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April 28, 2022
American non-profit Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) and leading sports education brand IMG Academy, have teamed up to help increase participation and accessibility in girls’ sports. The duo has developed two programs and initiatives focused as part of the next phase of IMG’s Women in Sports Committee, which was developed in 2022 to improve access and participation for young women in sports.
Beyond Sport Network member PCA trains coaches and partners with youth sports organizations, parents, sports leaders and communities to make youth sports more positive, equitable and accessible to all kids regardless of social or economic circumstances. The organization will develop workshops exclusively for IMG’s 200-plus coaches that offer support, delivery, teaching and coaching for more than 1,400 student-athletes. Each workshop will feature a curriculum focused on helping to coach female student-athletes more effectively. Additionally, PCA will develop in-person and virtual courses to promote best practices for coaching and teaching female student-athletes in the current youth sports landscape. The modules will be open to IMG’s national network of coaches.
Past research found that 43% of girls were more likely to have never played sports and only 36% were currently playing sports in the US. Limited exposure to female role models in sports, gender stereotypes and costs were significant barriers to participation for a large majority. Additionally, there is limited exposure to female role models in sports, with two-thirds of the players (68%) reported to have a male coach and/or male assistant coach.
Recognizing the transformational power of sport in developing leaders, the Women in Sports Committee draws on the Academy’s 40-plus years of developing student-athletes and the experiences of its inaugural committee members to develop programs and initiatives to create change. Members include Cari Champion, Dany Garcia, Lindsay Davenport, Lindsey Vonn, Michele Tafoya and Robin Roberts. The IMG Academy Foundation has made a contribution to PCA as part of the partnership.
Last year, IMG set out to improve girls’ experiences in the Academy, increase the number of girls on-campus and online and share expertise as well as financial and marketing resources to support girls’ sports initiatives. This year alone, IMG Academy has developed scholarships for girl student-athletes and is now dedicating training for coaches specific to girls’ athletics through PCA’s support.
“With IMG Academy’s investment in the entire student-athlete developmental journey, and Positive Coaching Alliance’s expertise in training, content and resources that support social and emotional wellbeing, together we are committed to making a positive and long-term impact on the lives of youth athletes across the nation,” said Jason Sacks, President of Positive Coaching Alliance.
PCA resources are included as part of Return to Play Fund, co-founded by Beyond Sport and ESPN to address the needs of youth across the US at the intersection of race, sport and community development. Click here to access a broad range of resources for coaches and youth sport providers.
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