Regular Exercise:

• May decrease a woman’s risk of breast cancer

• Increases self-esteem

• Increases confidence

• Increases a woman’s bone mass and decreases her chance of osteoporosis

 

Women and girls who participate in sports:

• Have higher grades

• Have lower dropout rates

• Have lower pregnancy rates

• Are less likely to use drugs

• Are more likely to graduate college

• Learn skills that will help them all of their lives

 

Leadership Benefits:

Participating in sports has been found to increase young women's (and young men's) self-esteem. Sports also confer academic benefits. High school girls (and boys) who participate in sports have higher grades than non-athletes. In addition, a larger percentage of athletes scored in the top quartile on a standardized test. The positive effects of sports on grades were especially pronounced for Hispanic girls: 20 percent of Hispanic female athletes reported receiving high grades compared to 9 percent of non-athletes, and 39 percent scored in the top quartile of a standardized test compared to 23 percent of non-athletes. Furthermore, high school athletes are more likely than non-athletes to aspire to be leaders in their communities as adults. If girls are to grow up to be leaders, they need comparable opportunities to develop their leadership skills through team sports. 

 

Source: Southernct.edu, November 2012

 

SMART WOMAN CONTACT: 

Loraine Johnson Williams

trackmom1@gmail.com