Although sex discrimination has been widespread in many areas of public school education, in no area has it been so blatant as in athletics. Much of the support for the posture that competitive athletics was morally and physically bad for girls came from the physical education profession itself and from the women in the profession. Misconceptions about anatomy and physiology and about the strength and endurance of females also played a part in fostering the idea that girls and young women were to be protected from vigorous activity. Discussion of the evils of competitive athletics and the undesirability of competition for girls is now irrelevant, however, since Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits persons from being excluded from educational programs and activities by reason of sex. So many changes have already occurred that Title IX will only accelerate changes that have already begun. Elementary physical education has made great advances in the past decade. Children are being taught early to be comfortable with their bodies--to be agile and dexterous. In many areas of the country, high school girls now have opportunities to play in up to eight or ten sports at the varsity level. Generally, competitive play is organized through the high school activities associations, and there is little coeducational competition so far. It seems obvious that the time has come for enlarged programs for girls' sports and for informed parents to support them. (RC)