Gender Differences In Youth Sports

Gender conditioning can start at an early age. Boys are taught to play ball and be tough, while girls play dress-up and house. Once kids reach the age at which they can play sports, boys have the upper hand. Beyond the obvious differences between games boys and girls play -- such as baseball for boys and softball for girls -- there are many other differences relating to gender that affect youth sports.

Participation Gap

According to the President's Council on Physical Fitness, there is a substantial gap between the number of boys who play sports and the number of girls. One factor that contributes to this gap is the lack of female coaches. Because girls often express more interest in emotional and social issues than athletics, having a female coach not only teaches them how to play the game, but can also serve as a mentor and role model to girls.

Socioeconomic Status

Economic status, as well as where you live, can also effect what opportunities are available for both genders. According to a 2008 Women's Sports Foundation study, over half of all African-American parents report a lack of sporting opportunities for girls as compared with the available boys' sports programs. In general, parents in rural, urban and other low-income communities report that there are more athletic resources for boys than there are for girls and said that the school athletic programs offered more support for boys' programs than for girls.

No Girls Allowed

Many of the sports girls play, such as basketball or tennis, are also shared by boys. Some younger teams may also be co-ed. But when it comes to boys' sports, there are some, like football and baseball, in which girls often aren't welcome. Some boys' sports are highly aggressive and physical, such as football. While occasionally a female football player or wrestler will make headlines, there have also been cases of rebellion against it in the form of opponents refusing to play against a team with a girl.

Benefits of Youth Sports

Along with the physical benefits of youth sports, having your child involved in a positive activity can help her form a variety of good habits .According to the Institute for the Study of Youth Sports at Michigan State University, regardless of gender, kids who participate in youth sports are less likely to use drugs or smoke. They also perform better in school as well as in relationships with their peers and family members.