History has not always been kind to girls, but baton twirling started out as a rare female-dominated sport. Thought of as a sideshow during male-dominated sports games, twirling was one of the only ways girls could participate in athletics. This was until Congress passed Title IX in 1972, allowing girls to join school sports teams. Twirling in the Past Baton twirling started out as a more feminine pursuit that the general public perceived as entertainment for the male athletes who played serious sports. The two options for girls who wanted to get on the field were cheerleading and baton twirling, where they stood on the sidelines. It wasn’t all bad for girls and women who participated. Baton twirling allowed them to travel to games, and in some cases, provided opportunities for scholarships. Current Trends Girls being allowed to participate in sports took away from the popularity of baton twirling. Women became more likely to identify as athletes when participating in team sports, and female participation in most sports is now a given. Most of the popularity of baton twirling now is in small US towns. The field is still mainly dominated by women, though men are welcome and sometimes find their way in. To garner interest among more competitive girls and women, baton twirling has been rebranded as a sport that involves a combination of gymnastics and dance. Baton twirling competitions are now the best way for twirlers to showcase their skills. What’s Next Despite the prevalence of baton twirling competitions, the sport still has an image problem. Many still consider baton twirling to be a fluffy parlor trick. Perception needs to change for the field to be able to progress, especially on the competitive side. Twirlers practice just as much as other athletes, if not more, to get their routines as close to perfect as possible. The United States Twirling Association is petitioning to have baton twirling become an Olympic sport. At Star Line Baton, we think it’s important to take a look at the past, present and future of baton twirling to truly appreciate the sport in all its forms. We offer a variety of high quality batons and baton twirling products. If you have any questions or need more information, call us at 931-528-7829.

Posted: 12/3/2021