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Sports and Girls
July 8, 2010 Updated Jul 8, 2010 at 4:03 PM EDT

The direct benefits of sports for girls is improved health and physical fitness. But, new studies reveal the advantages go well beyond the obvious. According to a recent study, high school girls who play sports are 73 percent more likely to go to college, even if they don't play in college. One reason, experts say, is sports improves their self-esteem. Dr. Laura Mee, a Child Psychologist, says that sports "does give them another way to look at themselves, and to look at their bodies as a powerful force and not just sort of ornamental." Also, girls also do better academically because they feel more attached to their school. Milena Garcia Skollar, LCSW, a Family Therapist, says "I think it would help a teenage girl feel more connected, "Well, hey, I'm part of this team, I am part of this school. And I don't know if you can get that in any other way."
Studies also show that girls involved in sports are more likely to delay sexual activity.

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