Research shows that girls’ identities can become too wrapped up in sports, according to Marlene Holmes, a mental health advocate, sports social worker and regional director at Netball America.
“What the research shows is that for young boys, when they are introduced to a sport before the age of 8, they tend to take on that identity before they are who they are, but it works to their advantage,” she said. “If I’m 8 years old and then by 10 years old, I’m the star athlete on the T -ball team, my mother or father may say, ‘This is my son, the T -ball player, this is my son, the football player,’ and it’s a badge of honor and it’s great.”
Girls also struggle with confidence issues, she said. They have trouble seeing themselves as successful or leaders in their community.
Netball America teaches middle school girls and boys netball as a way to boost their confidence and improve their teamwork, communication and other life skills.
Related Kids Sports Psychology Articles:
- Why Girls Drop out of Sports at Higher Rates than Boys
- Helping Girls Feel More Confident in Sports
- Helping Sports Girls Not Worry About Looks
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“We just completed the first ten tips, it has helped tremendously for (our daughter) and us. We’ve learned to keep our behavior and comments in check. She’s letting mistakes happen and not worrying about them, she’s now just moves on to the next play with the same attitude as before the mistakes. She’s playing more aggressively all game. Her coach even mentioned that whatever we are doing, keep doing because it’s working.” ~Scott, Sports Dad
Hi! My 11 year old plays on a team whose trainer has a daughter on the team. I have the feeling that the training is built around the level of the daughter`s ability. There are also groups of girls who seem to only pass to each other during training and during games.
My daughter is a good player but her confidence on the field has decreased. She is not unhappy with the team, but she does complain about everyone calling for the ball when she has it, but rarely passing her the ball when she calls for it. This I`ve seen myself, over and over again.
My daughter is one of the better players on the team, so much so, that the trainer recommended that she go to special training once a week. Other girls on the team do the same, and they start every game, and play longer than my daughter.
I also noticed that the players who get to play together the most develop an understanding of how each other plays. My daughter doesn`t get much of that. Even at practice she is put with the girls with weaker skills or little interest in improving.
I read a book called “Happy Feet” that said that parents should keep quiet and only say things like “I love to watch you play”, or, “Show the coach she`s wrong.”
We read the book written by the Italian midfielder Pirlo, where he said when he was young the teams he was on would not pass him the ball. So he played his best without the camaraderie of his teammates. He finally got on a team that had a coach that appreciated him.
I also think it might be my presence that is upsetting the trainer. I am an American living in Germany. Maybe that`s it. They take Football very seriously here. Other father`s come to the training and bring their smaller kids who participate in the training. I ask if I can help carry something, or move something, and the trainer says no to me, but asks for help from other parents.
I asked my daughter if it would be better when I didn`t come to training, but only to the games. She said she likes it when I come to the trainings.
So I continue to go, don`t say anything to the trainer, parents or team, and watch. I would really appreciate it if you could give me some advice.