The Childhood Hobby Shared by 69% of Women Leaders

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A recent study by the Women’s Sports Foundation highlights the long-term benefits of girls participating in sports, particularly in developing leadership skills. The study, titled “Play to Lead: The Generational Impact of Sport on Women’s Leadership,” surveyed 2,886 women, aged 20s to 70s, who played sports in their youth. Key findings include:

• 55% of respondents said sports played a significant role in their personal or social development.
• 67% have applied skills and lessons learned from sports into adulthood.
• 69% held at least one formal leadership role outside of the family.

How Sports Help Girls Become Leaders

The study “Play to Lead” reveals that sports help women step into a wide range of leadership roles, not just high-profile positions like CEO or president, but also less formal roles such as managers, entrepreneurs, teachers, school board members, and community organizers. While women also lead in their families, this study focused on leadership outside the home.

Previous research primarily focused on collegiate sports or women in top executive roles, but this study examined how youth sports participation influences leadership in various sectors. Karen Issokson-Silver of the Women’s Sports Foundation notes that the study highlights the broad impact of youth sports on leadership across diverse fields. Danette Leighton, CEO of the Foundation, emphasizes that one doesn’t need to be an elite athlete to benefit from the leadership skills developed through sports, which have lifelong value.

The greatest skills, capacities, and experiences the respondents gained from sports were:

• Teamwork (73.0%)
• Learning from mistakes (52.6%)
• Handling pressure (50.9%)

Knowing how to be a team player is important in all kinds of situations, as a leader or not. The study’s teamwork finding “may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s reinforcing to parents: This is really critical as your daughter grows and matures into a woman, and it’s a trait they’re going to use for everything in their life, personal and professional,” Leighton says. 

The most common traits respondents said they developed in sports were:

• Confidence (57.3%)
• Strength (52.1%)
• Persistence (50.3%)
• Dedication (44.9%)
• Patience (40.0%)
• Resilience (39.6%)
• Adaptability (39.1%)
• Courage (38.9%)

The study also found that the longer girls played sports, the more likely they were to be leaders as adults. Those who played for 11 years or longer were significantly more likely to be leaders. 

Inequities and Barriers in Children’s Sports

Title IX, passed in 1972, greatly expanded sports opportunities for girls, but significant gaps remain. In U.S. schools, girls have an estimated 1.3 million fewer opportunities to play sports than boys. Many schools are not fully compliant with Title IX, and issues like inferior playing fields, lack of funding for transportation, and ill-fitting equipment are common.

The study “Play to Lead” found that 70% of respondents faced barriers to sports participation, with family finances, lack of parental support, and limited opportunities being the most common challenges. The study also highlights the importance of providing sports access to underserved girls, including those of color, LGBTQ+ girls, and those with disabilities, as they are equally likely to develop leadership skills through sports.

Recent trends, such as early specialization in sports and the “pay for play” model, are making it more difficult for girls from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds to participate. However, experts believe that sports have the potential to reduce these inequities and promote leadership opportunities for all girls. It is crucial to invest in ensuring equal access for girls, as well as closing the gap between their opportunities and those of boys.

What Can Help Girls in Sports

If sports opportunities are limited, parents can advocate for more options in their communities and schools, with support from the Women’s Sports Foundation, which offers resources on Title IX compliance. Parents’ involvement in speaking up can lead to positive changes in schools.

Additionally, parents can help by recognizing and reinforcing the broader skills girls gain from sports, such as teamwork, problem-solving, learning from mistakes, and building confidence. When these benefits are highlighted by coaches and parents, girls are more likely to make meaningful connections and realize their growth.

Youth sports coaches should be trained to emphasize personal development and teamwork, and that efforts should be made to create more sports opportunities for girls, particularly in middle school when many drop out. Not all sports experiences are positive, and if a girl isn’t finding a supportive environment, parents can help by discussing her interests and motivations, and guiding her to sport opportunities that better meet her needs.

Looking at the Bigger Picture

The leadership skills girls develop through sports can have a broader impact, helping to build stronger leaders and address societal inequities. Ensuring that youth sports are accessible to all, regardless of gender or community, can uplift entire communities and contribute to a stronger society and economy. The study “Play to Lead” emphasizes that when women take on leadership roles, it signals access to important resources and decision-making power. As Leighton states, sports are not just a “nice to have” for girls, they are a “must have” for their personal and societal development.

Read More: https://childreninfobank.com/safebank/the-childhood-hobby-shared-by-69-of-women-leaders/

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