"Previous studies have found that 70% of children quit sports by age 13, and by age 14 girls quit at twice the rate of boys."
"Reasons participants gave for abandoning sports were coaching issues, poor body image comparison from social media and the competitive pressure of the sport."
I started coaching for a USA Swimming affiliated year-round club team in September. I stepped back for two and a half months during girls' high school season, so I have really only coached club for three to four months. I enjoy the kids immensely, and I am so happy that some of my high school swimmers joined me with the club team to keep training through spring, summer and fall.
One big concern I have with youth sports is the number of young teens who quit sports by age 14 - particularly the girls. Participating in sports gave me confidence, a lifetime addiction to working out, a healthy overall lifestyle, and physical strength. Swimming did the same thing for my older son and daughter. My daughter and I still lift weights together (she lifts more!) and I love to see the number of women who are comfortable in the weight room. One young woman recently came up to Aden after bench press and whispered "you have great arms." Fabulous!
But why do so many girls leave? I have much more research to do, but the Nemours summary rings true. Common sense indicates that coaching has something to do with it, along with body image issues, development in puberty making girls uncomfortable in a changing body, and competitive pressure. As a coach, I try to ratchet down that pressure, focusing on technique, process, and each swimmer bettering themselves. A major emphasis for our group is having fun, trying to get to know each other (despite having heads underwater most of the time), and learning technique.
Striving for excellence as an individual can be separate from a focus on goal times and how well you do compared to others. Striving for excellence as a team can mean building community, teaching young people how to work through adversity and overcome obstacles, as well as swimming fast. In this crazy world, sports can prepare young people for the challenges of adulthood and provide them with a safe place to come when their school or social networks provoke angst.
I'm in the learning stages of supporting youth, especially young women, in staying with sport, and I can't wait to learn more and do it better.
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