U.S. adults agree it is important for girls to be encouraged to participate in sports as they enter middle school and high school, according to the latest National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) Park Pulse poll.

Young people who participate in sports reap several immediate and long-term benefits, from enhanced mental and physical health to improved academic performance and career success. Unfortunately, the rate of girls continuing to play sports through their teenage years is lower than that of boys. Park and recreation agencies strive to lessen this gap through increased access to girls-only sports, involving youth in program design, training coaches and staff to more effectively communicate with girls of all ages, and more.

Key Findings

• Fifty-seven percent of U.S. adults agree encouraging girls entering middle school and high school to play sports is extremely or very important.

• Sixty-five percent of all parents, and 69 percent of parents with children between the ages of 13 and 17, agree that encouraging girls to play sports is extremely or very important. 

“At NRPA, we believe every child should have the opportunity to play sports. Park and recreation professionals are catalysts for advancing equity in youth sports in communities nationwide,” said Dianne Palladino, NRPA director of research and evaluation. “By acknowledging and overcoming barriers, fostering engagement and championing equity, park and recreation agencies can help create a future where every girl has equal opportunity to thrive in sports.”

To view the interactive charts with the survey results, click here.

To view the full-size infographic, click here.

Each month, through a poll of 1,000 U.S. residents focused on park and recreation issues, NRPA Park Pulse helps tell the park and recreation story. To learn more about NRPA’s Park Pulse and see results from previous polls, click here.

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About the National Recreation and Park Association

The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) is the leading not-for-profit organization dedicated to building strong, vibrant and resilient communities through the power of parks and recreation. With more than 60,000 members, NRPA advances this mission by investing in and championing the work of park and recreation professionals and advocates — the catalysts for positive change in service of equity, environmental resilience, and overall health and well-being. For more information, visit nrpa.org. For digital access to NRPA’s flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit parksandrecreation.org.