If there was a way to ensure that your children would get better grades at school, grow up to be more successful in their jobs, have higher levels of self-esteem and more vitality in their overall well-being, wouldn’t you want to give them this opportunity?
For those who know me, you know that I am a big supporter of girls and women in sport, and female equality in sport. So I couldn’t help but share this tangible evidence on why getting our girls involved in playing sport in school is so important, and not just for now but for the future too.
A recent Gallup survey assessing post college life for former-student-athletes found that females outperformed other college graduates – male, non-athlete-females or otherwise – on important career and life outcomes. Let’s take a moment to celebrate that! I don’t know about you but I see that as a pretty good reason to encourage our daughters to take up a sport.
At Athlete Assessments we know that what we learn in sports extends far beyond the sporting field. Playing sports helps develop resiliency that serves us well into our adult lives. When we engage in sports, especially as early as school and then in college, we also learn how to be the best version of ourselves that we can be [You can read about our unique High School Teams Program here]. We believe this has a lot to do with why former student-athletes, and in particular women in sport, are better off in many areas of their post sport life.
According to the Gallup study, which specifically measured whether college graduates achieved “great jobs” and “great lives” by evaluating their workplace engagement and overall life well-being, High School girls who play sports are more likely to get better grades and graduate than girls who do not play sports.
Female Student Athletes learn valuable life skills
Girls and women who play sports also have higher confidence and self-esteem levels, which is so important given that there is so much negative attention focused on women in the media and the need to look a certain way.
If we can teach our girls to be strong, healthy, confident young women through playing sports, then this will extend well into their adult lives.
Female college graduates who played NCAA Division I, II or III sports in college were found to be more likely to be employed full time for an employer (62%), compared with female graduates who were not student-athletes (56%). Female former student-athletes are also more likely to be thriving in a number of areas of their well-being, particularly in their social and physical well-being. [Read about our piece on Former Students here]
These are absolutely great statistics especially in a day and age in which gender inequality continues to exist on so many levels, especially in sports. It is extremely promising to see indicators of real success for female athletes post College and this “off the field” win will certainly go a long way in building positive links between women (and girls) and sports in general.
And while we are on the topic, let me just say that I am proud to confirm that we at Athlete Assessments are doing our part for female equality. None of this 78c to the dollar here. Our ladies get paid with the best of them! Maybe next financial review we can even it out a little more… double pay for us girls anyone?
At Athlete Assessments we’re here to provide you with excellence in service and to help you be your best. If there is anything we can do to be of service, don’t hesitate to contact us.
