a relay for women
passing more than the baton to girls in sports
Why this edition of She Shines is about girls in sports . . .
Sports are a solution for many of the serious health and social problems faced by girls. These include obesity, substance abuse, teen pregnancy and depression. We know that health habits established in childhood often continue throughout a lifespan. Physical activity is protective against breast and colon cancer, type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke, osteoporosis, falls and depression and many other adverse health outcomes.
In addition to the multitude of health benefits, sports activity at an early age provides a foundation to succeed later in life teaching lessons of teamwork, goal-setting, leadership and competition.
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, changed everything for women in America. Since the passage of Title IX, female participation in sports has increased exponentially. Females have more opportunities to participate in athletics, and they are doing so in record numbers. However, there is still work to be done.
YWCA is a Title IX advocate. We raise awareness of the benefits of girls participating in sports. We offer high quality programs such as a Gymnastics Academy lead by USA Gymnastics certified instructors, GoGirlGo!, Healthy Steps for Girls and Women, Race Against Racism, and others. We are committed to increasing the number of girls who participate in sports and educating stakeholders and decision makers about the benefits. YWCA is making this a priority.
National Girls & Women in Sports Day has evolved into a movement that acknowledges the past and recognizes current sports achievements: the positive influence of sports participation and the continuing struggle for equality and access for girls and women in sports.
The 27th Annual National Girls & Women in Sports Day will be celebrated on February 6th. In honor of this important day, She Shines has dedicated the first edition in 2013 to this theme – Girls and Women in Sports. Inside, you’ll find athletes sharing their love of sports; tips on how to encourage girls to be physically active from The Women’s Sports Foundation, and YWCA initiatives supporting and encouraging physical activity.
By encouraging female participation in sports, a chain of positive lifetime outcomes are initiated for girls and women.
Very truly yours,
Deborah L. Perry
President/Chief Executive Officer, YWCA Rhode Island
Publisher, She Shines magazine
CEO Deborah L. Perry throwing the Javelin as a member of the 1979-1980 East Providence High School girls state champion track and field team. Perry served as the team captain and was named an all-state athlete in track and field. She set the school record of 127 feet 6 inches for javelin throw, a record that still stands 34 years later. Perry received numerous athletic scholarship offers from Division I colleges.
