3 Ways You Can Support Female Athletes
Supporting female athletes and women’s sports creates more opportunities for girls in youth sports. Here are three ways you can champion female athletes of all ages and their respective sports:
1. Coach
One of the best ways you can support and encourage female athletes of all ages is to coach them. If you have the knowledge and passion for sports, and you are capable of teaching the correct techniques, then becoming a coach is a great way to get involved and motivate young athletes. This is especially true if you are, or were, a female athlete yourself. Representation is important, and young girls are more likely to stick with their sport when they have strong role models.
2. Be a Fan
As simple as it sounds, being a fan is one of the most fun and productive ways to support female athletes and women’s sports. Through buying tickets to their games, purchasing their team merchandise, watching their televised games, and following them on social media, you are contributing to the success of women’s sports.
In 2022, Women’s March Madness viewership increased 81%, WNBA Finals Game 1 viewership increased 171%, and NWSL Championship viewership increased 453% according to a report by Samba TV.
The more viewership and live attendance a sport has, the more likely it is to get media coverage and sponsorships that finance larger funding for everyone working or playing in women’s sports. This funding can apply to everything from collegiate scholarships, salaries, updated facilities, and equipment for women’s sports. In return, this opens more future opportunities for young girls in youth sports that dream of playing on a bigger stage and furthering their education. Simply being a fan can go a long way.
3. Join a Foundation
There are many foundations and organizations dedicated to supporting girls and women in sports. By joining or even donating to these groups, you are helping them change the game. The goal of most of these organizations is to level the playing field between men’s and women’s sports as far as the amount of funding and attention they receive. Many also focus on representation. Making sure there are women equally represented in the world of sports encourages young girls to never give up on their athletic goals.
There are many organizations out there, but for those that are new to the world of women’s sports, below is a list of foundations and accounts to follow.
Foundations to Join
Whether you’re looking to expand your knowledge of women’s sports, get more involved, or donate, these three organizations are a good place to start:
1. Women’s Sport Foundation (WSF)
“The Women’s Sports Foundation was established in 1974 to advance the lives of women and girls through sports and physical activity. Our mission is to enable all girls and women to reach their potential in sports and life. We provide financial fuel to aspiring champion athletes. We fund groundbreaking research. We educate. We advocate. And we help communities get girls active. Sure, there’s a long way to go but we’re not going to stop until we get there.”
2. IOC (International Olympic Committee) Women in Sport Commission
“The role of the Women in Sport Commission is to advise the IOC Session, the IOC Executive Board and the IOC President on the development and implementation of the IOC women and sport policy and to promote equal opportunities for girls and women to participate in, and benefit from sport and physical activity.”
“Champion Women is a non-profit organization that provides legal advocacy for girls and women in sports.”
Accounts to Follow
Want to keep up with news and updates in women’s sports? Here are three media organizations to help you get started!
1. On Her Turf (@onherturf) is a media company powered by NBC Sports dedicated to “shining a light on women in sports.”
2. Just Women’s Sports (@justwomenssports) is a “digital-first media platform dedicated to bringing women’s sports to the masses.”
ESPNW (@espnw) by ESPN is “dedicated to engage and inspire women through sports, presenting articles, interviews and videos at the crossroads of sports and culture.”
Of course, there are more than these foundations and media sources. We always recommend furthering your research before choosing the right one for you and your goals. Choose what you think is best, and we’ll see you at the next game- let’s go girls!
4. Sign Your Daughters Up To Play!
A bonus way to support female athletes is to sign your daughters up to play! If your daughters or other girls in your family have an interest in any sport, allow them to explore that interest. By signing your girls up to play, you’re supporting recreational sport leagues and encouraging more girls to play sports. Find your local i9 Sports® and sign up!
