Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
Think back to the first time you looked in the mirror as a young girl and started taking note of those things that you perceived were flaws or imperfections. Do you remember how old you were when feelings of self doubt appeared? When that inner voice stirred up feelings of not being good enough or pretty enough or caused you to think that you weren’t perfect as you were? When did someone else’s opinion start to carry more weight and impact your sense of self?
A shocking decline in self-confidence begins as early as age 8. Two recent studies highlight the urgency of this issue: The Confidence Code for Girls reports a 30% drop in confidence among girls aged 8 to 14, while The Girls’ Index found that over half of fifth and sixth-grade girls doubt their intelligence in pursuing their dream careers. (“Confidence Code for Girls”) These statistics are more than numbers; they represent a generation of girls at risk of never reaching their full potential due to self-doubt. It’s crucial that we teach confidence, self-acceptance, and self-love from an early age, ensuring that every girl feels empowered to chase her dreams. Early education and strong role models are vital in shaping a future where young women grow into self-assured, resilient leaders.
Middle school is a pivotal time for self-development, as students begin forming their identities and navigating complex social dynamics. During this period, many face challenges that can impact self-esteem—such as physical changes, academic pressure, peer acceptance, self-comparison, and identity formation. For girls, this is often harder. Research shows that self-esteem and confidence often decline for girls more than boys during middle school. We are seeing this in youth sports, which was once protected against self-esteem and body image issues.
A recent Women In Sport survey found that many girls are quitting sports in their teen years, citing low self-esteem and heightened body concerns—often worsened by social media exposure. (Women N Sports) But we want our girls to see themselves as leaders and build their confidence. By doing this, we are providing them skills to pursue their dreams, and enjoy tennis along the way as their sport of choice. Billie Jean King argues that “94% of women in C-suites identify as being an athlete. Girls that learn sports learn how to lead.”
Besides the increase of social media, studies have found other contributing factors include puberty-related changes, academic demands, social pressures, and limited support. In order to address these issues, and help the next generation of girls reach their full potential, we must think of programs, experiences, or engagement models for young girls to discover how to love themselves. To address this, we can focus on strategies such as emphasizing effort and growth over grades, promoting healthy friendships, helping girls navigate peer pressure and bullying, and encouraging participation in activities that build confidence and belonging. Adults can also model positive self-talk and help girls challenge negative thoughts and self-criticism.
Now, imagine a world where young girls look in the mirror and see not just their reflection, but their undeniable potential. One USTA Midwest NJTL Chapter, Advantage Cleveland Tennis and Education, has launched a new initiative designed to equip young girls with the resources they need to thrive. Through strategic partnerships, they are offering workshops that empower girls with confidence-building mindsets, character development, positive body image, problem-solving skills, and a strong support network.
Advantage Cleveland’s Girls Rising in Tennis (GRIT) program is dedicated to empowering young girls and redefining how they learn and play tennis to support both athletic and personal growth. GRIT goes beyond improving tennis skills—it’s about building resilience, ambition, and confidence. In partnership with Queen IAm, an organization committed to empowering, enriching, and educating young women, GRIT offers workshops that strengthen self-esteem, teamwork, and leadership.
GRIT officially kicked off in February with the generous support of the Cavaliers Community Foundation and USTA Northeastern Ohio, to help celebrate and elevate women in sports. Guest speakers have included professionals from ESPN, Senior VPs from U.S. Bank, and retired WTA tennis players—each sharing their wisdom and experience to motivate the next generation.
The first workshop of 2025, Serving Up Confidence, targeted activities to encourage girls to take risks and approach challenges with confidence. There are five workshops planned in total: they blend tennis instruction with character development themes that promote social-emotional learning (SEL). The next, Sisterhood and Sportsmanship, will take place in May and will focus on how to win and lose gracefully as well as support each other on and off the courts in order to build a culture of sisterhood around tennis.
The remaining workshops in the series include: Learning the Value of GRIT and Resilience, and Fostering a Positive Body Image. These sessions will emphasize mutual respect, teamwork, and a sense of belonging. Girls will be encouraged to celebrate one another’s successes, support each other through challenges, and experience the power of unity and friendship in achieving shared goals.
To read more about GRIT or upcoming workshops CLICK HERE.
You can help fund programs like GRIT. Help MTEF offer girls more opportunities like this.
