environment where girls feel like they really belong? Some of the specific things that girls themselves talked about were things like they want more affordable options. They want programs that are designed for girls, where their needs are central to the design.” They want programs that better support diversity and inclusion, and they would like to see more celebration and visibility for girls and women in sports.”

The report also found that among those surveyed:

• Two in five girls report that comments about their appearance, clothing or religious garb influence their participation in sports.
• Half of girls surveyed feel inspired by coaches and role models who represent their diverse backgrounds.
• Nearly seven in ten girls report that family members play a positive role in their sports experience.
• One in two girls say exercise has a positive impact on their body image, although one in three say comments about their body undermine their self-confidence.
• Seven in ten girls believe that sport and physical activity have a positive impact on their mental health.
• Nearly one in two girls between the ages of 13 and 18 feel that their menstrual cycle influences their participation in sports.