Girls' sports are hotter then ever and it’s not just about the athletics. When girls play, they draw big crowds filled with family and friends, and that means big money for towns and local communities. According to The New York Times, over the past 10 years girls' sporting events have started to attract bigger audiences and generate huge profits. This is because when girls' teams travel they tend to bring with them parents, aunts, uncles, siblings, the whole family! Some families even turn trips to tournaments into their summer vacation, bringing even more money into local economies. Even after regular high school games, families don’t just head home. Many times they’re heading out for ice cream or taking the team to dinner.   

Parents are quick to point out that they don’t love their sons any less, they’re just more protective of their daughters. One parent even said she’d be happy to let her teenage boy go off with his team alone, but she wouldn’t do the same for her teenage daughter. Other parents say it’s just more of a novelty to watch their daughters play because it’s less expected than watching a son.

Mika Ryan, the president of a sports commission in New Jersey, says she specifically goes after girls’ tournaments for her sports complex because they bring in more people to local hotels. It’s not just hotels and communities that are benefitting. The real payback is for the girls themselves. Studies have shown that girls who are involved in sports grow up to have healthier body images and fewer weight problems. A new report from the Women’s Sports Foundation says athletic girls have far lower rates of teen pregnancy and suicide.

If you want great tips on the best sport for your daughter go to Life.familyeducation.com and click on “girls in sports.”