The cleats are in the cart. The schedule is on the fridge. Registration is done. The factor that determines whether your daughter thrives this season won’t be found on any equipment list. It’s whether she walks onto that field feeling like she belongs there—in her body, in her gear, and on that team.
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Girls who feel they belong are 3× more likely to stay in sport. Canadian Women & Sport, 2022 |
Belonging starts at home. Not with the first practice, but with the conversations you have this summer about her body, her fears, her goals, and what kind of support she actually wants.
45% of girls drop out of sport because of low body confidence, and 1 in 2 girls who quit were criticized about their body type (Body Confident Sport, 2023; 2026). Those messages don’t just come from coaches and peers. They come from home.
Before the season, have a conversation—not a lecture—about the fact that bodies change, that different bodies do amazing things, and that how she looks in her uniform has nothing to do with how she plays. If she’s started her period, ask whether she feels prepared to manage it during sport. These conversations don’t have to be long. They just have to happen before she’s standing in a locker room wishing someone had mentioned it.
Girls are motivated by fun (81%) and improving skills (66%)—not trophies (Aspen Institute, 2021). And 70% say friendships and team connection are the reason they stay (Women’s Sports Foundation, 2020). Before the season, try asking:
Body Confident Sport research identifies parents as one of the strongest influences on a girl’s body image (Body Confident Sport, 2024). Your daughter is watching how you relate to your own body.
This summer, notice your own body talk. Replace “I shouldn’t eat that” with “This gives me energy.” Replace “She looks amazing” with “She’s so fast.” Small shifts, but she’s listening.
80% of girls say a positive coach relationship is a top reason they keep playing (Aspen Institute Project Play, 2020). Before the season, learn what the program values. Ask the coach: What’s your approach to body image? Do girls have uniform options? How do you handle periods? If the answers feel vague, that’s information too.
43% of girls say not feeling welcome is a reason they consider quitting (Women in Sport, 2023). You can’t control the coaching, but you can choose environments that align with what she needs.
There will be a day this season when she comes home upset. Not about losing—about something harder. Decide now that your first response will be to listen. Ask “What do you need from me?” before “What happened?” Believe her. And if the issue is structural—facilities, gear, coaching culture—advocate for change.
68% of girls say a fear of feeling judged is a barrier to participation (Women in Sport, 2022). Your job isn’t to shield her from hard days. It’s to make sure she has someone at home who makes those days survivable.
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THE BOTTOM LINE The equipment list can wait. The conversations can’t. What you say this summer about her body, her fears, and what support looks like shapes whether she walks into the season feeling ready—or already halfway out the door. |
References
Aspen Institute. (2021). Sport for All, Play for Life: Playbook to Develop Every Student.
Aspen Institute Project Play. (2020).
Body Confident Sport. (2023; 2024; 2026).
Canadian Women & Sport. (2022). The Rally Report.
Women in Sport. (2022; 2023).
Women’s Sports Foundation. (2020).