When Girls Hockey Numbers Are Low, It’s Not a “Commitment Problem” It’s an Access Problem
Every winter, the same question resurfaces when participation numbers in girls hockey are released:
“Why aren’t more girls playing?”
It’s often framed as a motivation issue. Or a cultural one. Sometimes even a confidence one.
But if we’re being honest — and we should be — low participation in girls hockey is far less about interest and far more about economics, access, and systems that were never built with all girls in mind.
Hockey Is One of the Most Expensive Youth Sports — Full Stop
Hockey is not just a sport. It’s an ecosystem of costs.
Before a girl ever steps onto the ice, families are navigating:
Hundreds (or thousands) of dollars in equipment
Ice time fees that increase every year
Travel costs that often span multiple states
Early-morning practices that require flexible work schedules
Year-round expectations that crowd out other activities
For many families, this isn’t a question of want — it’s a question of can.
When participation numbers dip, we need to ask:
Who is being priced out before they even get a chance to fall in love with the game?
The “Pipeline Problem” Starts Early
Girls hockey relies heavily on early exposure. Unlike sports that are readily available through schools or community leagues, hockey often requires families to opt in — financially and logistically — at a very young age.
If a girl doesn’t start skating early:
She’s less likely to feel confident joining later
She’s more likely to self-select out
She may never see herself reflected in the space
This isn’t about talent. It’s about access to entry points.
And when those entry points are expensive, inconsistent, or geographically limited, participation numbers will reflect that reality.
Rural Communities Feel This Disproportionately
In smaller or rural communities, the barriers compound:
Longer travel times to rinks
Fewer local programs
Cooperative teams that require additional coordination
Limited public transportation options
Families are often doing incredible logistical gymnastics just to make participation possible. When numbers dip, it’s not because girls don’t care — it’s because the lift is heavy.
Belonging Matters — Especially in High-Cost Sports
Girls stay in sports where they feel:
Seen
Supported
Valued beyond performance
In high-cost sports like hockey, belonging matters even more. When a family is sacrificing financially, emotionally, and logistically, the environment has to feel worth it.
If a girl feels like:
She’s an outsider
She doesn’t “fit” the culture
The space wasn’t designed for her
She won’t stay — and that’s not a failure on her part.
So What Do We Do?
If we truly care about growing girls hockey, we have to move beyond surface-level conversations.
That means:
Investing in low-cost entry programs and equipment libraries
Partnering with schools and community organizations
Normalizing later entry points into the sport
Creating cultures where girls see themselves reflected at every level
Talking honestly about economics — not quietly ignoring them
Participation numbers are data — but they’re also a story.
And right now, that story is telling us that too many girls are being asked to overcome structural barriers before they ever get to compete.
Final Thought
Girls don’t need to be convinced to love sport.
They need systems that make loving sport possible.
If we want stronger numbers in girls hockey, we don’t need tougher girls.
We need more accessible pathways, more honest conversations, and more courage to redesign what hasn’t been working.
That’s how participation grows.
That’s how belonging is built.
And that’s how the game gets better — for everyone.
