Why the Rise of Girls in Sports Matters More Than Ever—From a Dad and Coach
Mike Collette • July 18, 2025
From a Dad and a Coach
A few nights ago, my 3-year-old daughter Charlotte sprinted across our living room, arms out like wings, yelling “I’m so fast, Daddy!” while her younger sister, Avery—barely 18 months—clapped wildly. It was one of those small, fleeting moments that hit you harder than expected. That joy, that boldness, that belief in her body and what it can do—that’s what I want to protect and nurture.
As a coach, I’ve spent years watching people & athletes of all ages develop confidence through movement. But now, as a dad (with a third daughter due this fall), I’m looking at the landscape of youth sports differently. I’m not just watching the trend of more girls getting involved in sports—I’m deeply invested in where it’s heading and why it matters.
Girls Are Showing Up—and It’s Not an Accident
Recent data from the State of Play 2024
report shows that more girls are playing sports now than at any point in the last decade. In fact, 38% of girls aged 13–17 and 34% of girls aged 6–12
played sports in 2023—numbers that haven't been this high since at least 2012. That’s a huge win—but one we’ve had to fight for.
For years, the story has been about boys and competition. But that’s changing. Girls are not just “joining in”—they’re leading. We’re seeing it everywhere:
- Flag football teams for girls in New York more than tripled in a single season, jumping from 51 teams to 176.
- Wrestling and ice hockey—once considered “boys only”—are growing with serious female participation.
- Volleyball, track, gymnastics, and basketball remain strongholds for girls, but now there’s also momentum around rugby, cricket, and even eSports-adjacent hybrid games.
Why Now? What’s Fueling This?
It’s not just one thing—it’s a shift. A shift in visibility, access, and belief.
- Role Models Matter: The success of the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team, WNBA athletes like Caitlin Clark, and Olympians like Simone Biles have made "girl" and "athlete" synonymous.
- Better Access: Programs like the NFL’s support for girls' flag football and community initiatives are removing barriers. Sports are finally being offered to girls the same way they’ve always been offered to boys.
- Cultural Tides Are Turning: There’s a broader recognition now—among parents, schools, and communities—that girls benefit just as much, if not more, from athletic participation. It's not about winning—it’s about becoming.
As a coach, I’ve had countless conversations with parents, and you hear the same thread: “I want her to be confident. I want her to have a space where she’s not afraid to fail.” Sports can be that space—if we do it right.
Sports Aren’t Just Fun—They’re a Mental Health Lifeline
This part is personal. Too many kids are hurting. The CDC reports that 1 in 3 teenage girls in the U.S. seriously considered suicide in 2021—the highest rate in over a decade. Rates of anxiety and depression among girls are rising fast.
But there’s hope—real, measurable hope—in movement.
- Girls who play sports are significantly less likely to suffer from depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem.
- The Women’s Sports Foundation found that girls in sports report higher life satisfaction, stronger peer relationships, and fewer symptoms of mental distress.
- A Swedish study tracked over 16,000 kids and found that those who were physically active at age 11 had a 12% lower risk of psychiatric diagnosis by 18. And organized sports had the strongest positive effect—for girls.
When my daughter runs, climbs, kicks, falls and gets back up—she’s not just building strength. She’s building resilience. And in a world that’s increasingly hard on our kids, especially our girls, that might be the most valuable thing we can give them.
Let’s Not Waste This Moment
This generation is poised to shift the narrative—not just about who gets to play, but why they play. My hope as a parent isn’t that Charlotte or Avery becomes an Olympian. It’s that they grow up believing their body is strong, that failure is safe, that effort matters more than outcome, and that sport is a place where they belong.
To the other parents reading this—especially the dads of daughters—I want to say this: the gym, the field, the mat, the court... they can be sacred spaces for our girls. But only if we show up for them. Cheer. Encourage. Stay when it gets hard. Let them fall, and celebrate when they rise.
We’re not just coaching games. We’re coaching humans. And if we do this right, the real win is how they carry themselves long after the final whistle.
-A Dad & a Coach
Resources and Data Sources
Aspen Institute – State of Play 2024
Times Union – Girls Changing the Game in Flag Football & Wrestling
Women’s Sports Foundation – Thriving Through Sport
Washington Post – Youth Sports and Mental Health Study
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