Girl, let's get in the game!

Hey girl!  Do you want to start following your local sports team but don’t know where to start?  Are you attending a live sporting event and have no idea what to wear?  Or do you have a game day date and need a quick how-to guide on navigating the event?  Whatever your reason, keep reading! 

There’s many reasons why girls – and really everyone for that matter - should become sports fans.  Sports are a lifestyle, a passion, and a way to connect with your community.  I’m here to tell you all the reasons why becoming a sports fan – and getting in the game – is the right decision for you!

Happiness, Self Esteem, Connection

Being a sports fan can make you happier.  And that’s backed by science.  According to research by Daniel Wann out of Murray State University, being a sports fan connects you with other people who share the same interests and brings a sense of community and bonding.  It also allows fans to experience the joys of winning, as well as learning how to deal with the agony of defeat.  And according to this research, this helps us to have higher levels of self-esteem, less loneliness, and overall, a happier way of life. 

And who doesn’t want to be happier?

Self Confidence and Social Skills

We also build skills for the real world when we follow sports. While it may seem that following sports is just about throwing on a jersey and cheering for the home team, it is much more than just that! Understanding complex rules, discussing tactics and plays, and expressing our opinions about the teams and game, helps us to think critically, speak confidently, and engage with those around us. 

And these are skills that we can use all throughout our personal and professional lives.

Teamwork

There’s nothing better than watching your favourite team or athlete grit it out on the ice, court, pitch, field, or wherever they are playing, and come away with a victory.  But the athletes could not do it alone.  As the saying goes, there is no “I” in Team, and sports show us that to be successful and achieve our dreams, we cannot do it alone.  In the words of the great Michael Jordan, “Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships”.

I think we can all agree that we want to win whatever championships life has to offer. 

Motivation and Inspiration

Who do you look up to?  Chances are it’s an athlete.  Athletes overcome pressure, deal with adversity, make sacrifices throughout their lives, and must be dedicated and discipled, all to have a chance at achieving their goal(s).  This is pretty darn inspiring!  No matter what goals you are trying to achieve in your life, you can look to your favourite athletes to provide inspiration to get you through the tough times.  This can help you to become more disciplined, to be able to handle the pressure that life throws at you, and to deal with the ups and downs that come your way.

I’m inspired already! 

Fun

Let’s face it, sports are exciting!  Its fun to get dressed up in team gear (or whatever outfit you feel your best self in – stay tuned for more information on how to style your game day fit!), meet up with friends and family (or bring yourself on a solo date!), cheer on your team, eat some game day food, and enjoy the atmosphere of being in a crowd of like-minded people.

Whether you know every player on the roster or are just getting started, sporting events will always be a place to create memories, build relationships, find inspiration, and most importantly, have fun! 

Girl, I hope that this post has inspired you to buy a ticket and check out a local game.  I think you’ll like it.