Our Approach to Developing Strong Women
My Strong Squad’s approach to athletic training for women and girls relies on a framework designed to build strong women by promoting physical and psychological well-being; creating community; and providing mentorship. Each of these four tenants work together to create strong women.
This approach is centered on the idea, backed by research, that girls and women benefit from female role models. “You can't be what you can't see.” - Marian Wright Edelman. When girls and women are able to relate to their coach and mentor, the impact is far-reaching - it helps inform career choices and positively influences self-perceptions.
Unfortunately, while participation in sports by women and girls has increased since the passage of Title IX in 1972 which created equal opportunities for girls and women in sports, the number of female coaches has decreased. According to the study “Women in Intercollegiate Sport” by R. Vivien Acosta and Linda Jean Carpenter, in 1972, 90 percent of women’s collegiate teams were coached by women. As of 2014, that number was less than half. The data is no better in youth sports, as only 28% of coaches in youth sports are female, according to a 2017 Project Play Study conducted by the Aspen Institute.
