Photo Credit: Shane Clausing

By Shane Clausing

sports participation

Grande Prairie Regional Sport Connection hopeful sports participation remains stable post-pandemic

Jul 14, 2021 | 6:10 PM

The Grande Prairie Regional Sport Connection is hopeful that sports participation remains stable as club and recreation sports return in the fall, especially amongst girls who participate in sport.

A study released by the Canadian Women & Sport and E-Alliance on June 13 found that one in four girls in Canada who participated in sport at least once a week before COVID-19 has not committed to returning.

Canadian Women & Sport CEO Allison Sandmeyer-Graves says that potentially means 350,000 girls could miss out on the benefits of participating in sports and more kids could be impacted down the road.

Karna Germshied, the Executive Director for the Grande Prairie Regional Sport Connection, says while this is a concern, this isn’t exactly a new problem.

“This has been something pre-pandemic that has been happening,” said Germshied. “Girls tend to drop out significantly higher rate than boys do, especially after that 12 to 13-year-old point.”

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Germshied says this means that work needs to be done to keep youth active and engaged in sports.

“For girls, some of the initiatives can be building the programing around the needs of girls and women. Understanding their lens when they are playing and making sure they have opportunities to participate at all levels in a safe and fun environment,” explained Germshied.

“As far as all youth goes, we have to make sure we are engaging with them where they are at. If they do fall out of one sport and have different interests (then) encourage them to follow those interests. We’ve got 90 different types of sports being played in the region.”

She also thinks that once schools return to the classroom in the fall, they could play an important role in getting kids back and active.

“Number one, it (school sports) is inclusive in the sense that it’s a lower cost to participate in (school) sports.”

“If schools do have an opportunity to create A, B, C, D teams or meet the needs of the students that are within that school and create a diverse opportunity, I absolutely think that they can absolutely keep our kids moving.”

Germshied is also encouraging anyone who may want to try a different sport, to participate in their summer Try-It Day on September 11.