Popular sports for young girls: encouraging lifelong participation

Sport has the power to build confidence, create lifelong friendships, and develop valuable life skills that go far beyond the playing field. Whether it's scoring goals on the football pitch, perfecting a gymnastics routine, or learning teamwork on the netball court, taking part in sports helps young girls stay active while discovering what they're capable of.

Despite the many benefits, girls are still less likely than boys to participate in regular sports as they get older. This is why supporting and encouraging girls to get involved from a young age can help them develop a lifelong love of physical activity, improve their physical and mental wellbeing, and give them the confidence to embrace new challenges.

In this guide, we'll explore some of the most popular sports for young girls, highlighting the unique benefits of each. Whether your child is energetic, creative, competitive, or simply looking to try something new, there's a sport out there that's the perfect fit.

Why sports are important for young girls

For young people, sport is about so much more than winning medals or scoring goals; it's about discovering just how strong, capable, and resilient they can be. These experiences don't just create better athletes - they help shape confident young players who are ready to tackle life's challenges with courage, determination, and a positive mindset. By encouraging girls to get involved in sport from an early age, we're helping them build healthy habits, lifelong friendships, and the confidence to chase their dreams both on and off the field.

But to help them, we must first understand some of the issues that cause girls to drop out of sports and some of the problems we must be wary of avoiding if we want to support young girls leading active lifestyles - which you can read more about below.

Why do so many girls drop out of sports?

While many girls enjoy being active when they're younger, participation in sport often declines as they get older. This can happen for many reasons, including:

A lack of confidence
Increasing academic pressures
Concerns about body image and fitting in with their peers
Struggling to find activities they genuinely enjoy
Feeling discouraged if they don't see female role models
Not having access to welcoming, inclusive opportunities
Uncomfortable kit.

Parents and teachers should work towards creating supportive environments, celebrating participation over performance, and encouraging girls to explore a variety of sports.

What are the best sports for girls?

With so many sports to choose from, every girl can find an activity that matches her interests, personality, and abilities. From fast-paced team games to individual disciplines that build focus and confidence, these are some of the most popular sports for young girls.

Football

From the roar of the crowd to the excitement of scoring a first goal, football gives young girls the chance to be part of something special. Every match is an opportunity to learn, grow, and create unforgettable memories, whether playing in the park with friends or representing a local team.

As one of the fastest-growing sports for girls, football helps develop fitness, coordination, teamwork, and resilience, while encouraging players to believe in their abilities and embrace every challenge. With opportunities to join grassroots clubs, school teams, football academies, and competitive leagues, girls can enjoy the sport at whatever level suits them. You can also find girls-only football clubs, which can feel like less pressure and can connect them with other girls and women with the same interests.

The benefits of football for young girls:

Improves fitness, stamina, and overall physical health.
Develops teamwork, communication, and leadership skills.
Boosts confidence and self-esteem through personal and team achievements.
Enhances coordination, agility, and balance.
Encourages resilience, determination, and problem-solving.
Provides opportunities to make new friends and be part of a supportive team.
Promotes discipline, sportsmanship, and respect for others
Opens pathways to school teams, grassroots clubs, academies, and competitive leagues.

Gymnastics

Grace, strength, and determination come together in gymnastics, making it one of the most popular sports for young girls. From mastering a forward roll to performing impressive routines on the beam or floor, gymnastics encourages girls to challenge themselves, celebrate progress, and build confidence with every new skill they learn.

Whether participating in recreational classes, joining local competitions, or simply enjoying the excitement of learning new movements, girls develop a sense of achievement that extends far beyond the gym. For gymnastics, young girls will need supportive clothing that won't get in the way of their stretching or flips; leggings are a great starting point, sticking close to the skin while offering sweat-wicking properties and will have them ready to tackle every jump, stretch and flip.

Benefits of gymnastics for young girls:

Improves flexibility, balance, and coordination
Builds strength, agility, and overall fitness
Boosts confidence and self-esteem through achieving new skills
Encourages discipline, focus, and perseverance
Develops body awareness and control
Helps improve posture and core stability
Teaches resilience by overcoming challenges and celebrating progress
Encourages goal setting and a positive attitude towards learning
Creates pathways to recreational classes, competitions, and elite gymnastics programmes

Swimming

Swimming is one of the most rewarding sports a young girl can take up, offering the perfect balance of fun, fitness, and an essential life skill. Whether they're splashing through their first lesson or racing confidently across the pool, swimming helps girls develop strength, endurance, coordination, and confidence in the water. As a low-impact sport, it's gentle on growing bodies while providing a full-body workout that supports healthy physical development and encourages an active lifestyle.

Beyond the physical benefits, swimming opens the door to a world of exciting opportunities. Girls can enjoy recreational swimming with family and friends, join local swimming clubs, take part in competitions, or even progress to national events as their skills grow.

The benefits of swimming for young girls:

Builds full-body strength, stamina, and fitness.
Is gentle on joints and muscles
Improves coordination, balance, and flexibility.
Develops an essential life skill and water confidence.
Boosts self-esteem through learning new techniques and achieving goals.
Encourages focus, discipline, and perseverance.
Provides a fun way to stay active while supporting healthy development.
Creates opportunities to join swimming clubs, competitions, and team environments.

Dance

Dance is one of the most popular activities for young girls, combining creativity, movement, and self-expression in a fun and supportive environment. Whether it's ballet, jazz, hip-hop, or contemporary, dance helps improve flexibility, coordination, balance, and strength while encouraging girls to stay active and build confidence.

