How to Become an Advocate for Girls in Sports

Advocating for girls in sports begins with cultivating a welcoming culture and a safe environment. This can include speaking up for your teammates, carving out time to listen, and genuinely showing interest in others—specifically, by proposing social media coverage by a school account or by writing a letter to someone in power. Advocacy can be small-scale but still powerful!

For example, if you notice that the men’s sports teams at your school are getting more coverage than the women’s teams, you can take action by reaching out to the coaches of both teams to express and discuss your concerns. They may not even be aware of the disparities and can help advocate for more equitable coverage. Speaking up to your teammates, family, or program leadership is essential if you witness or experience gender inequalities.

You can also volunteer or intern with an organization that actively advocates for women in sports, such as the YMCA. Volunteering with a group like this helps advocate for women in sports because it places you in a role where you can directly influence programming and representation. For example, you might mentor young girl athletes or support outreach efforts to encourage more girls to join sports programs. You can become a coach or even attend other women’s sports games, which can encourage friends and family to watch them with you as well. Even attending women’s sports events can help women’s teams become more widely acknowledged, as it actively encourages ticket sales and live programming.

To cultivate a safe environment, you can stand up for yourself in uncomfortable situations within your sport, such as with inappropriate coaches or teammates. You can confront the behavior directly or, in more serious situations, report it to a trusted adult, like a school counselor. Other resources you can reach out to include local law enforcement and Child Protective Services. Remember to always trust your instincts and speak up! If you feel uncomfortable or notice someone else in distress, there is a good chance they could be in a dangerous situation. Even USA Olympic gymnast Simone Biles, in her own fight against abuse in gymnastics, said, “It was very important to support the fellow gymnasts it had happened to and to speak up for what you believe in and say 'I don't think this is right,' and I hope I gave them courage to come out and tell their stories one day if they want to.”

To become an advocate within your school, consider transitioning to a coaching, refereeing, or teaching role that enables you to engage more effectively with the material. To help you in this, you can also take courses that better equip you for the role. Some courses include youth coaching certifications, sports officiating workshops, first-aid and CPR training, or gender equity in sports programs (gender equity efforts must also consider race, disability, sexual orientation, and socio-economic status in sports advocacy). Classroom work leads to better athletic growth, as you can eventually tutor young athletes with the knowledge you've acquired. Stepping into these roles can create more representation in leadership positions, challenge stereotypes, and provide young girls with strong role models of leadership. When female athletes see someone who supports and believes in their potential, it encourages participation and builds confidence.

Additionally, you can use your talents, like photography or videography, to advocate by going to women’s sports events at schools and taking pictures or videos of the players to post on social media. It is extremely important not only to advocate for yourself when you are directly affected but also to be an ally when others are affected.