Why Sports Participation Matters for Girls in Urban Core Public Schools

Authors

• David McLeod, University of OklahomaFollow
• Angela B. Pharris, University of OklahomaFollow
• David Crynes, Fields and FuturesFollow
• Emmy Hufnagel, Curbside EnterprisesFollow
• Eddie Wright, Piedmont Public SchoolsFollow
• Sabrina Hynd, Oklahoma City Public SchoolsFollow
• Tim McLaughlin, Fields and FuturesFollow

Abstract

Sports participation plays a critical role in supporting academic success, school engagement, and social-emotional well-being, particularly for girls in urban core public school settings. This study examines the relationship between athletic participation and academic outcomes, attendance, and social-emotional functioning in a large urban public school district during the post-COVID period. Findings indicate that student-athletes outperform non-athlete peers across multiple indicators, including grade point average, enrollment in advanced coursework, and school attendance. Female athletes, in particular, demonstrate stronger academic performance and more favorable social-emotional outcomes compared to female non-athletes. Despite these advantages, a pronounced decline in girls’ sports participation occurs between eighth and ninth grade, marking a critical transition point in which many girls disengage from athletics. This decline aligns with patterns of lower academic engagement and less favorable social-emotional outcomes among non-participating peers. While causal relationships cannot be established, the findings suggest that sustained sports participation is associated with meaningful developmental advantages during adolescence. These results position school-based sports as an important developmental asset within urban school contexts and underscore the need for targeted retention strategies, including mentorship, structural supports, and school-based interventions, to sustain girls’ participation during key transitions.

Recommended Citation

McLeod, David; Pharris, Angela B.; Crynes, David; Hufnagel, Emmy; Wright, Eddie; Hynd, Sabrina; and McLaughlin, Tim (2026) "Why Sports Participation Matters for Girls in Urban Core Public Schools," Journal of Youth Development: Vol. 21: Iss. 3, Article 14.
Available at: https://open.clemson.edu/jyd/vol21/iss3/14