Wellness

Girls in Sports: How to Build Confidence Through Movement

Girls drop out of sports at much higher rates than boys. Here's why representation, confidence, and movement matter — and how parents and teachers can keep girls in the game.

Girls who play sports grow up stronger — physically, mentally, and socially. They're more confident, do better in school, and are more likely to lead. So why do so many girls stop playing? And what can parents and teachers do to keep them in the game?

Why girls in sports matters

By age 14, girls drop out of sports at twice the rate of boys. The reasons are real: lack of access, social pressure, body image worries, fewer role models, and environments that simply weren't built with them in mind. The cost is real too. Girls who stay in sports are more likely to graduate from college, more likely to lead in their careers, and far more likely to feel confident in their own bodies as adults.

The early years matter most. If girls can grow up loving movement, they're far more likely to keep moving — even when the world pushes back.

Building confidence through movement

Confidence isn't built by being the best at something. It's built by trying, sweating, missing, learning, and trying again. Movement gives kids hundreds of those moments a day. Every brain break, every game of tag, every stretch routine is a tiny rep of "I can do hard things."

Girls in Sports Brain Break — Do It Like Me!

Mr. J's "Do It Like Me!" brain break introduces kids to real female athletes — and lets them move like them. Following the moves of a champion makes the message obvious without ever needing to say it: there's a place for you here.

Representation and role models

Kids believe what they see. When girls see athletes who look like them dominating their sports, sports stop feeling like a boys' club. A few of the incredible athletes featured in the brain break (and worth celebrating in your classroom or living room):

Alex Morgan — soccer star, World Cup champion, advocate for equal pay in women's sports.
Naomi Osaka — four-time Grand Slam tennis champion who has used her platform to talk openly about mental health.
Helen Maroulis — first American woman to win Olympic gold in wrestling.
A'ja Wilson — WNBA MVP and Olympic gold medalist who's redefining what dominance looks like in women's basketball.
Sha'Carri Richardson — sprinter and World Champion known for her speed, style, and resilience.

Hang their photos. Read their stories. Let girls pick which one they want to "be" during the warm-up.

Helping girls stay active and engaged

A few small things make a big difference:

Praise effort and toughness, not appearance. "You're so strong" beats "you're so cute."
Make sure girls have the gear that fits — proper shoes, sports bras when they need them, comfortable clothes they can move in.
Talk openly about how bodies change. Many girls quit sports during puberty because no one prepares them.
Celebrate competition. Girls are sometimes coached to be "nice" instead of competitive. Both can be true.
Notice and name when they push through hard things.

How teachers and parents can encourage participation

At school:

Make sure PE and recess give every kid — not just the most athletic — a chance to move and succeed.
Use brain breaks that feature female athletes and diverse role models.
Push back on the idea that some sports are "for boys."
Invite female athletes from the community to visit, even briefly.

At home:

Sign her up for a try-it season, not a long-term commitment, so she can explore.
Watch women's sports together — soccer, basketball, tennis, gymnastics, track.
Move with her. A walk, a bike ride, a dance party — be a teammate, not just a chauffeur.
When she wants to quit, get curious before deciding. Sometimes it's the team. Sometimes it's the schedule. Sometimes she just needs a break, not the exit.

Movement is for every kid

The goal isn't to raise the next Olympian. It's to raise a kid who feels at home in her own body — strong, capable, and proud. Every brain break is a tiny step in that direction.

Find more high-energy brain breaks on the Videos page, and read Why Movement Breaks Help Kids Focus in the Classroom for more on why movement matters every single day.