February 6, 2013 National Girls and Women in Sports Day Resources in Sports Nutrition and Dietetics

From the National Girls and Women in Sports Day 

On February 6, 2013, thousands of sports educators, coaches, athletic directors, recreation directors, association members, sponsors, students, and parents across the country will show their support of the Day and of this year's theme, "Girls in Sports, An Investment in the Future."

Mission of the National Association of Girls and Women in Sport (NAGWS) is to develop and deliver equitable and quality sport opportunities for all girls and women. 

National Girls and Women in Sport Day (NGWSD) History
NGWSD is celebrated in all 50 states with community-based events, award ceremonies, and activities honoring the achievements and encouraging participation of girls and women in sports.

NGWSD began in 1987 as a day to remember Olympic volleyball player Flo Hyman for her athletic achievements and her work to assure equality for women's sports. NGWSD has evolved into a day to acknowledge the past and recognize current sports achievements, the positive influence of sports participation, and the continuing struggle for equality and access for women in sports.

NGWSD is jointly organized by the National Girls and Women in Sport Coalition. The Coalition combines the experience and resources of four premiere girls- and women-serving organizations in the United States: Girls Incorporated,  the National Association for Girls and Women in Sport,  National Women's Law Center, and the Women's Sports Foundation.

Significant Events in the Law
NAGWS has served girls and women in sport for more than a century. A  variety of programs have been initiated to prepare teachers and coaches to work with female students and to challenge individuals and institutions to look at how they do business each day. 

In January 2013, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) issued a Dear Colleague Letter clarifying school’s obligations under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Rehab Act) to provide extracurricular athletic opportunities for students with disabilities. The OCR’s announcement underscores our belief that every student, regardless of sex, means, race, religion… and ability, should be able to reap the benefits of sports.

Specifically, the Dear Colleague Letter does the following for schools:
1. Clarifies when and how schools must include students with disabilities in mainstream athletic programs
2. Defines what true equal treatment of student athletes with disabilities means
3. Encourages and provides a road map for schools to create adapted programs for students with disabilities
Title IX/gender equity issues have been a long-time focus of NAGWS programs through programs like Backyards and Beyond or National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD). 

Get Involved
Community Action Kit  Download
The Community Action Kit is designed to help you plan, organize, promote and host NGWSD activities. It is available only in an online publication format.
· A short introduction to the Day
· An advocacy section
· A step-by step planning checklist
· Publicity tips to help get your event recognized

The Importance of
Nutrition in Sports Resources

Lisa Dorfman, Director of Sports Nutrition and Performance at the University of Miami featured on NBC to discuss key ingredients to a successful sports nutrition eating plan.

Special Olympics World Summer Games ATHENS 2011 June 25 - July 4, 2011

Special Olympics

"Special Olympics is about sports but it is also about so much more.  For people with intellectual disabilities, Special Olympics is often the only place where they have an opportunity to participate in their communities and develop belief in themselves. It is inspiring when you see a father’s pride in his son's achievement … a mother's relief when her daughter makes friends … siblings cheering for their brother or sister for the first time."  

2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games are set for Athens, Greece. This event will mark the second World Summer Games in Europe and the third Summer Games held outside the U.S.

 

Words matter. Words can open doors to enable persons with disabilities to lead fuller, more independent lives. Words can also create barriers or stereotypes that are not only demeaning to persons with disabilities, but also rob them of their individuality. Special Olympics prefers to focus on people and their gifts and accomplishments, and to dispel negative attitudes and stereotypes."

From Special Olympics Terminology

Appropriate Terminology

• Refer to participants in Special Olympics as Special Olympics athletes rather than Special Olympians or Special Olympic athletes.

• Refer to individuals, persons or people with intellectual disabilities, rather than intellectually disabled people or the mentally retarded.

• A person has intellectual disability, rather than is suffering from, is afflicted with or is a victim of intellectual disability.

• Distinguish between adults and children with intellectual disability. Use adults or children, or older or younger athletes.

• A person uses a wheelchair, rather than is confined or restricted to a wheelchair.

• “Down syndrome” has replaced Down’s Syndrome and mongoloid.

• Refer to participants in Special Olympics as athletes. In no case should the word athletes appear in quotation marks.

• When writing, refer to persons with a disability in the same style as people without a disability: full name on first reference and last name on subsequent references. Do not refer to an individual with intellectual disabilities as “Bill” rather than the journalistically correct “Bill Smith” or “Smith”.

• A person is physically challenged or disabled rather than crippled.

• Use the words “Special Olympics” when referring to the worldwide Special Olympics movement.

Terminology to Avoid
• Do not use the label “kids” when referring to Special Olympics athletes. Adult athletes are an integral part of the movement.

• Do not use the word “the” in front of Special Olympics unless describing a specific Special Olympics event or official.

• Do not use the adjective “unfortunate” when talking about persons with intellectual disabilities. Disabling conditions do not have to be life-defining in a negative way.

• Do not sensationalize the accomplishments of persons with disabilities. While these accomplishments should be recognized and applauded, people in the disability rights movement have tried to make the public aware of the negative impact of referring to the achievements of physically or intellectually challenged people with excessive hyperbole.

• Use the word “special” with extreme care when talking about people with intellectual disabilities. The term, if used excessively in references to Special Olympics athletes and activities, can become a cliché.

Become a Volunteer
Volunteering with Special Olympics creates change that carries forth from our Programs and into the world. Whether you’re an individual or a member of a school, church, work, civic or other group; whether you can volunteer for just a few hours on a single day as a scorekeeper, or several hours a week, year-round, as a special events coordinator; there are volunteer opportunities for you.

Support the Special Olympics

Your Gift can change a Life.

National Girls and Women in Sports Day February 2, 2011

25th Annual
National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NAGWS)

To celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day, these top female athletes share why they love doing what they do. As seen on GoGirlWorld.org, a site by the Women's Sports Foundation.

On February 2, 2011, thousands of sports educators, coaches, athletic directors, recreation organizers, association members, sponsors, students, and parents across the country will gather to celebrate NGWSD and the 2011 theme "Play, Believe, Achieve."

National Girls and Women in Sports Day

Founded in 1987, National Girls and Women in Sports Day celebrates the participation, success and accomplishments of girls and women athletes.

Despite the advances made in the 38 years since Title IX was enacted, high school girls receive a million fewer sporting opportunities than males. American University is trying to improve these numbers by encouraging girls to participate in sports.

 

The Women’s Sports Foundation is a member of the National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD) coalition. Other members include: Girls’ Incorporated, Girls Scouts of America, National Association for Girls and Women in Sport, and the National Women’s Law Center.

NGWSD is marked annually with events around the country and on Capitol Hill to celebrate the achievements of girls and women in athletics. It is also an important day to promote the continued development of opportunities for girls and women to play sports and live physically active lives.

Opportunities for All Girls and Women

Jennifer Ruddell,  a basketball player and paralympic gold medalist teaches the techniques of shooting, hopping and tilting, and wants every girl to give it a go! 

Always a Way to Play from GoGirlWorld on Vimeo.

View the 2011 National Girls and Women in Sports Day Community Action Kit.