There have been impressive growth rates within these sports as well. The table below shows the percent growth in female athletes during these periods.
Increase in Women Athletes by Sport, 1996-97 and 1998-99
| Sport | Growth (%) |
| Rowing | 42.1 |
| Cross country | 18.7 |
| Track, indoor | 18.3 |
| Soccer | 18.1 |
| Track, outdoor | 16.9 |
| Swimming/diving | 14.4 |
| Softball | 13.4 |
| Volleyball | 7.4 |
| Basketball | 7.2 |
| Tennis | 3.2 |
There are probably several reasons these sports have seen such interest. Women have increasingly embraced healthy lifestyles; they are simply playing sports they have participated in their entire lives. Indeed, many of these sports were the most popular sports for high school girls, suggesting women are drawn to these sports simply because they enjoy them. The top sports for high school girls in 1999 are shown below:
| Sport | Participants |
| Basketball | 456,873 |
| Track & field (outdoor) | 405,163 |
| Volleyball | 380,994 |
| Softball (fast pitch) | 340,480 |
| Soccer | 257,586 |
| Tennis | 156,505 |
| Cross country | 155,529 |
| Swimming & diving | 133,235 |
Another possible influence on women's sports has been the increasing prominence and role model potential of female athletes such as Mia Hamm and Picabo Street. More colleges are perhaps putting a stronger emphasis on their programs for women, through funding and scholarships.
What of the men? Their numbers saw a modest 5% increase in this period, from 200,627 in 1996-97 to 211,273 in 1997-98. The big sport for men, football, saw about the same growth. Participation in men's sports programs seem quite stable, and it is the women's programs that show the most dynamic activity.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Statistical Abstract of the United States, Washington D.C. 2000.
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