Combat Exercise Classes
Physical activity helps reduce the risk of several health problems. But the benefits of sports go well beyond the physical—and well beyond the playing field. They include improved academic achievement and self-esteem, as well as a sense of belonging. Why do girls lag behind their peers in sports participation, and what can be done to close the gap? One of the girls said that “boys’ teams, even when they’re not good, get better uniforms.” Most of the schools involved were low-income Title 1 schools, and the coaches often said that all sports needed more funding, but that certain sports, such as football, received more funding than the others.
