By Megan Clark
WISE San Diego Board of Directors - Co-Director of Programming
On any given Saturday in San Diego, you’ll find little cleats sprinting down soccer fields, surfboards bobbing beyond the break, and ponytails flying as kids charge across basketball courts. But what looks like just another youth game is actually something far more powerful: a practice ground for future leaders, lifelong learners, and confident, capable adults.
Youth sports don’t just build athletes: they build mindsets, habits, and life skills that shape who we become,
Youth Sports: A Proven Pathway to Success
According to decades of research, participation in youth sports is directly linked to positive long-term outcomes:
- 15% more likely to attend college
- 25% more likely to graduate high school
- Higher GPAs and standardized test scores
- Lower rates of depression, anxiety, and social isolation|
- Better cardiovascular health, stronger bones, and lifelong fitness habits
Youth sports aren’t just extracurricular activities, they’re developmental engines that impact academic achievement, career success, physical and mental health, and emotional intelligence well into adulthood.
The Most Underrated Skill: Decisiveness
In sports, decisiveness isn’t optional, it’s survival. Whether it’s a point guard reading the court in real time or a goalie deciding when to charge the ball, youth athletes learn how to make high-stakes decisions under pressure.
This ability to:
- Quickly process information
- Anticipate outcomes
- Adapt mid-play
- Trust your instincts
…translates directly into adult life.
Decisiveness is one of the most underrated but essential life skills and sports are one of the few environments where it’s built through repetition. Athletes become practiced problem-solvers, strategic thinkers, and confident decision-makers in high-stakes, time-sensitive situations.
These same qualities are invaluable in the workplace, in relationships, in parenting, and in leadership.
Why Team Sports Are Especially Powerful
While all sports provide benefits, team sports offer unique emotional and social advantages that individual sports don’t always replicate.
Team sports build:
- Collaboration – Understanding roles, communicating under pressure, and solving problems together
- Emotional intelligence – Learning to manage frustration, support teammates, and respond to setbacks
- Belonging – Being part of something larger than yourself—a safe, supportive micro-community
A 2022 study found that kids who participated in team sports had:
- 19% fewer depression and withdrawal symptoms
- 17% fewer social problem behaviors
- Higher levels of connectedness and resilience
Why the Benefits Are Often Greater for Girls
Girls gain all the same academic, emotional, and physical benefits as boys, often even more so.
Here's why:
- Girls tend to experience sharper declines in confidence beginning around age 8
- They face higher rates of anxiety, body image concerns, and social comparison
- They are still underrepresented in leadership roles across most sectors
Youth sports help combat these patterns by reinforcing confidence, competence, and belonging.
94% of women in executive leadership roles played sports growing up. 52% played at the collegiate level.
Girls who play team sports report 80% higher confidence than non-athletic peers.
They also gain:
- Better communication skills
- More comfort with feedback
- A stronger sense of self-worth
And they carry those benefits with them into adulthood, into boardrooms, classrooms, operating rooms, creative spaces, and beyond.
San Diego’s Unique Opportunity
San Diego is uniquely positioned to be a national model for youth sports equity and empowerment. We have:
- Year-round sunshine
- Access to land and water-based sports
- A strong culture of community engagement
- Women leaders in sports, fitness, and events industries
But even here, many children (especially girls, children of color, and those from underserved communities) still face barriers like:
- Lack of financial access
- Limited transportation
- Fewer opportunities to try different sports
- A shortage of female coaches and mentors
What Women in the San Diego Sports Community Can Do
Whether you’re a coach, athlete, event producer, parent, or business leader, you have influence. Here’s how to use it:
1. Be Visible
Show girls what’s possible.
- Coach or assistant coach a team
- Speak on career day or at youth clinics
- Post photos of girls’ teams and players in action
Visibility = possibility
2. Create More Opportunities
Start or support girls-first initiatives.
- Partner with local schools, rec centers, or nonprofits
- Launch low-cost clinics or summer programs
- Support multi-sport programs to avoid early specialization and burnout
3. Remove Barriers
Break down financial and logistical walls.
- Provide or fund scholarships, uniforms, and gear
- Offer transportation support or ride shares
- Create inclusive environments where all girls feel welcome
4. Celebrate Loudly
Shine a light on girls’ success on and off the field.
- Nominate female athletes for awards
- Share their achievements publicly
- Highlight stories of grit, leadership, and growth
5. Build Sisterhood
Sports aren’t just about winning. They’re about connection.
- Foster mentorship between high school and younger athletes
- Pair sports training with leadership, confidence, or career-building workshops
- Host community events that bring girls and women together through play
Final Word: Every Game is a Building Block
Youth sports are more than just moments on a field, they're lifelong building blocks. They teach kids how to:
- Work with others
- Push through failure
- Communicate under pressure
- Think critically and act decisively
- Rise again and again when things get hard
These aren’t just athletic skills, they’re human skills. And they are some of the most valuable, portable tools a child can carry into adulthood.
We have the opportunity (and responsibility) to make sure more girls get those tools. To ensure every child, regardless of zip code or circumstance, has access to the life-shaping power of sports.
San Diego can lead that charge. Let’s raise a generation of strong, confident, resilient young women who don’t just play the game, they change it.