Feb. 6, 2007
The theme of the Patriot League's annual Women in Sports newsletter is to both celebrate and promote women in sports. The following piece is a question and answer with current and former Patriot League student-athletes, as well as administrators and coaches. The Women in Sports Q&A can also be read on the Patriot League's newly launched Celebrating Women in Sports webpage by clicking here.
This feature is one of many that can be read on the Patriot League website throughout the month of February - a month the Patriot League designates to promote and highlight women in sports.
The individuals featured in this article are: Patriot League Executive Director Carolyn Schlie Femovich (CSF) (who is just one of three females to currently serve as the commissioner of an NCAA Division I conference), American University Associate Athletic Director Athena Argyropoulos (AA), Lafayette Field Hockey Head Coach Ann Gold (AG), Colgate Women's Soccer Head Coach Kathy Brawn (KB), former Lehigh women's basketball student-athlete Jessica DePalo (JD) (who is an assistant coach at Iona), American University track and field student-athlete Christina Wright (CW), Holy Cross volleyball student-athlete Christine Strawson (CS) and Lehigh softball student-athlete Julie Sterrett (JS).
1) What is the importance of girls and women participating in sport?
CSF: Participation in sports helps young girls and women develop healthy bodies as well as healthy minds. Research has demonstrated that girls and women who participate in sport develop a greater sense of self-confidence and learn valuable lessons about discipline and teamwork.
AA: Participation in sports helps girls and women develop confidence and elevate self-esteem. It also allows them to develop leadership skills and promotes a healthy lifestyle where physical fitness is of utmost importance. Developing social skills and mediation skills; learning to take the good with the bad, wins with losses, how to be humble and develop understanding for limitations. Goal setting both personal and team oriented and the ability to accept praise and criticism in a healthy environment.
AG: The importance of girls and women participating in sport is the same as for men; physical fitness, competition, belonging to a team, working hard as a group to achieve a goal and much, much more.
KB: Participation in sports can play an invaluable role in one's physical, psychological and social well being and development. There is no doubt that these benefits reach far beyond the playing surface. Among them, girls who participate in athletics have greater self esteem, higher grades and lower rates of teen pregnancy. Opportunities for girls and women to compete and be physically active throughout their lives also promote wide ranging health benefits. While great progress has been made over the years, it is my hope that the acceptance of women in athletics will continue to expand. There is still a long way to go.
JD: I think that it is just important for girls to participate in something. Whether it be a sport, musical instrument or any other extra curricular activity. However, I feel that sports should always be an option for girls and young women. Sports provide so many opportunities for girls and women of all ages.
JS: Participation in sports gives females the opportunity to learn core values that will stick with them for the rest of their lives. There was a time when women had fewer rights and opportunities. Through sport, we are able to become our own person, gain confidence, exercise leadership and learn to walk proudly.
CW: There are many benefits for girls and women to participate in sports. Everyone, especially girls and women, needs to be encouraged to be active. Participating in sports not only has health benefits, it also provides a structured environment that develops and defines individual character. Sports empower girls and women to reach their full potential.
2) What is the importance of women working in sport?
CS: Women coaches and administrators are essential for young girls in sports. They can serve as role models and relate well to their young female players. I think that a coach's ability to understand the player is crucial for the team's success. A female coach, now, is more likely to have participated in sports themself. Female coaches are no longer relying on textbooks or secondhand accounts to teach their young players. Women coaches can share their own experiences, both good and bad, in sports and be extremely knowledgeable in the game.
JD: I think that it is crucial to have women working in sport. Although I feel that coaches and administrators, men and women, can be a positive role model and a great influence on a female athlete. It is very important for young female athletes to have strong, positive and influential women apart of their lives in these positions. Again, I have had many coaches in my life, male and female, that have been nothing but positive influences and amazing role models. I feel that the most important thing for young female athletes is to have a person that cares, but I feel that having a female a part of that influence is so beneficial to the young female athlete. It allows them to see visually someone they can really relate to that is making a difference.
CSF: Women coaches and administrators are very important role models for young girls and women. Through their shared athletic experiences they can serve as mentors for these young athletes and help to demonstrate the leadership opportunities that exist for women in sport and other professions.
