Girls Are Telling Us Why They Quit Sports. Are Adults Listening?
By age 14, girls are leaving organized sports at twice the rate of boys — before most have had the chance to experience the long-term benefits athletics can provide: resilience, belonging, and the kind of confidence that only comes from competing. A new piece in Ms. Magazine asks the uncomfortable question: are the adults in charge actually listening to why?
Written by Susan Crown, founder of the Susan Crown Exchange, and Elizabeth Kunz, CEO of Girls on the Run International, the article draws on a first-of-its-kind national youth study from the Aspen Institute's Project Play. The findings are clear — and they point directly at coaching.
What the Research Shows
“Not good enough” and “bad coaching” are the top reasons girls quit
When researchers asked former players why they walked away, feeling “not good enough” was the primary reason — with bad coaching following closely behind. One participant told researchers: “I never felt confident enough to try. I didn't feel like I fit in.”
Girls want mentors, not tacticians
When current players were asked what they valued most in a coach, winning was an afterthought. They rated life skills and personal development significantly higher. Young athletes aren't looking for a master strategist — they're looking for someone who sees them as a person.
80% of girls credit their coach as a top reason they kept playing
Research found that 80 percent of girls credit a positive relationship with their coach as a top reason they stayed in sports. Girls who feel heard by their coach are 2.5 times more likely to continue participating. The coach isn't just running practice — they are one of the most influential factors in a girl's athletic life.
Fewer than 1 in 3 youth coaches have any formal training
Of the roughly 6 million coaches working with nearly 40 million young people in the U.S., fewer than one in three have any formal training in youth development. There are no consistent standards for what coaches are expected to know — and no shared definition of what quality coaching looks like. That gap hits hardest in girls' sports.
Youth sports is a $40 billion industry — the resources exist
Critics often point out that youth coaching is largely volunteer work, making it unrealistic to expect more. The authors push back: youth sports generates $40 billion annually. The question isn't whether the resources exist to better support coaches — it's whether we've decided they're worth the investment.
“The girls who will lead the next generation are already on the field. Their coaches need to be prepared to meet the moment.”
By Susan Crown & Elizabeth Kunz — Ms. Magazine
Published June 8, 2026
Read the Full Article at Ms. Magazine →Stay Informed
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