Blog

Play Fair, Play IX

February 15, 2018

For the last thirty-two years, a national initiative called the National Girls & Women in Sports Day (NGWSD) has worked to encourage, bolster support and celebrate the achievements of the millions of girls and women who participate in organized sports in the United States. NGWSD also works to further expand sport opportunities for women and girls in the future. For 2018, the theme is “Play Fair, Play IX”. According to the U.S. Department of Education, “Title IX protects people from discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities that receive Federal financial funding” (www.ed.gov). This year NGWSD hopes to further instill and implement the basis of Title IX by dedicating a day(s) to the recognition of the accomplishments of women and girls in sport. The NGWSD website states:

“For more than three decades, the NGWSD has empowered women and girls to get moving, embrace physical activity and push past their limits. The courage, confidence and character gained through sports participation are the very tools girls need to become the strong leaders of tomorrow” (ngwsd.org).

The website hosts a plethora of “stories” sharing information on how participation in sports and athletics have positively affected the lives of a variety of girls and women athletes, such as: Meghan Duggan, an Olympic ice hockey silver medalist; Scout Bassett, a track and field paraolympian; and Sloane Stephens, a U.S. Open tennis champion and founder of the Sloane Stephens Foundation.

While the specific day affiliated with the NGWSD for 2018 was February 7th, there are still events occurring across the country focused on further enhancing the dialogue and encouraging women young and old towards (increased?) participation in sports. In order to find events near you or to plan an event affiliated with the NGWSD organization, visit the website http://ngwsd.org/events/. To follow NGWSD on social media or to share photos of your events on social media platforms, use #NGWSD.