The sun beams on your face, illuminating the red of your jersey and the serious gaze of your eyes as they trace the sea of crisp grass blades, searching for the ball. You sprint to get open for your teammate, the slight breeze of an early autumn day sending wisps of hair out of your once-perfect slick-back. Thud. The ball plants itself directly into your possession, your movements second nature as you pull your leg back and smack the ball into the net. The score is now 3-2, and you just won the game for your team. Your teammates huddle around, cheering in the sweet taste of victory, and a small crowd of parents hoot their approval.
But there aren’t any bleachers filled with the bustle of excitement from your peers.
No Friday night lights.
No dress-up themes and candy.
Why? Because you’re a girl.
Title IX, signed into effect in 1972, is a civil rights law that prohibits sex-based discrimination, with a goal to address the lack of equity in education and athletics. Such an action has historically benefited female athletes through allotting funds for girls sports and allowing for increased participation in programs nationwide. However, although such legislation increases the involvement of girls in athletics, it doesn’t incentivize schools to publicize the success of the girls teams or high schoolers to cheer on the teams at competitions. At East and in our current society, female sports are often undermined and less publicized than their male counterparts, contributing to lack of confidence and participation in athletics.
A quick Google search of “Cherry Hill East sports” warrants links to the district website and team calendars— in addition to link after link of the boys football team.
The East boys football team has succeeded immensely over the past year, having completed an undefeated regular season. Similarly, the boys soccer team advanced to sectional finals, drawing crowds of students to support the athletes in pursuit of victory. While such teams gained vast recognition for their efforts and success on the field, many female varsity sports lack mirrored publicity and crowd size.
Girls volleyball and swimming, both of which have strong rankings and reputations of success, are scarcely identifiable when placed in the shadows of seemingly dominating male sports teams. For example, the girls varsity volleyball team won back-to-back American Division championships in 2024 and 2025. Furthermore, the girls varsity swim team won the Group A state championships in 2025. Neither competition attracted the number of students as the boys East vs West football or soccer games.
Research has proven that crowd support improves one’s game. The University of Leeds conducted a study during COVID-19 considering how the lack of fans affected athletic performance, specifically identifying that “home teams accrued significantly fewer points and scored fewer goals when crowds were absent.” Therefore, the noticeable difference between spectator numbers at male and female competitions can negatively impact the team’s success as a whole.
When comparing high school football to girls sports, noticeable division lies not just in gender but also in sport popularity. Naturally, in a society that idolizes NFL athletes, fewer students will show up to a girls’ golf match than a playoff boys’ football game. However, the true stark division between genders becomes immensely apparent while comparing male sports to their female counterparts. As an athlete myself, I have personally experienced the intense disparity between support and publicity of female athletic disciplines in comparison to male ones.
Last year, I competed as a member of the girls swim team during our Group A state championship victory, continuing a legacy of excellence and school spirit. Leading up to the big meet, the boys’ swim team was also on track to progress to state finals. Preceding their semifinals meet and our state championships, Fox 29 local news hosted a broadcast featuring both swim teams, girls cheerleading and boys basketball. While the camera quickly flitted past the girls team as we waved and cheered, the news anchor interviewed the boys team on their bleached hair, a tradition that aimed to cultivate camaraderie. Not even considering talking with the girls team, the broadcast flashed onto the next topic. That night, the boys swim team lost in the semifinal round, while the girls team progressed on to win the state championships.
Especially in competitive swimming, although competitors and times may differ, training remains relatively indistinguishable when comparing male to female high school and club athletes. Regardless of gender, swimmers participate in the same sets, from breath control to sprints, requiring nearly identical degrees of mental toughness and focus. Therefore, when discrepancies in school spirit and overall support of teams glorify the boys and ignore the girls, the efforts of female athletes are disregarded. The blood, sweat and tears are seen as insignificant compared to flashy Countrymen Instagram stories and tough linebackers.
According to the U.S. Soccer Foundation, teenage girls are twice as likely as males to drop out of sports by age 14. With lack of self-esteem prominent following puberty, moral support for female athletes grows increasingly imperative, in order to cultivate confidence that allows athletes to succeed on the field and in life.
More needs to be done to ensure support of female sports at East. Not only will increased spirit incentivize athletes to perform better, but it will also help them to thrive as people. When surrounded by a school that respects their hard work and holds them accountable, female athletes can gain the autonomy to succeed in the real world, anchor themselves in the comfort of their community and find the courage to step outside of their comfort zone and achieve their goals.
When all is said and done, the swish of the net, the clang of a golf club and the thwack of a tennis serve matters— no matter the gender of the girl behind it.
