SPORTS in the LIVES of URBAN GIRLS: a Resource Manual for Girls’ Sports in Urban Centers
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SPORTS IN THE LIVES OF URBAN GIRLS: A Resource Manual For Girls’ Sports In Urban Centers Edited by Doreen L. Greenberg Foreword by Jackie Joyner-Kersee This manual was made possible by a grant from the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association © Women’s Sports Foundation®, 1998 (1st edition), 1999 (2nd edition) SPORTS IN THE LIVES OF URBAN GIRLS: A Resource Manual For Girls’ Sports In Urban Centers Page 1. CONTENTS I 2. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS V 3. FOREWORD . .Jackie Joyner-Kersee VI 4. INTRODUCTION . .Doreen Greenberg VII It’s Not just About Sports LETTER FROM A PROGRAM DIRECTOR. .Ann Kletz, Executive IX The Dream Becomes a Reality Director — SportsBridge LETTER FROM A VOLUNTEER . .Missy Kay, Volunteer— XI Making a Difference P.L.A.Y. project in Los Angeles LETTER FROM A PROGRAM DIRECTOR Kathy Chuckas, Executive XIII Giving Girls a Voice Director — A Sporting Chance LETTER FROM A PARTICIPANT . Ruth Mendin, XV Lifelong Benefits Athlete and Coach 5. INFORMATION ARTICLES 1 THE GIRLS Principles of Girls’ Sports Participation . Girls Incorporated 1 Recruitment . Melpomene Institute 2 Co-Ed vs. Single-Sex Teams for Girls . Judy Mahle Lutter 4 & Lynn Jaffee i Females Competing Against Males?. Women’s Sports Foundation 5 Issues for Urban Girls . Doreen Greenberg 6 6. MULTICULTURAL PERSPECTIVES 8 Valuing Diversity . Girl Scouts of the USA 8 Sport as a Tool for Teaching Tolerance . Tina Sloan Green 10 Motivating Girls to Be Involved in Sports . Lynn Jaffee 12 Promoting Social Skills in Sport . Gloria B. Solomon 14 Sports & Self-Esteem in Adolescent Girls . Lynn Jaffee 16 Keeping it Fun . Doreen Greenberg 18 7. THE FACILITIES 19 Finding Facilities & Equipment . Girls Incorporated 19 Creating a Facility . Melpomene Institute 22 Safety Management at Sites . Girls Scouts of the USA 23 Developing a Safe Program . Doreen Greenberg 26 8. THE COACH 28 The Importance of the Coach . Cheryl Coker 28 Developing Coach Leadership Skills . Gloria B. Solomon 30 Characteristics of Effective Coaches . Cheryl Coker 32 The Coach as Motivator . Cheryl Coker 34 ii Learning Styles & Coaching . Cheryl Coker 35 9.THE PARENTS 37 Parents’ Responsibilities . Valerie Wayda 37 Communicating with Parents . Valerie Wayda 40 Parent-Child-Coach Relationship . Women’s Sports Foundation 42 10. THE FUNDS Funding and Collaboration . Girl Scouts of the USA 44 Managing Finances: Funding Sources . Doreen Greenberg 47 Managing Finances: Working with Sponsors . Doreen Greenberg 49 11. VOLUNTEERS 50 Integrating Volunteers into Programs . Karin J. Buchholz 50 Finding Volunteers . Girl Scouts of America 53 Parents as Volunteers . Women’s Sports Foundation 56 Mentors . Doreen Greenberg 58 Safe Havens . Doreen Greenberg 60 12. REFERENCES 62 13. MODEL PROGRAMS 64 Multisport A Sporting Chance Foundation 65 SportsBridge 68 The Ivy League 70 Girls Incorporated of Central Alabama — Bridges Program 72 Sport-Specific iii Peter Westbrook Foundation 75 The Acorn Community Center “Oscar Bailey” Track Club 77 Black Women in Sport Foundation — Dunbar Golf Program 79 YWCA of the USA, Cincinnati, Ohio — Basketball Program 81 LIST OF OTHER EXISTING PROGRAMS National 83 Local/Regional 90 RESOURCES 96 Organizations and Programs 96 Recommended Reading List For Program Leaders 102 Girls’ Sports Reading List 104 Girls’ and Women’s Sports Facts 116 Manual Evaluation Form 124 Order Form for Additional Manuals 125 iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS There are so many people to thank for helping me bring Sports in the Lives of Urban Girls to life. I would like to sincerely thank the Women’s Sports Foundation for this opportunity to discover all of the wonderful people enhancing the lives of girls: Linda Bunker, for leading the way; members of the Girls Sports Project Committee – Vivian Acosta, Nellie Adkins, Karin Buchholz, Debbie Hunter, Deborah Slaner Larkin, Judy Mahle Lutter, Margie Mara, Andree Martin, Patty Potter, Sharon Shields, Verna Simpkins, Tina Sloan Green, Gloria Solomon, Christine Wells and Maggie Withroder – for their expert insight; Ann Kletz and Kathy Chuckas, for proving that people can make a difference; Marj Snyder for her quick wit and sincere guidance; Kim Brown (first edition) and Alison Wade (second edition) for putting it all together in finished form; and especially Carole Oglesby, my mentor, my role model. Doreen Greenberg v FOREWORD For as long as I can remember, my hometown of East St. Louis, Ill., has been considered one of the poorest cities in the United States. With its poverty and high crime rate, it didn’t seem like a place where dreams could be cultivated, but the coaches at the local recreation center showed me that appearances don’t mean much. East St. Louis is the place where my track and field career was born and my dreams of being a champion athlete were nurtured. With the encouragement of my coaches, I entered my first race when I was nine years old. Three years later, I could run faster than all the boys in