The enduring work of the SLQ in the area of developing sport for girls and women has been funded by a variety of sources including the LPGA, USA Football, Leadership Foundations, and The University of Texas. This work collectively suggests that sport has a distinct place in the lives of girls and women. We can continue to learn about the unique needs of girls and women, specific to their context, that will help inform the design and delivery of sport that maximizes both the number and impact of their participation.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Sport programming for girls and women in underserved communities can be a vital part of building holistic capacity in academics, social skills both in the short and long term. The effectiveness of sport in this way is strongly related to social support systems that come alongside the actual sport experience to intentionally strengthen these capacities.

 

• Girls and women have specific needs and wants in sport experience that impact their attraction and enduring participation in sport.

 

• Most want social engagement, appropriate challenge, meaningful practice, sense of belonging.

 

• Moms, in addition, want flexibility in scheduling, supportive atmosphere.

 

• Empowerment for women, in both sport participation and in sport careers, looks different depending on the context. We need to understand the context to create sport environments that welcome and empower women.

 

• Competition is important to women, but looks different than that for men.

 

• Sport programming for girls and women in underserved communities can be a vital part of building holistic capacity in academics, social skills both in the short and long term. The effectiveness of sport in this way is strongly related to social support systems that come alongside the actual sport experience to intentionally strengthen these capacities.