Greensboro Parks and Recreation 2023-24 Annual Report

in-house for women. Girls may participate in cheerleading, co-ed basketball, and co-ed baseball, in addition to opportunities offered through partnership programs. “Greensboro Parks and Recreation is currently working internally, through partnerships and conversations with the community, to provide more opportunities specific to girls and women,” said Monique Floyd, the City’s athletic services superintendent. “We are currently in the planning stage of developing various clinics and programming opportunities.” What once was a traditional 5-on-5 league has now become a women’s 3-on-3 basketball league for individuals. Women may now participate without having to be associated with a team. As a part of registration, participants are given their own uniforms and don’t need to bring anything other than appropriate athletic wear. The same approach is taken for women’s softball as well – with the biggest difference being Greensboro area softball teams are competing against other local parks and recreation departments, such as Kernersville and Burlington. Meanwhile, co-ed kickball and co-ed softball differ slightly, as registration is by teams. Individuals may to join a free agent list that provides an opportunity to be “picked up” by an existing team that registers. As women’s sports continue to grow, expanding girls’ sports has become a priority for the department. According to a report from the Women’s Sports Foundation, 40 percent of teen girls do not participate in sports compared to 25 percent of teen boys. Additionally, by age 14 girls are dropping out of sports at two times the rate of boys. “It’s imperative that the City do the work to help close the gap,” said Floyd. “We are working to provide girls the opportunity to engage in girls-only clinics, leagues, and programs,” Floyd said. “We are in the planning stages of an event on February 5, 2025, in honor of National Girls and Women in Sports Day, which will focus on providing girls with an introduction to sports like basketball, volleyball, lacrosse, and pickleball to name a few. Following this event we plan to offer a girls basketball league in the Spring and host additional clinics and programming opportunities.” Be sure to follow the Greensboro Parks and Recreation Department on social media, and on the City website, to stay up to date regarding information about future opportunities regarding women’s and girls’ sports.

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