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The 2007 Tucker Center Research Report (TCRR)
Media Coverage, Spring 2008

The year 2007 marked the 35th year since the passage of Title IX, and the 10th year since the release of the groundbreaking report Physical Activity and Sport in the Lives of Girls: Physical and Mental Health Dimensions from an Interdisciplinary Approach. While Title IX federal legislation has changed the landscape of physical activity opportunities for girls, the original report highlighted the physical, psychological, social, and cultural benefits girls derive from physical activity, the barriers that prevent girls from reaching their full potential, as well as the kinds of environments in which girls can thrive. Within the last decade, a wealth of research from multiple disciplines has illuminated trends in girls' physical activity that are both troubling and encouraging.

Web Traffic

The Tucker Center Web site averages about 650 hits a day from around the world. On the day of the TCRR launch—Monday, April 14, 2008—the Tucker Center website registered a record breaking 8,545 hits!  Since the launch, the Tucker Center Web site is averaging over 3,200 hits a day.

Interviews with President Bruininks and Project Directors

Click here for multimedia video of interviews with President Bruininks and Project Directors Mary Jo Kane and Nicole M. Lavoi.

Print & Online Media

U report: Girls in sports in record numbers, but informal activity lagging
Girls are involved in sports in record numbers, but their participation in physical activity outside of organized sports is falling, particularly as they move from childhood to adolescence. ... Those are some of the findings in a report released today by the University of Minnesota's Tucker Center for Research on Girls and Women in Sport.
Star Tribune, April 14, 2008
 http://www.startribune.com/local/17658479.html

Rachel Blount: Girls need to become more active
A Tucker Center report that should be a call to action finds continued barriers to participation…
Star Tribune, April 22, 2008
http://www.startribune.com/sports/17991014.html

Girls Participating in Sports in Record Numbers
A record number of American girls are participating in sports, but their physical activity levels outside of organized sports are decreasing, especially as they go from childhood to adolescence, a new study concludes. The authors, from the University of Minnesota Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport, reviewed the most recent research conducted on a number of aspects of girls and sport/physical activity including: physical, psychological, social and cultural benefits; barriers that prevent girls from reaching their full potential; and environments that help girls learn how to develop and do well both on and off the playing field.
U.S. News and World Report
http://health.usnews.com/usnews/health/healthday/080414/girls-participating-in-sports-in-record-numbers.htm

Girls Participating in Sports in Record Numbers
But exercise outside organized teams has drops as adolescence approaches, study finds
Business Week, (April 14, 2008)
 http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/614496.html?chan=search

Study Shows Girls Losing Interest In Physical Activity
According to a new study from the University of Minnesota, girls are becoming far less interested in physical activity outside of their traditional organized sports.
DB Techno News
http://www.dbtechno.com/health/2008/04/14/study-shows-girls-losing-interest-in-physical-activity/

Females In Sports At Record High, Yet Many Not Active Enough, U Of Minnesota Report Says
A report by the University of Minnesota's Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport shows that girls are participating in sports in record numbers, but their participation in physical activity outside of organized sports is declining, especially as they move from childhood into adolescence.
Medical News Today
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/104062.php

Barriers persist for fitness in girls
U.S. girls are participating in sports in record numbers, but their physical activity outside of organized sports is declining, U.S. researchers said. A report released by the University of Minnesota's Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport said girls' participation rates in all types of physical activities consistently lag behind those of boys and girls' dropout rates are higher contributing to obesity levels.
United Press International
http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Health/2008/04/15/barriers_persist_for_fitness_in_girls/5415/

Too many choices deplete mental acuity: U.S. researchers
People faced with many choices — over anything from consumer products to college courses — find it difficult to stay focused enough to complete projects and handle daily tasks, say U.S. researchers. While having choices is often thought of as a good thing, research led by the University of Minnesota's marketing department found we are more fatigued and less productive when faced with a lot of choices.
CBC - Canada
http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2008/04/15/choices.html

Study: Girls play sports, but get less exercise
According to a University of Minnesota study released earlier this week, girls are participating in sports in record numbers, but they are on the whole less fit.
City Pages, Twin Cities
http://blogs.citypages.com/sports/2008/04/study_girls_pla.php

