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A new report from nonprofit Canadian Women & Sport has revealed that over one million Canadian girls are still missing out on the benefits of sports, with participation rates remaining consistently lower than boys. The 2024 Rally Report: A Call to Reimagine Sport So All Girls Can Play, developed in partnership with Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities and global insight consultancy IMI Consulting, provides insights into the progress and ongoing challenges of 6-18-year-old girls and calls for systemic change.
The report is based on a study of more than 5,000 Canadians, including 2,000 girls and women. It highlights the need for a redesigned system that prioritizes girls and creates a more inclusive space. Though figures show an increase in girls’ sports participation rates, with 63% playing organized sports weekly as compared to 68% of boys, there is still an imbalance. Nearly four in ten girls aren’t playing – and this rises to five in ten by age 16. Additionally, girls from lower-income households of all racial backgrounds are less likely to participate, particularly if they have a disability.
“While we celebrate the progress, we’ve made in getting more girls active in sport, it’s clear that we still have more work to do,” said Allison Sandmeyer-Graves, CEO of Canadian Women & Sport. “Clearly, girls are still getting a message in our society and in these sport environments that they just aren’t valued in the same way that boys are.”
The advocacy organization believes in the power of sport to advance equity for women across all areas of society. The Rally Report is part of its commitment to creating a more inclusive and supportive sports system designed with girls’ unique needs in mind. It is calling on leaders across the sector to collectively reimagine sport for girls, increasing investment, girl-centered coaching practices, leadership opportunities and welcoming environments.
Other key research findings include:
- Dropout Rates: For girls, dropout rates increase at age 16 and accelerate through their late teens, with more than one in five leaving sport during adolescence.
- Impact of Appearance: Two in five girls report that comments about their appearance, clothing or religious attire impact their participation.
- Body Confidence: One in two girls said participating in sport positively influences their body image, though one in three report that comments about their bodies undermine their confidence.
- Mental Health: Seven in 10 girls feel that sport and physical activity positively impact their mental health.
- Menstrual Cycle: Nearly 1 in 2 girls aged 13 to 18 feel that their menstrual cycle impacts their sport’s participation.
Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities, which funded the research, helps kids overcome financial and accessibility barriers to sport and recreation in an effort to provide inclusive play for kids of all abilities.
“At Jumpstart, we are dedicated to advancing the participation of girls and young women in sports across Canada. The findings of Rally Report not only reinforce our understanding of the need and opportunity in this space but will also help inform the direction of Jumpstart programming and partnerships as we continue to build a safe, welcoming and accessible sports landscape for all girls,” said its President, Marco Di Buono.
Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities was a Champion Partner of Beyond Sport United 2024
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