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Annual Event Brings Together Hundreds of Cambridge Girls in Grades K-5 to Explore Sports

A young girl practices her softball swing

On a recent winter evening, the War Memorial Recreation Center was filled with bright faces and enthusiastic shrieks as nearly 200 Cambridge elementary school-aged girls and their families explored the girls’ sports opportunities that Cambridge has to offer.

Girls in Kindergarten – 5th grade practiced their volleyball and tennis serves, cradled lacrosse balls, and worked on their golf swing; they dribbled soccer and basketballs, shot hockey pucks, threw footballs, tossed frisbees, and clocked how fast they could throw a softball. They tested their orienteering skills, worked on wrestling techniques, and learned about the competitive swim teams available in Cambridge. 

These hands-on demonstrations were just part of the experience at Sports Night for Girls, an annual event offered in partnership by the Cambridge Women’s Commission and Cambridge Recreation, a division of the Department of Human Service Programs. The event brought together more than 60 representatives from Cambridge girls’ sports leagues, inviting girls and their families to connect with coaches and register for athletic leagues. Girls also got to meet and interact with athletes from CRLS girls’ teams including lacrosse, volleyball, and softball. Every girl who attended received a free pass to swim at War Memorial Recreation Center.

“Representatives from all of the sports were so welcoming and encouraging and stuck with my daughter through entire process,” said one parent. “It was a friendly, exciting night that made my [6-year-old] daughter feel curious about several sports she had never tried or even heard of – like wrestling.”

“It’s a great way to introduce kids to sports in a non-threatening way,” said another parent. “My daughter left last year asking when it would happen again, and this year did the exact same thing.”

Research shows that girls who play sports are more likely to get better grades, have higher levels of confidence and self-esteem, develop the critical skills necessary for success in the workplace, and build a larger community of friends. To support Cambridge girls in exploring athletic opportunities, staff at the Women’s Commission and Cambridge Recreation collaborate to plan and host the annual Sports Night for Girls event, expanding each year to incorporate new athletic opportunities and connect with more families.

“The goal of the event is to bring the girls’ youth athletic community together and lower the barrier of access for families to learn about girls’ sports and how to get involved,” said Vladimir Pierre, Recreation’s Facilities and Programming Manager. 

Emily Shield, Manager of Programs and Special Projects for the Cambridge Women’s Commission, chairs Cambridge Girls in Sports (CGiS), a coalition of dozens of local teams, City departments, and athletic opportunities helping to improve equitable access, sustain enrollment, and develop a deep sense of community for girls through city-wide sports.

“Sports Night for Girls is an exhilarating and engaging way for our coalition members to connect with girls. Families love the hands-on experiences.” explains Shield. “One 7-year-old told me that she really wanted to use a hockey stick but was very shy. The girl stood on the sidelines for nearly 5 minutes working up the courage. Finally, she tried it – and then proceeded to spend the next 10 minutes shooting until her family had to leave.”

For many attendees, the exhilaration of the night continued as they cheered on the CRLS Girls Varsity Basketball Team in a winning game against Weston. 

Families who registered for Sports Night for Girls received a follow up email with comprehensive information about girls’ sports opportunities and other City programming for girls.

If you are interested in learning more about girls sports in Cambridge, contact Cambridge Recreation or the Cambridge Women’s Commission. You can also learn more about Cambridge’s youth athletic leagues at www.cambridgema.gov/Leagues.

Page was posted on 2/4/2025 2:52 PM
Page was last modified on 2/6/2025 2:27 PM
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