AA: Serving as role models and mentoring youth; the ability to relate with like experiences and have empathy for those who may not measure up athletically but still have ability to make contributions.
AG: It's important for women to work in sport so they can pursue something they love to do and also to be a role model to young female athletes.
KB: It creates a healthy balance throughout the athletic community. It is important that women in these roles feel valued for their efforts and expertise and that people see them in positions of leadership and power.
JS: Girls need to have role models in order to strive for their own success. These women working in sport can be the role models for younger generations of women. Seeing women in leadership roles is inspiring to younger girls.
CW: As a student-athlete that is looking to go into collegiate sports administration post graduation, I think it's extremely important for any institution to have female coaches and administrators. Female coaches and administrators have played an important role in shaping my career path, serving as both my mentors and role models. Our former athletic director, Dr. Joni Comstock, is one example of many of how a woman in collegiate sports has achieved many successes. Women administrators like Dr. Comstock have continued to bridge the gender gap in sports administration and coaching, paving the path for females like me to have more opportunities and achieve greatness.
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Holy Cross' Christine Strawson
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3) Why and when did you begin playing sports?
CSF: I began playing sport when I was a young girl. I grew up in Florida with three brothers and a family that enjoyed a variety of sports and was always encouraged to get involved with sport programs.
AA: At a very young age. My father was a competitive athlete until he was 65 years old; I was literally raised on a softball field and exposed to high-level fast-pitch softball. My parents encouraged all kinds of extracurricular activities, dance, music lessons, etc., but I gravitated to sports. I began organized sports in elementary school, sometimes the only female on an all-male team because there were not any girls teams. I was always the winner of the President's Physical Fitness challenge and then once I entered junior high school I began to play more organized sports, then in high school I competed on almost every varsity team.
AG: I began playing organized sports in seventh grade (there was no real opportunity before that other than playing in your neighborhood or on the school playground). I began to play sports because I have some athletic ability and it was what I naturally loved to do; a no brainer. I also have an older sister who played as well as my mother.
KB: Although I didn't participate in any organized athletics until seventh grade, I began playing sports at a very early age. There were always kids in the neighborhood playing something. Whether it was baseball, football, four square or a game we made up, there was always something to play.
JD: I have played sports all my life. My parents played a huge part in getting me involved in sports. Both of my parents were athletes and had signed me up in all the little league sports teams in my town and school as a child. We would play softball, basketball and soccer in my backyard all the time after school and on the weekends. As I got older my parents were always supporting me at my games and taking time to drive me to practice and to work with me on my sport on my own. I have been very blessed with a wonderful family and wonderful coaches that always took the time to help me with my sport and made it a positive and fun environment.
JS: I played soccer and t-ball when I was four or five years old. I'm pretty sure my parents encouraged me to play sports to learn to work well with others. Developing concepts of team work and cooperation while having fun is a great way to introduce important values to young children. My dad was also an athlete and I wanted to be just like him.
CS: I have been playing sports for as long as I can remember. Ever since I was young I had a competitive nature that drove me to always do my best. I would compete against any and everyone who wished to compete. My mom was a high school boys volleyball coach and I used to go to those practices, even though I was only in elementary school, and play against the boys. I tried to challenge myself at any opportunity, with the hope that I would be constantly improving my game. If anyone told me I couldn't do something, my goal became to prove them wrong.
CW: When I was about three or four years old, my father decided he was going to teach me how to swim, since he and his brothers were competitive swimmers. Growing up in Texas, a very sport-enthusiastic state, also gave me opportunities beginning in fourth grade to play sports competitively, which ultimately led me to become a thrower and play volleyball for at least 13 years of my life.
4) Why did you decide on a career in athletics?
CSF: I decided on a career in athletics because I have always had a passion for sport and greatly enjoyed working with young people. I was also encouraged by a former coach and mentor to consider teaching and coaching.
AG: I chose a career in athletics because athletics were so important to me in middle and high school and in college. I had coaches I looked up to and I wanted to stay a part of sports.
JD: I decided to become a basketball coach, to continue to be a part of the game I love. I wanted to make a difference and I feel that my job allows me to do that on a daily basis. Throughout my life, many of my coaches and administrators have become my family and have gotten me through some of the most difficult times of my life, as well as being there during the most exciting. I wanted to provide that same opportunity to someone else and if I am able to do that for just one person then I know that it was all worth it!
