September 17, 2009

editorial

Show up for girls, too

High school girls who play sports are less likely to become pregnant, more likely to get better grades and more apt to graduate than girls who do not, according to the Women’s Sports Foundation. They have higher levels of self-esteem, lower levels of depression and a more positive body image compared to non-athletic girls. As little as four hours of exercise a week may reduce by 60 percent these sports-minded girls’ risk of breast cancer, which afflicts one out of eight women during their lifetime.

These are only a few reasons why it’s significant that Yellow Springs school administrators have begun taking steps to address a decline in local girls’ participation in high school sports. Last year, at least one YSHS girls’ team was canceled due to lack of interest and the low numbers in some sports meant that the girls could compete only as individuals rather than as a team. And the effect is cyclical: at last week’s school board meeting, the lack of girls’ sports was cited as the reason that two local teenage girls chose to attend school outside the village.

Thankfully, this trend may be turning around. At last week’s board meeting Yellow Springs High School Principal John Gudgel reported that girls’ participation in sports has risen this fall. Also at the meeting, Gudgel reported on the results of a survey of local female students that asked what factors discouraged the girls from taking part. Gudgel and board members seemed to take the girls’ responses to heart, and to try to address the issues.

Gudgel, who has at board meetings consistently expressed his concerns about the decline, deserves some credit for this turnaround. He teamed with parent Judy Parker to design the survey, which itself seems to have motivated some girls to get involved. Especially impressive, several girls took matters into their own hands: YSHS senior Reini Brickson and freshmen Paloma Wiggins and Lois Miller organized this summer’s well-attended 5K run to raise both awareness and funds for girls’ sports.

And while these are hopeful signs, more needs to be done. As a first step, the community needs to show its support. As one of the 5K organizers stated this summer, villagers seem to perceive boys’ games as community events. Girls’ games are — well, they’re events with a whole lot of empty seats. The season has begun. Let’s show up and cheer on our girls.

—Diane Chiddister