Popular Sports Girls Love: Insights, Trends, and Best Activities

Strange to think, just fifty years ago, people still argued about whether girls should run or play football. Today, everything's flipped. You can stand on the side lines at any park in Bristol and spot a swirling storm of ponytails flying through a football match, girls lacing up for rugby, running track, swimming, spinning on skateboards, and even thrashing it out at martial arts.

So, is there one sport that girls love the most? It’s not as clear-cut as you think. Sure, there's data and lots of surveys. But walk into any school or club, and you’ll get a whole firework display of answers. Girls aren't all falling for the same ball—some chase hoops, some rack up laps in the pool, and plenty barrel down the gym mat chasing their own kind of glory.

The Changing Scene: How Girls’ Sports Preferences Evolve

The myth that girls don’t like sport? Rubbish. Growing participation rates shatter that old cliché. In the UK, Sport England’s Active Lives Children and Young People survey showed by late 2024, over 92% of girls did some form of physical activity every week. That’s up from less than 75% two decades back. Football’s exploded in popularity thanks to the England Lionesses, especially after their dramatic Euro and World Cup performances. Around 2.5 million girls and women now play football regularly in England, and over 60,000 girls aged 5-16 joined local clubs in 2024—triple the number a decade ago.

But it’s not just about scoring goals. Netball’s been a staple for generations—England’s Vitality Netball Superleague draws 2.8 million viewers a year, with more than 318,000 regular netball players across the country. Swimming is another big draw. It ranked as the UK’s top individual sport for girls, with official Swim England reports showing 1.1 million girls under 16 swim weekly. Athletics, gymnastics, dance, and tennis pack out the rest of the top five. Martial arts like karate and judo are way more popular with girls even at primary school age than they were even 10 years back. And take skateboarding—since it’s hit the Olympics and street parks, more girls are picking up decks than ever before.

Across the board, there’s no “one size fits all.” What’s clear is that the range of choices is what sparks excitement. Girls want variety, fun, challenge, and a social space, not just trophies or scoresheets.

Why Certain Sports Attract More Girls

What’s behind the numbers? The sport girls love the most usually shares a few things: teamwork, chance to see improvement, physically creative moves, and great coaches who don’t treat them like second-class athletes. Football, for example, brings friends together for a shared mission—there’s always that buzz: who’ll score the next goal or save a penalty? Netball mixes strategy with speed. Swimming appeals because it’s both solo and social—you get time in your own lane but still race alongside your mates.

Dance and gymnastics are massive for those who like self-expression. You can see all sorts of girls in these clubs: the shy ones stretching next to the bravest ones attempting flips. In martial arts, it’s not just self-defense, it’s the confidence boost—Bristol’s judo clubs say their girls are more likely than boys to stick with it past their teens.

Sports where you can progress quickly or get creative—skateboarding, parkour, even cheerleading—are magnets because girls can see real, fast wins in skill and confidence. Also, social media’s made a difference—when your schoolmate posts a cool backflip or a medal on TikTok, it makes that sport feel accessible, almost contagious.

It would be missing the point to ignore the power of star players. The rise of visible female athletes has inspired millions. Lucy Bronze in football, Katarina Johnson-Thompson in athletics, Dina Asher-Smith in sprinting, Alice Dearing in swimming—real people, real stories, local accents, and success that feels relatable. Girls see someone like them making history. That’s pure rocket fuel.

Common Barriers and How Girls Overcome Them

Even though interest is sky-high, plenty of hurdles trip up girls who want to get involved. Many girls between 11–16 still drop out at twice the rate of boys. Why? For one thing, there’s old-school attitudes, uniforms that feel awkward or too “revealing,” and a sometimes toxic focus on appearance instead of fun or skill. Poor school facilities don’t help, nor do the pressure-cooker environments where only the top players get picked. Body changes during puberty play their own role—self-consciousness spikes and enjoyment can take a dive if the vibe isn’t supportive.

But schools and clubs tackling these issues find their numbers jump. When teams ditch the chilly gyms for proper sports halls, swap restrictive kit rules for comfort, and actually listen to what girls say about drills and practice, retention skyrockets. Coaches who encourage—not just direct—help massively. Having women coaches or mentors on staff helps understanding, especially once things like periods and changing rooms get awkward to talk about.

Mental health support has become non-negotiable. Taking pressure off and focusing on fun first—before trophies, stats, or scholarships—makes all the difference. Building leadership roles for girls, not just athlete spots, keeps older teens involved. And honestly, the more friends are involved, the more likely a girl will stick around. Peer encouragement is huge. Clubs making space for all skill levels—so nobody rides the bench for a whole season—remove the fear of embarrassment. And training sessions available after school, not just on weekends early in the morning, opens up chances for more girls juggling family or work obligations.

Real-World Tips: Helping Girls Find The Sport They Love

The secret sauce? Let girls experiment. Think of sports like a buffet, not a fixed menu. Some parents in Bristol sign up their daughters for everything: hockey, swimming, climbing, even fencing or archery. Even if their choice changes year to year, the more things girls try, the higher the odds they’ll find what truly sticks.

Ask what draws your daughter (or niece, or friend) in: is it the thrill of a race, the calm of yoga, the pulse of a dance class, or having mates shout encouragement from the sidelines? Kids listening to themselves instead of what seems "cool" makes a huge difference. Trust them to pick and swap until they hit their groove.

• Start young—ages 6-10 is where habits and confidence are built
• Prioritize great, inspiring coaches—many Bristol clubs run free trial weeks just to help girls find a coach they connect with
• Ignore gendered advice: try "boys'" sports like rugby, cricket, or skateboarding—they’re booming in coed clubs now
• Switch up activities by season—swim in summer, football in autumn, gymnastics in winter
• Bring a friend—new research from the University of Bath found girls were 67% more likely to keep attending if their best mate joined too

Watch for burnout. If a sport stops being fun, let it go. This isn’t about making the next Olympic star; it’s about building a love for movement and community. Help girls set small, personal goals—a new routine, a personal best, a tricky skill mastered—not just trophies or times. And trust their instincts: sometimes, the sport girls love most is the one that feels like home, not the one that makes the most headlines.

So, what sport do girls love the most? In England right now, football is smashing records, but look closer and you’ll see the true story: girls are rewriting the playbook on what they can do, and they’re taking on every sport going. Choice is power—let’s give them the chance to try it all.