my neighborhood. When I was 14, I developed an interest in the long jump. Realizing the potential I had to succeed athletically, my coaches suggested that I broaden my track and field experience by training for the five-event pentathlon. Always eager for new challenges, I tried the event and won the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) national junior pentathlon championship the following year. Today, I am a college graduate, a world-class heptathlete (seven events) and long jumper with three Olympic gold medals, and a former women’s professional basketball player. My achievements are a product of supportive coaches on the grassroots level, early success that instilled self-confidence, as well as discipline, determination and dedication – three important factors that are crucial to achieving success on and off the field of play. Success for girls’ sports programs in today’s urban areas begins with a caring community made up of dedicated leaders and volunteers. Sports in the Lives of Urban Girls outlines the steps that should be taken to fund, organize, manage and sustain athletic programs for girls at the grassroots level. This resource manual also provides personal testimonies from program directors, volunteers and participants about the benefits derived from their experiences with such programs. Their positive experiences prove that “when more girls play, everybody wins!” Jackie Joyner-Kersee vi INTRODUCTION It’s Not Just About Sports . Doreen L. Greenberg This resource manual is intended for anyone who wants to develop a sports program for girls in urban centers. It is based on the results of research findings on girls and sports, and information gathered from some of the most successful programs across the country. Key elements of these model programs are identified, including: effective organization, recruitment and retention strategies, and the securing of competent staff and volunteers. The strengths of these programs are highlighted, as well as the challenges they face in offering programs for girls in the city. It is also a guide, with helpful information about essential qualities of sports programs for girls in urban areas. There are information articles about motivation, multicultural perspectives, breaking stereotypes, working with the community, family involvement, effective coaching and leadership skills, funding strategies, and finding facilities and equipment. Recent research has demonstrated the importance and value of exercise and sports for girls. More than ever before, American girls are now actively involved in sports. In spite of this increasing trend, there is still a disproportionate amount of school and community- based athletic programs for boys. Some of this has to do with old, inaccurate perceptions about the value of sports for girls, and some has to do with the urban environment in which many girls live. We already know that girls are more likely than boys to be physically inactive, to be depressed, to attempt suicide, and to have a negative body image. Then there are the real dangers that are lurking for girls, especially poor, urban girls of color — obesity, substance abuse, violence and adolescent pregnancy. vii Physical activity is a powerful weapon in the battle to save the lives of all girls. Exercise and sport can and does enhance a girl’s life in the following ways: • by reducing a girl’s risk of obesity • by reducing a girl’s risk of heart disease and high cholesterol • by reducing a girl’s risk of osteoporosis and certain cancers • by increasing a girl’s self-confidence • by improving body image • by providing positive role models • by developing social interactions • by improving school achievement and motivation • by decreasing and preventing stress and depression Exercise can accomplish all these objectives by offering girls tangible experiences of competency and success. This is a cost-effective solution that can maximize physical and emotional well-being and make a real difference in the lives of girls. In high-risk, urban environments — there is often little opportunity for girls to recognize their potential. The few athletic programs available are usually designed for boys. By developing a sports program for urban girls, keep in mind that you are creating far more than the opportunity for girls to run and jump, throw and kick, skate and splash. It’s not just about sports — it’s about enhancing girls’ lives. It’s about staying in school and improving academically. It’s about enhancing girls’ mental health by reducing symptoms of stress and depression. It’s about producing fit and healthy women. It’s not just about sports — it’s about life-skills training. It’s about learning time management, athletic training, fund raising strategies, fitness training, group dynamics and leadership skills. It’s about learning business skills, from writing thank you notes to learning negotiating tactics to writing business plans. It’s not just about sports — it’s about breaking down barriers and challenging stereotypes. It means creating new opportunities and new horizons through the awareness of how strong and agile a girl’s body can be.