Drive by any field where girls are participating in sports and more often than not you’ll see men coaching the girls. Where are the women coaches? It’s an issue author Michael Messner explored in his book "It's All for the Kids: Gender, Families, and Youth Sports:”
… why, in this day and age, do we see so few women coaches in youth sports? Why is this happening now, despite the fact that many women today are post-Title IX mothers who have a lot of athletic experience and whose own daughters are now playing sports?
Emilie Liebhoff, founder of Moms as Mentors and the Director of Strategic Initiatives at the National Coalition of Girls’ Schools, wondered the same thing in a short piece on fairgamenews.com by asking, “Where are the moms?”
Contrary to popular belief, you can coach even if you haven’t played the sport. And – truly – your participation matters. Just in case you need the nudge, here are six reasons why it’s beneficial for your daughters to see you coach:
1. Doing something together other than shopping at the mall is a fun and alternative way to bond.
2. She will see you as a whole new person (not just the one upset by the messy room) including as a skilled sportsperson, something we value in our society.
3. You will feel important and proud of yourself – particularly if it’s a new sport for you. (Note: When you feel good, your daughter will notice!)
4. You can share firsthand in your daughter’s accomplishments as an athlete, plus she’ll develop her own self-confidence by wanting to show off her skills!
5. Learning about your daughter’s sport allows you to be an educated fan and cheerleader. Dads need not have a monopoly on sports knowledge and when you can talk about the passing game or staying goal-side when defending, she’ll notice. It will take you from mom role to mentor role.
6. Mothers can make great mentors, especially when daughters pursue sports. And the benefits can go both ways. Getting involved in your daughter’s sport may inspire you to ramp up your own activity level. It can be an opportunity to get back to something you love or to redefine yourself!
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