KB: I began coaching at age 15 when my then softball coach, Ann Bing, asked me to help out with her daughter's soccer team. I had recently started playing soccer and thought the opportunity to teach the sport might help my own playing abilities. The experience was very positive and I have been coaching ever since. It wasn't until I was hired for my first collegiate position, as the assistant coach at Yale University, that I gave serious consideration to turning my avocation into my vocation. I feel quite fortunate that I am able to make my living doing something I love.
5) What are some of the most important things you learned by either playing sports or working in athletics?
CW: The real question is what hasn't it taught me? Participating in sports has taught me a majority of life's lessons: perseverance, leadership, teamwork, spirit, time management, sportsmanship, courage, dedication, compassion, overcoming adversity, being a positive role model and acting as an agent of change. And the list continues to grow each day.
KB: I have learned a great deal through my involvement in athletics. It is always amazing to me what people can accomplish when they work together toward a common goal. To see a person or team achieve something beyond what was formerly thought possible is truly special. To be part of the journey and have an influence on the outcome is what makes coaching so gratifying. I have had the good fortune to encounter many outstanding individuals throughout my athletic career. There is something to be learned from each person and every experience.
JS: I could talk about this forever, because I truly feel that my character and lifestyle were greatly and positively affected by playing sports. I learned the true meaning of teamwork, respect, understanding, trust and leadership by playing team sports. My whole life now revolves around helping people - that is my passion and I don't doubt for one second that my mindset was formed because of my involvement in team sports. I learned how to believe in myself and have confidence, the true meaning of work ethic and discipline, how to live with a healthy competitive edge and how to control my emotions - all through sport. Athletics challenges your physical, mental, emotional, and for some, your spiritual being. Sport is a tool that can help anyone maximize their potential not only as an athlete, but more importantly as a human being.
CSF: Sport has taught me many lessons for life through my experiences as a team member, including how to prepare and compete and how to handle success and defeat.
AG: I have learned that it is wonderful to be part of a team and that hard work can be a lot of fun in a group effort. AA: How to be part of a team, how to lead by example and be the glue that keeps it all together. How to handle very emotional situations with grace under pressure.
JD: I have learned so many things from playing sports and from my short time working in athletics. I have learned the essence of teamwork, hard work, dedication and having a positive attitude all of which have carried over into my everyday life. I continuously rely on these lessons that I learned through sports and now apply them in my life continuously. Basketball has opened so many amazing opportunities for me that I never could have imagined. I have seen so many places, met so many great people some of which to this day are my best friends, and received the most important thing - an education. However I think that the thing I learned most through sports was self confidence. The confidence to keep going when things go wrong and to know that you always have a team and coach to pull you through no matter what you are going through. "It is not how many times you fall down, but how many times you stand right back up!"
CS: The most important thing I have learned as a result of participating in sports is that I can do anything that I set my mind to. My determination to always do my best out on the court has led to success. I have always had a "never say die" attitude. I believe that you can never go into a game, or anything for that matter, thinking that you are going to lose. If you go in with that attitude, you have already lost. I have also learned that you have to trust the work that you have put into your game. All the hard work and dedication will pay off in the end.
6) How has participation in sport shaped your life in areas other then athletics?
CW: For more than 60 percent of my life I have been a competitive student-athlete, and I can't think of time where sports hasn't influenced decisions I've made or provided incredible opportunities for me. As a National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) Undergraduate Fellows Program (NUFP) fellow, I'm attempting to get a holistic view of how collegiate sports administration fits into the broader higher education administration umbrella. I am an active, influential student in the campus community beyond athletics, thus I'm trying to break the stigma that student-athletes are just student-athletes. The most important things I've learned through participating in sports have given me the tools necessary to succeed outside athletics and want to bring it back to student-athletes by serving them in the future.