Dance offers opportunities to perform, make new friends, and develop valuable life skills such as discipline, teamwork, and perseverance. As girls learn new routines and celebrate their progress, they gain confidence in their abilities and discover the joy of expressing themselves through movement, creating memories and skills that can last a lifetime.

The benefits of dance for young girls:

Improves flexibility, coordination, balance, and strength.
Encourages creativity, self-expression, and confidence.
Helps girls overcome shyness and gain confidence through performance.
Provides opportunities to make friends and be part of a supportive community.
Encourages teamwork, communication, and collaboration.
Offers pathways into performances, competitions, and different styles of dance.
Creates a positive outlet for emotions, imagination, and personal growth.

Netball

Netball is a fast-paced and exciting team sport that gives young girls the chance to build confidence and discover the power of teamwork. With every pass, sprint, and goal, players develop coordination, agility, communication, and decision-making skills while enjoying the thrill of working together towards a shared goal. Its inclusive and supportive nature makes netball a popular choice for girls of all ages and abilities, from those playing for fun to those aiming for competitive success.

Beyond the court, netball helps girls develop valuable life skills such as leadership, resilience, and self-belief. Through training sessions, school teams, local clubs, and competitions, players have opportunities to challenge themselves, celebrate achievements, and become part of a strong sporting community.

The benefits of netball for young girls:

Develops teamwork and effective communication skills.
Builds confidence and self-esteem through participation.
Encourages quick thinking and decision-making.
Promotes leadership, resilience, and sportsmanship.
Helps girls build lasting friendships in a supportive environment.

Tennis

Tennis is a sport where confidence grows with every serve, rally, and challenge. Popular with young girls for its mix of excitement, skill, and independence, tennis encourages players to think creatively, stay focused, and discover their own strengths on the court. From the first time they hit the ball to the thrill of mastering a new technique, girls build coordination, fitness, and self-belief while enjoying a sport that celebrates personal progress.

Girls can take part in coaching sessions, community clubs, friendly matches, and competitions, allowing them to develop their skills at their own pace. Along the way, they learn valuable lessons in determination, patience, and resilience, helping them grow into confident individuals both on and off the court.

The benefits of netball for young girls:

Improves hand-eye coordination, balance, and agility.
Develops focus, concentration, and strategic thinking.
Boosts confidence through personal achievements and progress.
Encourages independence while also promoting teamwork in doubles.
Teaches resilience, patience, and good sportsmanship.
Provides opportunities to join local clubs, coaching programmes, and tournaments

Martial arts

A martial arts journey begins with a single step - learning a new move, setting a goal, or having the courage to try something unfamiliar. For young girls, sports such as karate, taekwondo, and judo offer much more than physical training. They create a space where girls can build strength, improve focus, and develop control over both their body and mind.

From earning new belts to taking part in demonstrations and competitions, martial arts gives young girls the chance to set goals, celebrate milestones, and discover their own inner strength. It’s a sport that empowers girls not only in training, but in everyday life.

The benefits of martial arts for young girls:

Builds self-confidence by celebrating progress and personal achievements
Improves fitness and coordination through movement, technique, and practice
Develops focus and discipline by encouraging patience and commitment
Encourages resilience as girls learn to overcome challenges and keep improving.

How schools and parents can support these hobbies

Schools, as well as parents, play a vital role in helping young girls discover the joy of sport by creating an environment where participation feels exciting, inclusive, and accessible. By offering young athletes the chance to participate in a wide range of activities, every girl has the chance to find something she enjoys and feels confident trying. Supportive teachers and family members, after-school clubs, friendly competitions, and access to quality coaching can all help turn first attempts into lasting interests. A few other ways you can support your students include:

Providing supportive kit - having access to comfortable, well-fitting sports kit can make a huge difference to a girl's confidence and willingness to take part in sport. By providing supportive, practical clothing and creating an environment where girls feel comfortable and included, schools can help remove barriers to participation and encourage more girls to enjoy being active.
Offering a variety of opportunities - every girl has different interests and strengths, so offering a wide range of sports gives them the chance to discover an activity they genuinely enjoy. From team games to individual sports, schools can inspire lifelong participation by encouraging girls to try new experiences in a fun, inclusive, and supportive environment. If you think participation might be low for the things you offer, try making any incentives clear, such as flexible kit options, subsidies for kit or classes, fun days for try-outs, or friendly competitions with prizes.
Ensuring they have a safe space to learn and practise - this could be through providing beginner classes, celebrating achievements, or offering girls-only sessions to help build their confidence. By giving girls a safe and encouraging environment to practise their hobbies, they are less likely to quit when they’re older and feel inspired to keep growing their skills
Promoting female role models - Seeing inspiring female athletes can help young girls imagine what they can achieve through sport. By sharing the stories of role models such as Simone Biles and her fantastic gymnastic performances at the Olympics, who has shown incredible skill, determination, and resilience, schools can encourage girls to dream bigger and believe in their own potential. Celebrating women from different sports helps create positive examples that show girls that they belong, can succeed, and can enjoy sport at every level.

If you want to learn more about how you can make sports more inclusive and accessible for young girls, you can read our full blog for more great tips!

Support students in sports with Avec Sport

Every young girl deserves the chance to discover a sport that makes her feel happy, confident, and capable. Whether she's scoring goals on the football pitch, perfecting a gymnastics routine, dancing to her favourite music, or learning a new martial arts technique, every experience helps shape valuable skills that will stay with her for life.

Support the young women at your school with their sports by discovering our Avec for Education service, where schools can enjoy bulk discounts on things such as teamwear and footballs, ensuring your students have what they need to chase their goals.