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Anna Miszkiewicz
Professor Gary Walker
English 111-81/84
8 May 2015
Gender Equality in Youth Sports
Throughout the years, youth sports teams have primarily been separated into a
boys team and a girls team. In todays times, youth coed sports teams are becoming
more and more popular in the United States but many are arguing against this rise of
gender equality. According to a study done by Indiana University, swimmers of both
genders, ages six through twelve have no difference in their individual performance.
Only after the age of twelve is when differences between performances are noticeable
(Melnick). So why are youth sports teams separated by gender at such a young age
hindering the fact that one gender is as equally capable as the other? While males are
often considered to be stronger than females, children should participate in sports
involving coed teams because they can prove that both the male and female sex are
capable of the same talents, they allow all individuals an equal opportunity, and they
allow children to learn how to work together.
Competition, both positive and negative, will always play a major role in sports.
With the increasing number of coed teams, there is also an increase of positive
competition on the field, court, pool, or wherever the sporting events take place. Positive
competition is the encouraging of others to strive to be the best (Positive and Negative
Competition). With more teammates and teams, each team will continue to work hard to
be the best, improving their skills while also inspiring others to become better. How does

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having coed increase the number of teams? By simply having the children as one team,
there will no longer be the conflict of not having enough girls or boys to form a new
team. Coed youth teams can also attribute to the cheaper cost to play a sport. Having
coed teams would eliminate the we do not have enough players to form a team
statement that many adults and coaches face. The cost of creating another individual
team can become costly compared to simply joining an already existent team.
The opinions on whether or not men are stronger than women will always be
different. However, the Journal of Applied Physiology researchers proved that men
generally have more lean muscle mass than women do. Out of 468 men and women, men
had an average of 72.6 pounds of muscle, while women had 46.2 pounds of muscle.
While this research does prove that men are physically stronger than most women, this
study does not apply to children (Cespedes). The study done by Indiana University
involving the swimmers proves that males and females are capable of the same things up
to the certain age where young males reach puberty. On average, boys will start
experiencing puberty as early as age twelve and during this time they will become more
masculine (Puberty: Read About the Stages for Boys and Girls). The youth coed sports
teams do not put male nor female at an advantage because research shows that girls and
boys are both generally athletically capable during youth ages.
Working with others affords enormous social and personal benefits (Walton).
Working together is one of the most beneficial attributes when it comes to sports.
Although gender segregated teams still involve much teamwork, more benefits come
when each gender works with one another. By having integrated teams, children will
learn gender quality and understand that no gender is better than the other, allowing for

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mutual respect and increased motivation. Waltons research shows, that it is possible to
create a spirit of teamwork as people take on challenging individual tasks a feeling that
we're all in this together, working on problems and tasks and that this sense of working
together can inspire motivation (Walton). Youth coed sports teams could increase the
respect level not only during playing time, but also when the game or match is over. By
having children of different sexes working together, no one person will feel as if they
have to be as good as the other girl or boy on their team because they will all be working
as one. When children work as one to accomplish a goal, they will become more
successful and interactive during their lifetime.
While there are many benefits to coed youth sports teams, several people
believe that coed teams can be dangerous. According to a Junior Scholastic article,
another reason is that since boys develop athletic abilities at a younger age, girls will
become insecure about their own abilities (Should Sports Teams be Coed?). When
guys reach puberty, they will become physically stronger than girls, leading to an
increase in athletic skills. People argue that coed sports should not be allowed in general
because of the overall stereotype that males are stronger than females, therefore causing a
potential injury to the females on the team.
Coed teams are becoming more common throughout different sporting activities.
This popular trend, like all, has its supporters and its adversaries. Overall, youth coed
teams have many benefits that can help develop children in ways that cannot be taught in
school. By teaching children to work together, no matter what gender they are, they will
learn that each person is equal and capable of the same things. By allowing each child an

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equal opportunity to succeed they will become strong and confident throughout their
lives. After all, the greatest lessons are learned when we are children.

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Works Cited

Cespedes, Andrea. "Amount of Muscle Mass in Men Versus Women."

LIVESTRONG.COM. LIVESTRONG.COM, 15 Jan. 2014. Web. 08 May 2015.
Melnick, Meredith. "Girls Are As Athletic As Boys, Study Says." The Huffington Post.
TheHuffingtonPost.com, n.d. Web. 08 May 2015.
"Positive and Negative Competition: Influences on Project Team Success." Brighthub
Project Management. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 May 2015.
"Puberty: Read About the Stages for Boys and Girls." MedicineNet. N.p., n.d. Web. 08
May 2015.
"Should Sports Teams Be Coed?" Junior Scholastic, n.d. Web. 4 May 2015.
Walton, Gregory M., and Priyanka B. Carr. "Cues of Working Together Fuel Intrinsic
Motivation ." Cues of Working Together Fuel Intrinsic Motivation. N.p., n.d. Web.
08 May 2015.