As we’ve seen this Term in light of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, nothing brings nations together quite like the Olympic Games. Cheering on our Aussie athletes and seeing our teams perform at such an impressive level kept us glued to the TV like no other global sporting competition.
More than half of the Australian team were represented by women. With 256 female competitors, we have certainly come a long way since 1924, when no women were part of the Australian team. Of the 18 golds won, 13 went to female athletes. Of the 45 won overall, 27 were awarded to women. These results tell a great story. In Australia, the number of women participating in sports increased. We have also seen a rise in female sponsorship, equal medal opportunities and investment growth.
The benefits of playing sports, even if a girl considers herself not sporty, are many and convincing.
Global research conducted by the International Coalition of Girls Schools (ICSG) reports that ninety-six per cent of female CEOs credit their sports participation in high school as a time when they honed valuable leadership skills. The Hands Up for Gender Equality Report by the Australian Gender Equality Council (2019) discovered that participation in team sports produced the second-highest overall contribution to girls’ self-confidence, particularly where girls held sports leadership roles such as team captain. Researchers also found that, on average, girls spend nearly 4.5 hours per week playing team sports and that this number continues to rise (boys reported 6 hours per week).
This data paints a reassuring narrative. By challenging historical societal norms, girls who participate in team sports inspire others and pave the way for future generations of empowered girls and women.
Unsurprisingly, moving your body improves your memory, attention and cognition. We remain committed to levelling the playing field as a girl’s school. Girls can learn many things from sports, regardless of their ability. They learn social skills by working as a team, and they learn about fair play. They create memories as a teammate, both on and off the field or court. They learn about the dynamics of leadership. Playing in a team is often the first time a girl is led by a peer (not a teacher or parent). They learn to be proud of what their bodies can do, not how they look. Many tweens and adolescents contend with body issues that can often transcend from teenage years to adulthood. Girls are bombarded by visuals and messaging about how their bodies should look and feel. By discovering what their bodies can do, they realise that perfectionism is not always attainable or sustainable.
When girls play a team sport, they have to show up. Consistency is key. As committed team members, girls learn time management, loyalty and independence. Girls realise that they represent something bigger than themselves and that competition is not always about winning or coming first. Participation, commitment, and teamwork are equally important. Girls learn to manage the emotions of winning and losing. Regulating their response to these emotions is a key part of their social and emotional development.
While not all girls playing sport at St Hilda’s will go on to be Olympians, I know that all the other lessons they will learn by committing to sport will position them well for future success.
