February 1, 2023. It’s National Girls and Women in Sports Day. One of our favorite days of the year. A day to celebrate girls and women athletes and coaches.
The benefits of sports for girls and women are countless – far too many to name here. To highlight a few:
Improved self-esteem and confidence;
More positive body image, which is even more important given what we know about the impact social media is having on young women and girls;
Improved mental health, including decreased incidents of depression;
Less obvious health benefits, such as decreased likelihood of breast cancer and osteoporosis; and
Learning teamwork and other skills that will be needed to succeed in the workplace.
But it goes beyond that. As a former athlete, I know firsthand that participation in sports can be life changing. An outlet or escape from a negative situation or difficult home life, giving the athlete the strength to persevere. For some, participation in sports may offer opportunities that would not otherwise be available.
It is ever-so important to honor the coaches - particularly the female coaches who serve as role models for the girls and women athletes and have been proven to help recruit female participation in sports and keep them playing. These coaches make all these potential benefits possible.
While we have more work to do to advance gender equity in sports and ensuring access for all, today we celebrate the women and girls coaching and participating in sports. So please share pictures of your favorite athletes and coaches at any level on our Facebook and Twitter. We want to help recognize them!
And tomorrow, we get back to work. Making gender equity in sports – and in life – a reality!