The growth in womens sports participation is not always where you expect it,
according to data in the new NSGA Sports Participation reports. If one looks at
the percent difference growth between the percent of females participating in
sports and recreation activities now versus five years ago (2006 versus 2001),
the top three in percent difference growth were racquetball (6.8%), fishing
(6.6%) and paintball games (6.6%).
Two more traditional
sports followed in percent difference growth, softball at 6.2% and volleyball at
5.8%, and grabbed the Nos. four and five positions.
Rounding out the top 10
in percent difference growth were tackle football (4.7%), hunting with bow and
arrow (4.4%), off-road mountain biking (4.2%), golf (4.2%) and skateboarding
(3.8%).
At the bottom of the 41
sports surveyed by the Association, three showed negative percent difference
growth of 3% or greater. They were alpine skiing (-3.5%), muzzleloading (-3.5%)
and exercise walking (-3.0%).
Analyzing by percent
difference growth takes into account the growth or decline in total
participation in each sport.
