Are Males More Interested in Sports than Females Are? Anyone who’s watched a closely matched girls’ basketball game can attest to the fact that girls can be just as competitive in sports as boys. Contrary to what some people think, there is no evidence to support the notion that girls are inherently less interested in sports than boys. During the middle childhood years, from ages 6 to 10, boys and girls are equally interested in sports (Women’s Sports Foundation, 2007). Participating in sports enhances the self-esteem of girls as much as it does boys, especially during adolescence (Slutzky & Simpkins, 2009).

Larry Dale Gordon/Getty Images