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From Front Lines to Playing Fields,
National Girls & Women in Sports Day Spotlights
“Girls in Sports: An Investment in the Future,” February 6
RESTON, VA, January 30, 2013 - Title IX advocates have even more reasons to celebrate during the 27th annual celebration of National Girls & Women in Sports Day, February 6, as another glass ceiling breaks, impacting women on a national and global scale. A nearly 20-year ban on females serving in combat positions will be lifted in the coming weeks, opening the door for more than 230,000 jobs in the Army and Marine infantry units. The National Association for Girls and Women in Sport (NAGWS) encourages members, sports educators, coaches, athletic directors, recreation directors, students, and parents to show their support of the important role girls and women play in the sporting world and beyond by hosting local events honoring female athletes and the historic Title IX legislation that ushered in a new era of equality for women and young girls.
"The 2013 theme for this national day will be Girls in Sports: An Investment in the Future with advocacy efforts focused on ensuring girls and women have access to opportunities in sport," says NAGWS Senior Program Manager Chandelle Schulte. NAGWS is one of four female serving organizations that make up the National Girls & Women in Sports Day Coalition, the organizer of the national event. Schulte adds, "Actress Jennifer Lopez, journalist Katie Couric, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and First Lady Michelle Obama all played sports in their younger days. If history gives us any indication, we are confident the success of the next generation of female actresses, network news anchors, secretaries of state, future First Ladies and other successful women from all walks of life could very well be rooted in their experience in sports."
HIGHLIGHT OF EVENTS AROUND THE COUNTRY
If a young girl does not play sports by the time she is 10, there is less than a 10 percent chance she will be involved in sports when she is 25. NGWSD kicks off on Capitol Hill with a panel discussion with Olympians Dominique Dawes, Sarah Hughes, Nancy Hogshead-Makar, as well as Shawn Ladda, Sydney Boney and Neena Chaudhry on the benefits of sport participation for women and girls from a young age.
Connecticut
Southern Connecticut State University's Athletics Department and the Office of Alumni Relations will host a Girls and Women in Sport Day on February 23, in conjunction with the Owls' basketball doubleheader against the University of New Haven. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of sport clinicians and meet student athletes. Registration opens at 9:15 am. For more details: http://www.southernctowls.com/news/2013/1/9/GEN_0109134239.aspx
Idaho
Various Boise State programs and community organizations are partnering to provide a spectacular opportunity for girls in the community to learn how to "B Active!" in their health, education and personal development. The mission of B Active! is: B Healthy: to provide resources and education about the benefits of exercise and fitness; B Fit: to demonstrate the benefits of exercise and fitness; B Educated: to understand the importance of a college education and that attending college is realistic and possible; andB Empowered: to realize the value of owning one's intelligence, character, and strengths to continually better yourself and your community. For more information, contact Ashlee Anderson with BSU; ashleeanderson1@boisestate.edu.
Illinois
Northwestern University student-athletes will host a pre-game roundtable discussion on February 10 from 1:30-2:30 pm about healthy living and participating in sports. The women's basketball team will also be available for autographs after the Northwestern vs. Ohio State basketball game at 3 pm. For more information, email: wildcatmarketing@northwestern.edu.
Massachusetts
The Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts' athletic department invites women and young girls to participate in a variety of sport clinics on Saturday, February 2, at 9:30 am. For more information, contact Dot Houston at dhouston@mcla.edu.
New Mexico
The Shellaberger Tennis Center in Sana Fe will be "Serving up Love" on February 9. Participants will enjoy fun tennis games and explore tennis related exhibitions. Activities include "tennis bowling," "beat the pro," and "speed check." Contact Alex Brown for more information; abrown@girlsincofsantafe.org.
Virginia
The Girl Scouts from the New River Valley and Roanoke are invited to attend a Virginia Tech women's basketball game on Friday, February 22. The winners of the essay contest on how girls and women's athletics have impacted their lives will be announced during the half-time event. For more information, visit www.hokiessports.com.
To see an entire list of registered events, visit NGWSD Central. The coalition has also prepared materials to help local organizers successfully plan an event, including a communication action kit with a step by step checklist, free downloadable posters and certificates, advocacy ideas, a customizable press release and more. The coalition encourages organizers to register their event for an opportunity to win autographed memorabilia and a variety of Title IX gear. NAGWS also offers featured products related to Title IX including: Title IX: Implications for Women in Sport and Education (3-disc DVD set), Generations of Title IX and its best seller Title IX by Linda Carpenter and Vivian Acosta. To order, call 800-321-0789 or visit AAHPERD's online store.
NGWSD is sponsored by Girls Inc, NAGWS, National Women's Law Center, and the Women's Sports Foundation.
To follow the conversation on Twitter, use the Hashtag #NGWSD.
About National Girls and Women in Sports Day
NGWSD began in 1987 as a day to remember Olympic volleyball player, Flo Hyman, for her athletic achievements and her work to assure equality for women's sports. Hyman died of Marfan's Syndrome in 1986 while competing in a volleyball tournament in Japan. Since that time, NGWSD has evolved into a day devoted to acknowledging the past accomplishments of female athletes and recognizing current sports achievements, the positive influence of sports participation, and the continuing struggle for equality and access for women in sports.
Since its inception, NGWSD has been celebrated annually in all 50 states with community-based events, award ceremonies, and activities honoring the achievements of female athletes and encouraging participation of girls and women in sports. NGWSD is organized by the members of the National Girls and Women in Sports Day Coalition. Women's Sports Foundation Founder Billie Jean King and Past Women's Sports Foundation Presidents Donna de Varona, Nancy Hogshead-Makar, Jessica Mendoza, Aimee Mullins and Dominique Dawes are among the champion women athletes that have contributed to the annual NGWSD activities alongside the Coalition organizations. For more information, please visit www.NGWSDCentral.com.
About NAGWS
The National Association for Girls and Women in Sport (NAGWS) is a century-old professional membership organization with a mission to develop and deliver equitable and quality sport opportunities to all girls and women through relevant research, advocacy, leadership development, educational strategies and programming in a manner that promotes social justice and change. NAGWS is one of five national associations of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD) based in Reston, VA. Visit NAGWS online at www.aahperd.org/nagws.
About National Girls & Women in Sports Day Coalition
The National Girls and Women in Sports Day Coalition is responsible for organizing the national NGWSD. The Coalition combines the experience and resources of the four premiere girls- and women-serving organizations in the United States: Girls Incorporated, the National Association for Girls and Women in Sport, National Women's Law Center, and the Women's Sports Foundation. Collectively, these organizations have been in existence for more than 600 years and have a total membership of 5.6 million girls and women.
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Contact:
Paula Kun
pkun@aahperd.org
703-476-3461
The National Association for Girls and Women in Sport (NAGWS) is a century-old professional membership organization with a mission to develop and deliver equitable and quality sport opportunities to all girls and women through relevant research, advocacy, leadership development, educational strategies and programming in a manner that promotes social justice and change. NAGWS is one of five national associations of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD) based in Reston, VA.
The vision of AAHPERD is "Healthy People – Physically Educated and Physically Active!" Headquartered in Reston, VA, 25 miles west of Washington, DC, AAHPERD is the largest organization of professionals involved in physical education, physical activity, dance, school health and sport--all specialties related to achieving an active, healthy lifestyle. Its mission is to advance professional practice and promote research related to health and physical education, physical activity, dance and sport by providing its members with a comprehensive and coordinated array of resources, support and programs to help practitioners improve their skills to further the health and well-being of the American public. For more information, visit www.aahperd.org.