Age-Oriented Tips for Helping Girls Build an Athlete Identity in Sports

Sports are a powerful vehicle to help girls reach their full potential. Anyone can play a role in supporting girls by getting them started and engaged in sports. Many girls continue to play sports because they have developed an athlete identity: “I am a soccer player!” rather than, “I play soccer.” Girls that develop athlete identities with support are more likely to stay in sports through their lives. Here are age oriented tips for getting and keeping girls in the game.

Ages 0-4 | Pre K

• Engage girls in sports and play at the very start to help build comfort with athletics to last a lifetime. Girls can jump into sports fun well before Kindergarten.
• Find ways to get her active and playing. Any and all babies, toddlers, and young children—including girls— enjoy playing with soft balls, kicking, running, jumping, playing games, and being active.
• Introduce girls to sport early on through home and community-based play, clinics, beginner leagues, classes, and events (local girls’/ women’s sports leagues in person and media, e.g., watch a women’s basketball game if sports are viewed at home).

Ages 5-7 | K-2nd Grade

• Girls love physical activity, wanting to run, move and get dirty. Harness the energy by creating fun, dynamic practices. Help connect sports to positive fitness, feeling good.
• Support building motor skills, e.g., balance and coordination through group games while introducing to sport-specific skills. Notice girls that might be hesitant, and bring them in!
• Sessions should feel fun, positive, and playful. Offer encouragement and positive reinforcement. Use regular water breaks and engaging practice plans.
• Incorporate some healthy competition (games!), sharing about rules and keeping score to help girls work towards goals, build teamwork, and prepare for future sports levels.

Ages 8-10 | 3rd-5th Grade

• Respect girls’ individuality and support a broad sense of what it means to be a girl. Girls at this age continue to love to run and play hard.
• Building expertise balanced with joy. Help girls become more excited about mastery, performance and competition, while incorporating fun (e.g., new goals at each game).
• Give specific feedback on skill improvement. For example, try remarking, “I appreciate your hustle, Marisol. Now get your feet into position before you bump the volleyball.”
• Include balance of competitive games; avoid over-emphasis on winning / losing.

Ages 11-13 | 5th-8th Grade

• Encourage girls to see sport as a part of identity. This is the crucial time when girls stick with a sport and identify as an athlete and some stop playing for a variety of reasons. Some are still new to sport and benefit from inclusive and welcoming attitudes.
• Have conversations with each girl and encourage her to play. If a girl ceases playing, try finding out why because you may still be able to help eliminate barriers, and the information can help generally improve the program.
• Skill development. Girls want to work hard (e.g., in games, tournaments) and see their skills advance. Teach healthy habits too (i.e., warm-up, nutrition, strengthening). Encourage girls to stretch to new heights and be partners in the sports journey.

Ages 14-18 | 9th-12th Grade

• Give opportunities to compete, progress and perform as many girls will engage more seriously in sport, while meeting girls where they’re at, if beginning.
• Be a trusted, consistent adult on which they can rely and learn. Be available to talk (referring to other caring adults / experts as needed, depending on topic); treat them with respect, support, and positivity.
• Continue holding high expectations and help develop skills that translate off the field. Share team guidelines (e.g., be on time, give 100%), inviting girls to comment and add, supporting team ownership.
• Continue to engage in skill-appropriate competitions (league; scrimmages; to test their skills against other teams.
• Help girls consider a lifetime of physical fitness, activity and sports enjoyment! Girls can reach toward college athletic scholarships, club teams, and ongoing adult leagues.