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NEW YORK (September 15, 2026) – New information from Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) finds that, for the overwhelming majority (83%) of women ages 5–13, having enjoyable taking part in a sport is extra necessary than making an attempt to win. The findings come at a time when many dad and mom are feeling priced out of sports activities and extracurricular actions. Reduced public funding mixed with the elevated privatization of sports activities has resulted in skyrocketing prices, forcing households to view sports activities as a monetary funding slightly than a enjoyable exercise.
The nationwide examine examined how women and fogeys expertise youth sports activities and extracurricular actions, together with the consequences of parental expectations and value limitations. The findings level to a rising pressure: women need connection, pleasure and friendship, whereas grownup stress and rising prices threat pushing them out.
The findings construct on GSUSA’s broader State of the Girl 2026 report, reinforcing the significance of accessible, supportive areas the place women can join face-to-face with friends and trusted adults.
Key Findings:
- Fun First: For 83% of women ages 5–13, having enjoyable is extra necessary than making an attempt to win. This holds true whilst women become old and sports activities might turn into extra aggressive.
- Parent-Daughter Disconnect: Parents haven’t picked up on this sentiment, with 77% believing that successful or doing effectively is a key issue of their youngster’s enjoyment of sports activities and different actions. This expectation is much more frequent when describing a daughter aged 8–10 (81%) or 11–13 (80%).
- Families Priced Out: 58% of oldsters agree that though taking part in these actions is helpful, the time and monetary dedication required feels unsustainable for his or her household. This is especially true for folks with a family revenue under $50,000.
- Adult Pressure: Just 19% of oldsters say their youngster has requested to give up a sport or exercise as a result of an grownup made her really feel like she wasn’t ok. But women report a unique expertise: Nearly one-third of women concerned in sports activities or actions (32%) say they’ve at the least generally needed to give up for that reason. That rises to 42% amongst 11–13-year-olds. Black women are much less prone to report feeling this fashion, with simply 16% saying they’ve needed to give up as a result of an grownup made them really feel they weren’t ok.
“Girls thrive when they have the freedom to try, learn and grow without feeling that success is measured only by winning,” mentioned Bonnie Barczykowski, CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA. “When supportive peers and trusted adults encourage girls to take on challenges at their own pace, they gain the confidence to keep going and discover what they’re capable of.”
Sports have been a part of the Girl Scout expertise because the starting. The first Girl Scout handbook in 1913 included Athletics and Swimmer badges. Today, Girl Scouts continues that custom via its Athlete badge line, which helps women at each program stage observe truthful play, construct expertise, develop sportsmanship, strengthen their health and study to educate others.
Beginning in April 2027, Girl Scouts will launch a modernized Sports and Recreation theme, with new badges for women at each program stage rolling out over the following a number of years. Planned choices embrace crew sports activities, climbing, swimming, winter sports activities, tabletop and video video games, camp and outside actions and extra.
Informed by Girl Scouts’ analysis, the brand new strategy will focus not solely on studying a sport but additionally on creating supportive areas the place women can strive totally different actions with trusted buddies and adults, construct self-confidence, strengthen teamwork and belief, clear up issues and preserve going when one thing is tough. By centering enjoyable, exploration and well-being slightly than successful alone, the badges will convey the Girl Scout distinction to sports activities and recreation.
For extra data on this report, go to girlscouts.org.
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