This new report is one of the first studies to examine ways in which sports participation among girls was impacted during the pandemic and how sport served as a protective factor against some of COVID-19’s negative impacts on behavior, mental health, and academic achievement. The findings from this report highlight the powerful protective role that sports can play in supporting the physical, social and emotional well-being of girls. While sports participation among young people was significantly impacted by COVID, girls who were able to continue playing experienced a myriad of positive impacts in areas of physical health, mental health and academics. The report shines a light on the critical role of sports in girls’ lives and underscores the need to invest in girls’ sports programming so that all girls reap the benefits.
