Why Girls Only Golf?
Research and Findings
- Participating in sports/golf is crucial for helping girls develop positive self-esteem and confidence.
- More than 40% of girls drop out of sports all together by the age 14.
- Participation in sports is linked to:
- Better physical health
- Better grades in school
- Lower dropout rate
- Better emotional/psychological health
- Career Boost:
Sports help girls develop leadership skills, self-reliance, and self-discipline. It also enhances girls’ ability to function as part of a team.
- Junior golf programs that offer girls-only programming experience a 50% higher retention rate than those who do not.
- 82% of female executives played either high school or college sports.
- Top reasons girls cited for leaving sports:
- Programming models not fun
- Slow cost/benefit
- Time constraints
- Too much pressure
- Negative experiences
- Top reasons girls cited for joining sports:
- Fun
- Friendship
- To do something they’re good at
Sources:
The Women’s Sports Foundation Report: Her Life Depends On It: Sport, Physical Activity and the Health and Well-Being of American Girls, pages 34 - 42
Gillard, A. and Witt, P. (2008). Recruitment and Retention in Youth Programs. Journal of Park and Recreation Administration, Volume 26, Issue 2, pages 177 – 188.