Girls Sports Gender-Based Athletic Equity Survey Underway In Santee

SANTEE, CA — The City of Santee has opened a survey to learn more about Fair Play in Community Sports. In 2023, they are surveying residents' needs regarding fairness in local athletics, and have since 2005.

"Santee is working to ensure gender-based equity in Santee community sports," a spokesperson for the city wrote about the program. The survey is compiling feedback on girls' sports in Santee.

Historically, the Fair Play Act requires that girls be given equal opportunities for participation in competitive community sports programs as provided to boys, or "gender equity," according to the city. The city facilitates youth programs that focus on competitive individual and team sports. The number of boys and girls competitive programs must be equal, more or less 50-50, while addressing the interests of both boys and girls sports.

The 2023 survey is taking the pulse of local families, asking everything from how many juvenile girls live in Santee and their interests in playing competitive sports.

The survey asks which competitive sport is on the radar of your kids, from volleyball, track and field/cross country, tennis, swim/diving, softball, soccer, lacrosse, football/flag football, rugby, gymnastics/tumbling, field hockey, cheer, basketball, and baseball/t-ball. Also, if they are not currently playing, what sport do they want to play?

In 2023, city officials hope to learn what would encourage families to register their daughters for competitive sports, from being able to play with friends to learning from female coaches.

Santee asks if girls have played for schools, travel teams, independent sports leagues, or community sports teams. If so, the city asks if girls have had difficulty playing sports through the Santee Parks & Recreation youth-sports-partnered league.

So if you haven't already, fill out the 2023 survey and weigh in your thoughts to encourage fair play to continue in Santee.