Wrapping Up Another Week in Girls Sports

It’s mid-January and half of the US is freezing cold today, but that will not stop thousands of girls from going to sports practice today! It has been a busy week in girls sports this week and I have plenty of good articles to share with you.

• Let’s start with a blast from the olden days – Coach Rick found this photo of women doing a group warm up in 1916 – look at the outfits – they don’t look comfortable for working out.
• Continuing the push to Chicago winning the bid to host the 2016 Olympics, Chicago is hosting this year’s Tyson’s American Cup Gymnastics competition on February 21. Gymnasts slated to compete include Olympian Bridget Sloan, up and comer Jordyn Wieber and 10 additional athletes. The roster is almost complete and can be found at USA Gymnastics.
• USA Swimming’s junior squad finished a very successful competition in Guam at the 2009 Junior Pan Pacific Swimming Championships. Dagny Knutsen not only won gold in the 200 IM, she also set a meet record in the process.
• The 2008-2009 Gatorade Girls State Cross Country Runners of the Year awards have been posted. What a great achievement for all 50+ of these young women!
• Because I Played Sports offers a very interesting commentary on the recent NCAA study on women and careers in athletics.  One of the reasons I have continued to coach (albeit at the club level and not collegiate level) is that I feel that kids need great coaches and role models at all levels and of both genders.
• On a related note, the USOC and the NCAA are holding a women in coaching conference this weekend in Colorado Springs. I’d love to sit in on some of those sessions.
• Youth Sports Psychology really wants to make parents think this week. Are Young Athletes Entertainers for Parents Today? Whether you think they are or not, you really should read the article. As a society, are we getting too wrapped up in winning, chasing scholarships, and the performance of athletics?
• And just for fun, did you see Olympic gymnast turned fashionista, Alicia Sacramone reporting/commentating for E! at the pre-Golden Globes Red Carpet show. She is such a natural performer. Here is a link to the You Tube videos of the show.