From a City of Piedmont press release on Dec. 12:
The Piedmont Recreation Department invites parents and caregivers of girls+ under 18 to complete a short online survey about their participation in sports. Your responses will help Recreation staff better understand the interests, needs, and barriers related to sports participation among girls+ in our community.
The short, 6-question survey asks:
• What sports girls+ in your home play, or are interested in playing
• What would best help them start or increase their involvement in sports
• What difficulties they’ve faced playing sports in the past
The survey is available HERE and will remain open through Friday, Jan. 26.
Participation in sports builds skills that support girls throughout their lives, teaching leadership, discipline, and teamwork. Research has shown a direct link between participation in sports and better educational opportunities, positive health outcomes, and improved career outcomes for girls.
A similar survey conducted in San Francisco found that 1 in 5 girls reported difficulties participating in sports, citing limited enrollment space and lack of easily accessible facilities as the primary barriers. Top desires reported were more convenient locations, more convenient times to play, and the ability to play with friends.
By gaining a better understanding of what opportunities they desire and what barriers exist in Piedmont today, the department hopes to bring more girls+ into athletic programming.
Survey builds on Piedmont Recreation’s longstanding commitment to advancing gender equity in sports
The girls+ sports survey is just one part of the Piedmont Recreation Department’s ongoing work to empower young women through athletics.
The Department’s annual Play Like a Girl+ Piedmont event – which drew over 700 girls+ from across the Bay Area last year – offers hands-on activities for over 20 different sports, live demonstrations on a main stage, and Q&A and meet-and-greet opportunities with professional female athletes. In the fall, the smaller-scale “Try (it) Out
Tuesdays” event series gives girls+ of all skill levels opportunities to try new sports, meet coaches, ask questions, and learn about opportunities within the community.
Last year, Piedmont Recreation’s Title IX basketball jersey initiative was recognized by the California Park & Recreation Society as “Outstanding JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) Program or Event” of the year.
Since 2005, California law has required that community athletics programs, such as those run by local parks and recreation departments, provide equal opportunities to participate for both girls and boys. This law, know as the “Fair Play in Sports Act” is similar to the federal Title IX, which has transformed athletic opportunities for young
women and girls in educational settings nationwide. To learn more, visit the Fair Play for Girls in Sports Project.
For questions about the girls+ sports survey, contact Recreation Director Chelle Putzer at cputzer@piedmont.ca.gov. The survey is conducted in partnership with the Fair Play for Girls in Sports Project, a San Francisco non-profit that aims to expand access and participation to sports.