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Research highlights coaching's role in girls' leadership through sports

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 29, 2026, 10:24 PM

Last updated Jun 29, 2026

Research highlights coaching's role in girls' leadership through sports

Summary

A new report emphasizes the strong connection between sports participation among girls and their leadership skills later in life., 94% of women in C-suite roles played sports as youth. Effective coaching significantly influences girls' retention in sports, with liking their coach linked to a greater likelihood of continued participation. The Million Coaches Challenge aims to enhance coaching practices to foster these outcomes, addressing the need for better training among youth coaches, as only a third are equipped with proper youth development training.

Source Links

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By the Numbers

•94% of C-suite women played sports in their youth.
•67% of women report carrying sports skills into adulthood.
•Girls who appreciate their coaches are more likely to stay in sports.
•The Million Coaches Challenge has trained over one million coaches.
•Only one-third of youth coaches are trained in development practices.

Latest Updates

10:24 PMYahoo Sports — Why Girls In Sports May Be More Likely To Lead, And How Coaches Help

What they're saying

"
94% of C-suite women played sports as youth. There is one type of leader that has a big impact on whether girls want to play and stay in sports: The coach.
— Yahoo Sports

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