Over the last few years, women's sport has been at the forefront of our television sets and society.
Last year we witnessed a packed house at Eden Park for the Rugby World Cup finals between New Zealand v England, we watched the Women's Cricket World Cup, South Africa just hosted the Netball World Cup, and currently, in Australia and New Zealand, we watch the best female footballers come together for the FIFA World Cup.
Now I know there's been a lot of controversy in Women's Sports regarding equal pay and transgender athletes participating in sports.
But lets that put those controversies aside and focus on why sports are essential for women and celebrate and highlight the positive impact sport can have in their lives.
There are many advantages to women taking part in sports.
One of those benefits is CONFIDENCE. Women who take part in sports have a high level of self-esteem and lower levels of depression. They have confidence in their bodies and have a strong sense of well-being.
Sports teach women CRITICAL AND NECESSARY SKILLS to assist them in life and the workplace. They can set goals, work in a team, be part of a high-performance environment, pursue excellence, learn to make decisions and be assertive.
Being involved in sports allows women to build RELATIONSHIPS. They can make friends that share a common interest. They can talk about sports, support their friends and avoid boredom.
It is also found that women who participate in sports succeed on the field or the court and are successful in the CLASSROOM. They can concentrate more, manage their time better at school, usually achieve higher grades, and manage stress better during exams.
There are many HEALTH benefits to taking part in sports for women. Research has found that sport or exercise 3 times a week for an hour can reduce the risk of breast cancer by 20 - 30 percent.
Playing Sports can empower young women and give them a sense of belonging. They are less likely to take drugs or fall pregnant. Most will graduate from high school and succeed in the workforce.
As women's sports continue to grow, it still has a long way to go, but we must continue supporting them. Take young girls to women's sporting events so that they see what is possible to achieve and will see a version of themselves excelling and continue to be positive when it comes to women's sports.
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