Co-ed sports offer many benefits to the participants and few drawbacks. Young boys and girls play together naturally, so there is no reason to separate them on the playing field. During the teen years, though, physiological differences and adolescent social issues make separation by gender desirable for school team sports, although a talented girl deserves the right to play against the boys if she has no other access to the sport of her choice. As for adults, the popularity of co-ed recreation leagues is based on the social and professional benefits derived by the participants.
General Benefits
The benefits of playing sports are the same for girls and boys. Kids who play soccer or basketball develop motor skills, athletic ability and self-confidence. They learn to cooperate with others, play as a team and share the ball. It's good for their health, especially when almost 20 percent of American kids were obese as of August 2011. Last, but certainly not least, sports are fun
Benefits for Elite Athletes
Girls who are good enough to earn a spot on a boy's team in high school or college, thereby turning it into a co-ed team, reap major rewards, according to sports psychologist Chris Dorris. "If a female athlete is the only girl on a co-ed golf team, she can gain enormously valuable experience and confidence," Dorris told "Raising Arizona Kids" magazine. And if she is good enough to beat the boys, they might learn lessons in humility as well as respect for female athletes and women in general.
Benefits for Recreational Participants
Co-ed teams at the intramural level in high school and college offer young men and women the chance to socialize in a casual setting, participate in a healthy activity and get to know people of the opposite sex as individuals. Girls who play with boys on co-ed teams are likely to be active in sports as adults, reaping health benefits and possibly professional benefits. A Women's Sports Foundation survey of 7,000 women found that those who were most active in sports as an adult shared a similar experience in their youth -- they played sports mostly with boys or in mixed gender groups rather than mostly with girls.
Benefits for Adults
Whether it is kickball, softball, flag football, soccer, golf or tennis, co-ed rec leagues for adults run the gamut. If you are on a company team, benefits include a chance to bond with your co-workers, potential career connections, a chance to play sports even if you are not a particularly good athlete and an opportunity to act like a kid for a couple of hours. As the Fit After 30 website notes, some co-ed sports offer women the "Alaska principle" -- a ratio of many men to a few women. In short, it's a good place to meet men.
References
- "Kids Sports Magazine"; Co Ed: When to Separate Boys & Girls; Steve Sampsell; March 2009
- "Raising Arizona Kids Magazine"; Coed Sports: A Hit Until Kids Reach Puberty; Christine Wolfe; 2004
- Fit After 30: Fit for a Mate: Top 10 Reasons Coed Sports are the Best Way to Meet Men
- Women's Sports Foundation: Women in Sports
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