Did you know that women were not allowed to participate in the first modern day Olympics in 1896? And did you know that in the 1900's the medical field told women that physical activity would harm their reproductive organs? In the 1950's, black American women were very successful in track and field but white woman were told it was too masculine for them. The 1960's and the 1970's were brought big changes to young girls interested in sports. Attentions were being brought out about the inequities in women's athletic programs. For example, for every dollar spent in the women's athletic program, $1,300 was being spent in the men's programs. In 1972, federal legislature passed Title IX (9). It simply started that all institutions receiving federal funds had to close the gender gap and offer opportunities and monies to support these opportunities for girls. The rise of girls participating in youth sports has increased dramatically since the passage of Title IX. Despite the tremendous gains in the numbers of girls participating in sporting activities made over the last 30 years, there is still a significant gap. Although there are still fewer girls participating, the gap continues to close with the nation looking to a new emphasis on women's physical fitness and health in America. Men and women alike have recognized the importance and value of female athletics and their sport.

Organized sports also plays a major role in educational opportunities for social development. Many of the social and moral requirements for participation in sports fall in line with the way one must function in a law-abiding society. Children learn to work with others and follow rules. They learn to compete for positions and work hard to achieve their personal best. Because sports are highly valued in America's culture many parents work hard to provide opportunities to partic

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Approximate Word count = 1262
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)