CS: The most valuable lessons I have learned from sports most often apply to other areas of my life. My participation in sports has taught me the importance of teamwork and cooperation. An athlete learns that he/she must trust that every member of the team has put in the hard work that he/she has. Every member of the team is working towards what is the common good for the team. My participation in sports has also taught me the importance of time management. You definitely need to make schedules and remain structured when so many hours of your life are occupied by practices, games and schoolwork. A lot of people rely on you on the court and in life, so realizing your responsibilities and accountabilities is key.
JS: All the core values and lessons I have learned by playing sports have carried over into my life in other areas. Academically, I strive for the best that I can be. I know that just like batting practice, I have to work hard academically; I have to practice studying, to become good at it. I know that nothing will be handed to me, that I have to work for what I want out of life. One of the greatest ways sports have shaped my life is in dealing with other people- a daily challenge that any social human being faces. Probably most importantly and maybe most ironically, being an athlete has forced me to know who I am aside of my athletic ability-I have had to learn to identify myself as Julie Sterrett the human being and have confidence in who I am. Sports has taught me that if I believe in myself and set my mind to it, I can accomplish my goals.
CSF: Most importantly, it has given me a healthy foundation for life in general. It has also become my career and avocation and I have been fortunate to have had many wonderful professional and personal opportunities as a result of sports.
AA: I am the most happiest when I am participating in sports, the only problem is that I hate to lose!! I have learned how to lose graciously and accept defeat however. I have recently picked up golf, and have met many women who never played competitive sports before, and the concept of competition is foreign to them. I believe being competitive is healthy and that spills over into other areas of life.
AG: Participation in sport has given me confidence and has helped mold me into a mature and productive adult. It has taught me discipline, time management and organizational skills.
KB: Sports have had an impact on my life in many ways. I can relate so many things to athletics. Perhaps the biggest benefit to me was how participating in sports helped me overcome the extreme shyness that I felt as a child and even, at times as an adult. So much of the confidence and self esteem I now possess is a direct result of my life as an athlete and coach.
7) If you could tell young females any one thing about getting involved in sports what would it be?
AG: I would tell young females that being involved in sports can be one of the best things you can ever do; a great way to bond with a group of young women who have the same interests that you have in a most fun and fulfilling way.
AA: It will prepare you for life and all its ups and downs.
CS: I would tell young females that getting involved in sports is the best thing that they could ever do. I have played on all-girls teams, co-ed teams and I have even played on just male sports teams. My participation on all of these types of teams gave me the confidence I need to compete against anyone, regardless of gender, age, size, etc. Sports helped me to develop an inner motivation for success that could be applied to any part of life. Most importantly, I met a lot of great women and men through my many experiences in sports.
CSF: I would tell young girls to get involved and play for the fun of it. The opportunities and rewards for young women today are endless. AA: It will prepare you for life and all its ups and downs.
AG: I would tell young females that being involved in sports can be one of the best things you can ever do; a great way to bond with a group of young women who have the same interests that you have in a most fun and fulfilling way.
KB: I would encourage anyone who has even the slightest inclination to get involved in sports to do so. The benefit of such participation is valuable and far reaching. Most importantly, I would say have fun!
JD: I would tell them to just get involved! Whether it be sports, music, dance, art, etc. participate, participate, participate! I feel that there are many avenues for girls to get involved and participate, however I feel that sports is one of the best avenues a young girl could take. It gives young girls experiences that they can use to help them in their everyday life. It allows them to develop social skills, to have the feeling of being apart of a team, to go through the ups, downs, winning and losing a team experiences, to understand how to be there for their teammates, but most importantly it teaches them to get right back up again when they fall knowing they have a team behind them to help them along the way.
8) What advice would you give to women looking for a career in athletics?
CSF: My advice for young women looking for a career in athletics is to make the commitment and be willing to work hard, to volunteer wherever they can to increase their experiences and to develop a network of colleagues and mentors to help them along the way.
AG: I would tell young women that a career in athletics can be a great choice; the joy of working with young athletes and helping them to develop both athletically and personally is most rewarding.
KB: The opportunities for women in sport have certainly expanded over the years. I would tell people to talk to others in the field, both women and men, and to use the resources at their disposal. So many times help is close by, and people are hesitant to seek assistance. I have found that people who work in athletics are personable and willing to help. If you stay true to your beliefs, are willing to work hard and learn from your experiences, invariably you'll land in a great place.