Whereas National Girls & Women in Sports Day began in 1987 as a day to recognize and acknowledge the success and progress of girls and women in sports; Whereas athletic participation helps develop self-discipline, initiative, confidence, and leadership skills, and opportunities for athletic participation should be available to all individuals; Whereas, because the people of the United States remain committed to protecting equality, it is imperative to eliminate the existing disparities between male and female youth athletic programs; Whereas the share of athletic participation opportunities of high school girls has increased more than sixfold since the enactment of title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 ( 20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq. ) (referred to in this preamble as title IX ), but high school girls still experience— (1) a lower share of athletic participation opportunities than high school boys; and (2) a lower level of athletic participation opportunities than high school boys enjoyed over 50 years ago; Whereas 60 percent of high school girls participate in a sport; Whereas female participation in college sports has nearly tripled since the enactment of title IX, but female college athletes still comprise only 44 percent of the total collegiate athlete population, 30 percent of whom are White women and only 14 percent of whom are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (referred to in this preamble as BIPOC ) women; Whereas, in 1971, women coached 90 percent of collegiate women's teams, but as of 2023, women coach only 41 percent of all National Collegiate Athletic Association (referred to in this preamble as NCAA ) women's teams and BIPOC women represent only 7 percent of head coaches; Whereas there is a need to restore women to those positions to ensure fair representation and provide role models for young female athletes; Whereas, for too long, the many achievements of women in sports have not received fair recognition