THE FEMALE ATHLETE - TODAY S WOMAN
The female athlete has rapidly emerged into the
arena of sport. Overcoming a lengthy history of athletic
supression the female as a sportswoman is finally becoming
accepted andrecognized. Influenced historically by myths，
misconceptions， and sterotyped thinking， females were
denied the right to enter into sport to the same degree as
her male counterpart. Woman s potential in sport was
untested and unmotivated. Limitations were imposed and
the female was relegated to assuming the weaker role.
The desire and interest of some women to change this image and
limitation of opportunities kept a spark of hope alive and the passing
in 1972 of Title IX of the Education Ammendments Act provided the
final thrust to dramatically alter history. The legal rights of women
were finally established and the privilege of participation in sport was
finally available to all. The Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for
Women grew rapidly as a national governing and policy making
organization and the National Federation of State High School
Associations expanded their programs dramatically.
It did not take long for females to realize the exciting new oppor-
tunities available to them in sport. From 1970 to 1978 the number of
girls participating in interscholastic athletic programs throughout the
nation increased six hundred percent. In 1978 female participants at
the high school level throughout the nation numbered over two
million. The female athlete is finally being motivated to strive to reach
her potential in sport.
As opportunities rapidly expand and participant numbers
dramatically increase， it has become apparent that female athletes
desperately require and deserve quality health and injury care. The
best coaching， facilities， equipment and scholarship monies are of lit-
tle value if a safe athletic environment is not ensured. Injury in athletic
participation is inevitable. It is the obligation of every program to do
everything possible to minimize injury and to properly manage injury
when it occurs. Many chronic injuries seen at the collegiate level are
often the result of injuries previously incurred at the secondary level，
and in many cases these injuries could have been prevented or manag-
ed more effectively.
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