By Catherine O'Neill Grace
Special to The Washington Post

As the afternoons get shorter and the temperature starts to fall, autumn sports are winding down. Kids all over the country are packing up their soccer gear and dusting off their ice skates or basketball shoes, they're planning to stay active through the winter.

The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that close to 6 million high school boys and girls take part in team sports across the United States. Another 20 million participate in recreational or competitive sports outside school. Staying active year-round helps kids stay healthy.

People have always felt that physical activity is important for boys. It has taken a little longer to recognize that it's just as important for girls. Back in 1971, only one in 27 girls participated in high school sports, according to the Women's Sports Foundation. Then in 1972, Congress enacted Title IX, a law that opened the doors for more girls to participate in school sports.

Under Title IX, the number of girls participating in interscholastic sports has grown from about 300,000 in the early 1970s to 2.25 million in 1997.

One result of the explosion in girls' athletics is that researchers and educators have started looking into the impact that sports and physical activity have on girls and women. Last year, the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports released a major report, "Physical Activity and Sport in the Lives of Girls." The report found that participation in athletic activity ran help girls sail successfully through the physical and emotional storms that come with adolescence.

It also lays the foundation for a healthier adult life with a reduced risk of developing many of the chronic diseases of adulthood, including heart disease and some cancers.

Sports give girls an educational boost too. The council's report noted that female athletes often achieve higher grades than their non-athletic counterparts and are less likely to drop out of school and more likely to go on to college.

"We've come a long way from the days when females were relegated to 'ladylike' sports and girls stood on the sidelines as their brothers played," said Sandra Perlmutter, executive director of the council. "We must continue to bring more girls onto the courts and playing fields, so every girl has the opportunity to experience the many benefits—and sheer pleasure—of sports."

Research shows that adult women are also becoming more active as well, participating in a wide variety of traditional activities and nontraditional sports such as mountain biking and ice hockey.

As the November days get shorter, make a plan about the sport or physical activity you will be doing this winter to keep your body and mind in top condition.

Tips for Parents

More girls are participating in sports than ever before, but they tend to drop out much more readily than boys do. Girls tend to assess their general athletic ability more negatively than boys do. Research suggests that parents can play a crucial role in bolstering girls' confidence and keeping them active. Expanding the notion of "feminine" behavior so that girls see sport as an appropriate way to spend their time can help. For information about how adults can get involved in promoting girls'sports, contact the Melpomene Institute, 1010 University Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55104; telephone 1-612-642-1951. The Melpomene Institute is a nonprofit research organization that specializes in the relationship between women's physical activity and health.

For You to Do

You have the power to get moving! The following tips are adapted from "Girl Power!" a national program organized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The program has a variety of activities and suggestions designed to help girls stay healthy and strong as they grow up. (Even though these tips begin with the letters that spell out "girl," the advice is pretty good for boys too!):

• Get into the game. Get involved in activities like sports, theater, photography or a youth group that open up your world to new people and ideas.
• Increase your knowledge. Know where to get facts and information and whom you can turn to for advice. Having knowledge gives you the power to make good decisions.
• Reach out for help when you need it. Everyone needs help now and then. Don't be ashamed or afraid to turn to a parent, teacher, counselor or an older student when you need help with schoolwork or a personal problem.
• Let your talents shine. You are a unique individual with your own special talents and skills, -some of which you may not even have discovered yet. You don't have to be the best at everything-just enjoy what you do!

Special thanks to Catherine O'Neill Grace for granting permission to reprint this article.

Check out these other articles about Girl Power! that were written by Catherine O'Neill Grace.

• "Strong Girls"
• "Getting Wise About Size"