As women’s sports continue to reach new heights around the U.S., groups in Columbia are focusing their efforts on ensuring participation among younger generations matches this trend.
The Women’s Intersport Network in Columbia recently launched a new grant, titled Together We WIN, which focuses on girls in 8th grade or below, to help fund any local sports they would like to participate in.
According to WIN Columbia’s board president Mitzi Clayton, historically the group has seen young girls drop out of local sports, due in part to the often expensive costs it takes to participate in them.
“The cost of participating in sport, particularly competitive leagues, is really great,” Clayton said.
To help reverse this trend, WIN Columbia is offering $500 per child each funding cycle, beginning April 1 through March 31. According to Clayton, girls must qualify for the free and reduced lunch program in order to apply.
A recent study by the Aspen Institute’s youth sports parent survey shows it cost an average of $935 for a child to play a sport in 2022. This translates to families spending anywhere from $30-40 billion dollars each year on youth sports alone.
Additionally, of these sports, several can cost over $1,000 annually to participate in, including gymnastics, tennis and tennis among others.
Clayton said these registration fees, equipment costs and other expenses can add up for families in Columbia. Moreover, findings from the Aspen Institute show low-income kids are 6 times more likely to quit sports as a result of these costs.
Clayton said it is crucial girls have the means to continue to play sports, so they may then have a better chance to participate at the high school level if they choose.
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“I feel like if we aren’t helping support this younger age group, they won’t have the confidence going into high school to pursue sport,” Clayton said. “At this point in our society, high school has become very competitive. If we aren’t helping support these young girls do that the right way physically, as well as mentally, they’re not going to pursue it in high school.”
Clayton said girls in this age range in particular are at an increased risk for dropping out of sports.
“Sadly, while participation figures are high, we find that girls in this age group–ages 9-14–are dropping out of sport at twice the rate of their boy peers,” Clayton said.
According to MSHSAA Executive Director Jennifer Rukstad, it is imperative girls in middle school have the chance participate in any respective sport before they reach the high school level.
“We think that participation at the middle school level is extremely important, not only for the future possibilities of participating in high school,” Rukstad said, “but the benefits for a younger adolescent, a middle-school aged student are extremely important.
Anyone wishing to apply for a grant can visit WIN Columbia’s website.
Clayton says spots are limited as the group has $5,000 total allotted for these grants. She hopes the grant can help as many girls in the community as possible.
“We feel like this is that final piece to really continue making an impact on Columbia,” Clayton said.