Girls participation in sports not active enough, despite record high
A report released by the University of Minnesota has revealed that though the number of girls participating in sports have hit a record high, still there are certain barriers that prevent them from taking part in activities outside the organized sports, as they move from childhood into adolescence.
Thaindian News
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/business/girls-participation-in-sports-not-active-enough-despite-record-high_10037865.html

Girls In Sports At Record High, Yet Many Not Active Enough, Report Says
A report released to be released on April 14 by the University of Minnesota's Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport shows that girls are participating in sports in record numbers, but their participation in physical activity outside of organized sports is declining, especially as they move from childhood into adolescence.
ScienceDaily (April 14, 2008)
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080414082537.htm

Girls Participating in Sports in Record Numbers
WECT Channel 6, Wilmington DE
http://wect.com/Global/story.asp?S=8164970

Keeping Our Daughters Active
Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Fit Nation Column for TIME
As a father of two little girls, I sometimes get to spend my weekend afternoons watching my elder daughter run around on the playground, chasing after the other kids, giggling and screaming. ... Record numbers of girls are now taking part in organized sports--1 in 3, according to a new report compiled by the Tucker Center for Research on Girls and Women in Sport at the University of Minnesota.
Time Magazine, April 25,2008
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1734837,00.html

Girls in sports at record levels, but is it enough?
Reuters Health
http://www.healthcentral.com/diet-exercise/news-250787-66_pf.html

Live Television

KARE 11
U of M Study: More girls in sports, still lagging in exercise
Nicole LaVoi appeared on KARE 11 News @4pm with Diana Pierce, Friday, April 18th
http://www.kare11.com/news/newsatfour/newsatfour_article.aspx?storyid=508300

KSTP
Nicole LaVoi appeared Monday April 14 @ 4:30pm with Leah McLearan

Television Coverage: U-Relations Video Media Release

Study: Young girls and exercise
The study shows that girls are less likely than boys to take part in physical activities, and more likely than boys to stop exercising when they grow from childhood to adolescence. ... Researchers from the University of Minnesota point to a number of reasons, including poor body image, poorly trained coaches and the way society tends to objectify female athletes.

Radio

Girls play more sports, but are less active
More girls are participating in organized sports at all levels, but they're less physically active overall. ... That's according to a study released today by the University of Minnesota's Tucker Center. The study is a follow-up of a report from 10 years ago which highlighted the benefits for girls from physical activity.
Minnesota Public Radio
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/04/14/active_girls/

  • KWLM Radio [1340am] with Paul Stagg, Friday April 18th @ 5:15pm
  • WTIP public radio in Grand Marais, MN, April 18
  • WCCO radio
  • ABC radio, with Art Blazer
  • ABCnews.com phone interview with “Dr. Tim” (Timothy Johnson), Healthy Living
  • CNN with Sanjay Gupta, Morning show piece, Fit Nation Column for TIME
  • 107.1FM Living Life Out Loud, Kevyn Burger Show, Nicole LaVoi live in studio

Internal University of Minnesota Media Coverage

Developing Physically Active Girls
In the 2007 Tucker Center Research Report, leading scholars summarize the research that has shaped recent gendered trends and review some of the best practices, approaches, and programs that are helping to address the physical activity needs of the current generation of girls and young women.
CEHD homepage, http://cehd.umn.edu/

Go, girl! U study shows that as girls move from childhood to adolescence, their physical activity drops
UMN News
 http://www1.umn.edu/umnnews/Feature_Stories/You_go2C_girl21.html#

UMN News Service Video
http://www1.umn.edu/urelate/newsservice/Multimedia_Videos/tucker_report.htm

The CEHD Insider
Tucker Center Spring Distinguished Lecture Series: "Developing Physically Active Girls: Challenges, Opportunities and Solutions."
Highlights from the recently released 2007 Tucker Center Research Report: Developing Physically Active Girls. The report’s authors--Barbara Ainsworth (Arizona State), Margaret Duncan (UWI-Milwaukee), Nicole LaVoi (U of M), and Diane Wiese-Bjornstal (U of M)--will provide an overview and summary of key findings and recommendations. Tuesday, April 22 * 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm * Hubert H. Humphrey Center * For further information contact the Tucker Center at 612-625-7327 or info@tuckercenter.org.

Blogs

Girls participating in sports in record numbers_BLOGS