Female-Specific Equipment IS Important

In the past twenty years the participation of high school girls in sports has almost doubled. The participation of girls ages 7 to 17 who play at least one team sport has grown to over 12.6 million. This represents half of all girls in this age group. Sports are now central to many girl's and women's lifestyles, building confidence and self esteem. However, the lack of gender equity in many sports programs still deprives girls of the opportunity to pursue wellness through participation in sports. The girl's teams are still getting the hand me-downs from the boy's teams, which are uncomfortable, unflattering, and unsafe.

With many manufacturers now focusing their attention on this growing population of sport-oriented girls, we are finding many new products on the market to enhance the safety and comfort of every age and sized girl. Unfortunately, retailers of sporting goods have not kept pace with the needs of this steadily increasing female athlete population. Most retailers gear their advertising and sales strictly to the boys, keep stocking the same equipment, and neglect stocking the new female designed equipment and apparel.

Girls are forced to order their equipment, apparel, and accessories on-line, or travel to multiple locations in search of female-specific products - like a ponytail batting helmet or sliding shorts without a protective cup in them. When you are searching for sports equipment make sure to find a sales person knowledgable in girl's sports. He or she can help fit your athlete with the proper equipment and apparel specifically designed for the female athlete's body.

Schools and sports clubs need to stock equipment geared to the different sizes and shapes of their female athletes. They need to include equipment specific to sports played throughout the year and not focus on any one sport.

A boy's elbow pad that is used as a girl's knee pad is not comfortable and certainly not safe. A uniform that has arm holes that hang down to a girl's waist, is just not acceptable anymore. For anyone who has a daughter, grandaughter, niece, etc. playing sports, it is easy to feel that the girls are being ignored and forced to make do with altered boy's equipment. Though the sports environment has changed considerably for girls in the last few years, unfortunately we still have ground to cover.

One thing all parents and supporters of girl's sports can do is to support Title IX, which gives the girls equal opportunities to play any sport that is available to the boys. By providing equal opportunities, properly designed sports apparel and equipment, we can ensure safety and a positive attitude in our developing young women. This positive attitude can help to keep girls involved in sports and fitness through the rest of their lives and contribute to optimum health and wellness as they grow older.

Nancy Dooley
Sports Just 4 Girls, Inc.
631-474-4952