Girls' Youth Sport Gap With Boys Widens
Canadian Women & Sport's Rally Report 2026 finds girls' weekly organized sport participation trails boys by 10 percentage points.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Women’s Issues
Live Poll
Do you think girls are getting equal access to organized sport in Canada?
Canadian Women & Sport released Rally Report 2026 in partnership with Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities. The report found 61% of girls play organized sport at least weekly, compared with 71% of boys, a gap that has widened since 2024.
Why it matters
Although girls' participation is higher than in 2020, when it stood at 50%, the widening gap signals that girls are not keeping pace with boys' gains in organized sport. The findings point to a growing disparity that could affect access to the health and social benefits of organized activity for young Canadians.
The Rally Report 2026 is Canadian Women & Sport's flagship research on youth sport participation. Girls' weekly participation rose from 50% in 2020 to 61%, while boys reached 71%, leaving a 10-percentage-point gap.
The players
Canadian Women & Sport
Canadian Women & Sport is a national organization that advocates for gender equity in sport and physical activity across Canada.
Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities
Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities is a national charity that helps children and youth in financial need access organized sport and physical activity.
The details
Girls' participation decreased slightly while boys' participation increased slightly, widening the gap. The report was released in partnership with Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities.
Timeline
2020: Girls' organized sport participation stood at 50%.
2024: The boy-girl participation gap began to widen.
November 12, 2026: Rally Report 2026 was launched.
Season Trajectory
The Rally Report 2026 continues the tracking begun with the 2020 baseline, when girls' organized sport participation stood at 50%. The new figures show girls' participation has risen since then, yet the boy-girl gap has widened from 5 to 10 percentage points since 2024.
Parents of girls and boys across Canada may find that organized sport opportunities for daughters are narrowing relative to sons. The report's findings suggest families should look closely at local girls' programs to ensure their children have consistent access to weekly activity.
The takeaway
Girls are playing organized sport more than they did in 2020, but the boy-girl gap has grown. Parents and coaches can help close it by actively encouraging girls to join and stay in weekly programs.
Further reading
For more on gender gaps in youth activity, explore Women's Issues coverage across Canada.
Live Poll
Do you think girls are getting equal access to organized sport in Canada?
