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Girls' basketball in Iowa has a rich history, with the sport thriving in rural schools as early as the 1920s, despite concerns about girls participating in strenuous activities. Dubuque began high school girls' basketball in 1898, and by 1902, teams could be found in Boone, Cedar Rapids, and Sioux City. The Iowa High School Girls State Basketball Tournament, held at Drake University, featured sold-out crowds and elaborate halftime shows, with the state tournament becoming one of Iowa's marquee events. In the late '60s and early '70s, women across the country demanded equal sports programs, leading to the passage of Title IX in 1972, which mandated gender equity in federally funded educational programs. While Iowa initially resisted the switch to five-on-five basketball, the last six-on-six tournament was held in 1993.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year girls began playing high school basketball in Iowa | 1898 (Dubuque) |
| Year girls began playing high school basketball across Iowa | 1920s |
| Year Iowa Girls State High School Basketball tournament began | 1951 |
| Year Iowa Girls State High School Basketball tournament began selling out | 1955 |
| Year Title IX legislation was passed | 1972 |
| Year of the last 6-on-6 tournament | 1993 |
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What You'll Learn
- Girls' basketball in Iowa began in the 1920s
- Dubuque hosted the first high school girls' basketball game in 1898
- Iowa was one of the few states where girls could play high school basketball in the 1920s
- The Iowa Girls State High School Basketball tournament is the oldest of its kind
- The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union published its own rule book and hosted coaching schools
Girls' basketball in Iowa began in the 1920s
Girls' basketball in Iowa has a rich history, with the sport taking root in the state as early as the 1920s. During this time, Iowa was one of the few states where girls could play high school basketball, and it quickly gained popularity, especially in the rural schools. The enthusiasm for the sport and the annual state tournament ignited a passion for basketball among Iowa girls, despite concerns about the merits of girls participating in strenuous physical activities.
Dubuque started high school girls' basketball in 1898, and other towns like Ottumwa, Muscatine, Delhi, Greeley, Epworth, Manchester, and Correctionville soon followed. However, many Iowa teams lacked proper gymnasiums and had to rely on local YMCAs for practice and games.
The Iowa High School Girls State Basketball Tournament, held at the Drake University Fieldhouse, featured sold-out crowds and became one of the state's marquee events. The tournament was also one of the first sports events to be televised, reaching nine states in 1951. The success of the tournament and the support for girls' basketball in Iowa led to the formation of the Iowa High School Girls Athletic Union (IGHSAU), which published its own rule book and hosted coaching schools.
In the 1970s, Iowa experienced a boom in girls' basketball participation, with 20% of all girls participating in high school sports across the country coming from Iowa in 1970. However, after the passage of Title IX in 1972, which mandated gender equity in federally funded educational programs, the percentage of female high school athletes from Iowa dropped to 5.8% by 1976 as other states caught up.
While Iowa girls' basketball has seen changes and challenges over the years, it continues to be a beloved sport in the state, with the annual state tournament remaining a highly anticipated event.
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Dubuque hosted the first high school girls' basketball game in 1898
In 1898, the city of Dubuque hosted the first-ever high school girls basketball game in Iowa. This marked the beginning of what would become a beloved and thriving sport for young women across the state. Dubuque was not alone for long, as other towns, including Ottumwa, Muscatine, Delhi, Greeley, Epworth, Manchester, and Correctionville, soon followed suit with their own high school girls' teams.
During these early years, basketball was a rapidly growing sport for both boys and girls in Iowa. However, many teams lacked access to proper gymnasiums and often had to make do with practising and playing in their local YMCA. Despite this, the enthusiasm for the sport was undeniable, especially in Iowa's rural schools, where participation in girls' basketball thrived.
By the 1920s, Iowa was one of the few states where girls could play high school basketball. However, this progress was met with resistance from those who believed that strenuous physical activities, such as basketball, were harmful to girls. These concerns reached a climax at the 1925 Iowa State Teachers' Convention in Des Moines, where it was decided that competitive sports before paying crowds were only suitable for boys. Despite this setback, girls' basketball in Iowa continued to have passionate supporters, as evidenced by the memorable rebuttal of Mystic Superintendent John W. Agans, who warned that those who tried to eliminate girls' basketball would be "standing at the center of the track when the train runs over you!"
Superintendent Agans' words inspired a group of men from rural Iowa school districts to form their own organisation, the Iowa High School Girls Athletic Union (IGHSAU), which sponsored girls' basketball and other sports. The IGHSAU played a pivotal role in promoting and expanding girls' basketball in Iowa, hosting coaching schools and publishing its own rule book and yearbook. The state tournament became a marquee event, drawing sold-out crowds and even becoming one of the first sports to be televised in 1951, reaching nine states.
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Iowa was one of the few states where girls could play high school basketball in the 1920s
However, there were concerns over the merits of girls participating in physical activities, with arguments reaching a boiling point at the 1925 Iowa State Teachers' Convention held in Des Moines. At this convention, superintendents and principals decided that competitive sports before paying crowds were only suitable for boys, not girls, and that girls' basketball would no longer receive state sponsorship. Despite this setback, girls' basketball in Iowa continued to flourish, with the Iowa High School Girls State Basketball Tournament featuring sold-out crowds and becoming one of the first sports to be televised in 1951.
