A recent survey from i9 Sports and research from the Women’s Sports Foundation highlight the unique pressures pushing girls out of youth sports, and what parents and league operators can do about it.
Key Takeaways
- By age 14, girls drop out of sports at twice the rate of boys, according to the Women’s Sports Foundation
- Girls have 1.3 million fewer openings on high school and college teams than boys
- The top three reasons girls return to sports: fun, love of the sport, and confidence
- 70% of all kids drop out of sports by age 13 because it’s no longer fun or has become a negative experience
- Norway’s “Children’s Rights in Sport” model keeps 93% of kids active in at least one sport
What a New Survey Reveals About Girls in Youth Sports
A recent survey from i9 Sports, as reported by Scary Mommy, collected responses from more than 1,500 parents and players to understand why girls are stepping away from youth sports earlier than boys. The findings point to a combination of systemic barriers and cultural pressures that disproportionately affect female athletes.
Research from the Women’s Sports Foundation puts the gap in stark terms: by age 14, girls leave sports at twice the rate of boys. One key driver is access. Girls have 1.3 million fewer roster spots on high school and college teams, meaning many either can’t play or must pay for private leagues to stay involved.
Body Image, Family Pressure, and the Cost of Playing
While burnout and win-at-all-costs culture affect all young athletes, the i9 survey identified pressures unique to girls. Madison Gates, vice president of marketing at i9 Sports, pointed to body image as a factor that intensifies as girls move into high school and college programs, where uniforms shift from baggy to fitted across nearly every sport.
“As a teenage girl, you feel more of that body image piece,” Gates said, drawing on her own experience as a lifelong athlete and former collegiate player.
Socioeconomic pressures also weigh more heavily on girls. Gates noted that girls are more likely to face family expectations to care for younger siblings or get a job, findings echoed by the Women’s Sports Foundation.
What Keeps Girls Playing, and What Pushes Them Out
The survey found that the top three reasons girls come back to sports are straightforward: it’s fun, they love the sport, and it builds their confidence. The challenge for operators and league administrators is that many current youth sports environments undermine all three.
i9 Sports reports that 70% of kids drop out by age 13 because sports are no longer fun or have become a negative experience. Early specialization, scholarship pressure, and repetitive physical strain contribute to that decline, despite the fact that only a tiny percentage of athletes ever earn scholarships or go pro.
Gates offered practical guidance for parents watching for warning signs: increased anxiety, reluctance to attend, loss of enthusiasm, negative self-talk, or stress-related physical complaints are all indicators that a team environment may be doing more harm than good. A child who avoids practice but still plays in the backyard may love the sport but need a different team setting.
A Model Worth Watching: Norway’s Approach to Youth Sports
Norway’s “Children’s Rights in Sport” document offers a contrast to the U.S. youth sports model. The framework prioritizes friendship and fun as the primary goals, encourages multi-sport participation, and eliminates scores, rankings, and competitive travel leagues until age 13. Sports are positioned as part of a healthy life, not a path to scholarships or professional careers. About 93% of Norwegian children play at least one sport under this model.
What This Means for Youth Sports Operators
For league operators, facility owners, and program directors, the data points to clear opportunities. Programs that prioritize fun, friendship, and confidence building over early specialization and hyper-competition are better positioned to retain female athletes. Coaching training through organizations like the Positive Coaching Alliance and Coaching Her, both used by i9 Sports, addresses the specific challenges female athletes face. Allowing kids to play on teams with friends and minimizing cost barriers are additional retention levers.
The business case is simple: keeping more girls in sports longer means larger, more sustainable participation numbers.
Source: Scary Mommy, Katie McPherson, February 19, 2026
Photo: Active Kids
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