Why every girl deserves a chance to play and lead

Finally! Girls in sports on TV with actual marketing and promotion!

 

The Credit One Charleston Open is massive, heavily promoted, known globally, and broadcast on live TV. But it wasn’t always this way.

 

Growing up in the 80s and 90s, you didn’t see girls playing sports on TV. That meant millions of young women didn’t even know it was an option. 

 

They didn’t dream of becoming pro athletes because it wasn’t sitting in front of them. Ask any 7-year-old boy what they want to be when they grow up, and at least 80% of them will tell you a pro “fill-in-the-blank” player.

 

When young girls don’t see themselves represented in sports, they don’t realize what’s possible. Visibility matters. 

 

It’s not just about creating professional athletes; it’s about instilling the belief that sports are an option. That belief sets the tone for what’s possible. 

 

The power of the dream

We all know the stats – only a small percentage of athletes make it to the big leagues – but that’s not the point. 

 

The dream, the hope, keeps kids in sports. 

 

It teaches them discipline, resilience, and teamwork. 

 

Even if they never go pro, the lessons learned on the field, court, or track shape who they become.

 

Sports as a leadership pipeline

Women make up 51% of the population, yet only 24% of C-suite executives are women. The staggering fact? Ninety-four percent of those women played sports. They didn’t become professional athletes, but sports taught them how to lead, be part of a team, and get back up when they fall. These aren’t just perks. They’re the unintentional life lessons sports instill.

 

Playing sports teaches young girls how to navigate challenges, make quick decisions, and work collaboratively – critical skills that translate directly into leadership roles. If we want more women in positions of power, we need to start by getting more girls into sports.

 

Leveling the Fields

So what if we flipped the script and taught those lessons intentionally?

 

That’s why the organization, Leveling the Fields, exists – to get more girls into leadership roles using sports as the catalyst. The skills that make a great leader are the same ones learned through sports. However, in South Carolina, there are 63,311 boys in youth sports and only 35,214 girls. Why? Cost, options, and access.

 

All girls are good at something, but not all girls are good at the same thing. We can’t just hand them all a soccer ball and call it a day. Exposure is key. Just like every parent hopes their child finds their “thing,” we need to give girls the opportunity to discover theirs.

 

Breaking barriers beyond the game

LTF wants to help every girl find her thing without worrying about transportation to practice or money for equipment. This isn’t just about sports; it’s about opportunity, confidence, and empowerment.

 

Over the last year, I’ve heard story after story from people who were hired because of their sports background and from employers who specifically seek out former athletes. The data is clear: the benefits of sports go beyond leadership. Girls who play sports are less likely to do drugs, become pregnant as teens, or end up in abusive relationships.

 

What did sports teach you?

The impact of sports isn’t just anecdotal; it’s backed by research and personal experience. So ask your boss, your colleagues, and yourself: What did sports teach you? And more importantly, how can we make sure every girl gets the same opportunity to learn?

 

If you would like more information on LTF, please visit us at levelingthefields.org to learn, volunteer, or donate.

 

Melyssa Jaskiewicz is the founder and executive director of Leveling the Fields.