The tournament, held at the Drake University Fieldhouse, became one of Iowa's marquee events, with its own rule book, a girls' basketball yearbook, and coaching schools for both coaches and officials. The Iowa Girls State High School Basketball tournament is the oldest girls' high school tournament of its kind and is known for its exciting basketball and halftime shows.
Iowa girls' basketball was played in a six-on-six format until 1994, when all school districts switched to five-on-five. In 1970, 20% of all girls participating in high school sports across the country were in Iowa, a remarkable statistic considering Iowa's small population. However, by 1976, a few years after the passage of Title IX, which mandated gender equity in federally funded educational programs, the percentage of female high school athletes who were Iowan dropped to 5.8%.
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The Iowa Girls State High School Basketball tournament is the oldest of its kind
Girls' basketball in Iowa has a rich history, with the Iowa Girls State High School Basketball tournament being the oldest of its kind. The sport began in the state's high schools in the 1920s, even as many people believed girls should not participate in such strenuous activities. Dubuque started high school girls' basketball in 1898, and by 1902, there were teams in Boone, Cedar Rapids, and Sioux City. However, many Iowa teams lacked a gym and had to use the local YMCA. Despite the concerns, the enthusiasm for the sport and the annual state tournament ignited a passion for girls' basketball in Iowa.
In 1925, the state athletic union decided that competitive sports before paying crowds were only suitable for boys and not for girls. This decision was made at the Iowa State Teachers' Convention in Des Moines, where concerns about the merits of girls participating in physical activities were raised. Nevertheless, girls' basketball continued to thrive in Iowa, especially in rural schools. The Iowa High School Girls State Basketball Tournament, held at the Drake University Fieldhouse, featured sold-out crowds and became one of Iowa's marquee events.
The tournament was also one of the first sports to be televised, beginning in 1951 and reaching nine states. The IGHSAU published its own rule book and a girls' basketball yearbook, and hosted coaching schools for coaches and officials. The tournament was so popular that it inspired Jim Zabel, who covered Iowa girls' basketball for WHO radio in the 1940s, to say, "It was something Meredith Wilson could have done a great musical about—girls’ basketball."
Iowa girls' basketball was played in a six-on-six format until 1994, when all school districts switched to five-on-five. The last six-on-six tournament was held in 1993. The switch to five-on-five was partly due to the implementation of Title IX legislation in 1972, which required gender equity in federal-funded educational programs. While the format change ensured equality, it also marked a shift in the unique culture of girls' basketball in Iowa, with a decline in enthusiasm and a loss of something that made Iowans feel special.
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The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union published its own rule book and hosted coaching schools
Girls' basketball in Iowa has a long and fascinating history. It is the oldest sanctioned sport of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union (IGHSAU) and began in the 1920s, even as many people believed girls should not be playing. Dubuque started high school girls' basketball in 1898, and by 1902, there were teams in Boone, Cedar Rapids, and Sioux City. However, many Iowa teams did not have their own gym and had to use the local YMCA.
Despite the concerns and debates about the merits of girls participating in strenuous physical activities, girls' basketball thrived in Iowa's rural schools. The enthusiasm for the sport and the annual state tournament ignited a passion for the game. The Iowa High School Girls State Basketball Tournament, held at the Drake University Fieldhouse, featured sold-out crowds and became one of Iowa's marquee events.
The IGHSAU played a crucial role in promoting and developing girls' basketball in Iowa. They published their own rule book, hosted coaching schools, and produced a girls' basketball yearbook. The tournament was also one of the first sports to be televised, beginning in 1951 and reaching nine states. The IGHSAU's efforts helped elevate the status of girls' basketball and turned it into a showcase for Iowa talent.
The IGHSAU continued to innovate and adapt over the years. When Dr. E. Wayne Cooley became the head of the organization in 1954, he expanded the number of sponsored programs. Despite the challenges posed by Title IX legislation in 1972, which required gender equity in educational programs, the IGHSAU remained committed to girls' basketball. In the late '60s and early '70s, women across the country demanded sports programs equal to those for men, and the IGHSAU responded by including other sports such as softball, golf, tennis, and track and field.
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Frequently asked questions
Girls in Iowa began playing high school basketball in the 1920s, even when many people believed they shouldn't play. Dubuque started high school girls' basketball in 1898.
Iowa was one of the few states in the 1920s that allowed girls to play high school basketball.
Girls' basketball in Iowa was played in a six-on-six format until 1993 or 1994 when all school districts switched to five-on-five.
Title IX, which became law in 1972, led to a decline in the enthusiasm for girls' basketball in Iowa. It required gender equity in every federal-funded educational program, causing a drop in the number of female high school athletes in the state.
There were concerns about the merits of girls participating in physical activities, with beliefs that it was harmful for girls to engage in "strenuous" activities such as basketball.
