WOMEN'S SPORTS: How Important Are Mentors For Young Women Athletes?

Throughout history, young boys and men have had plenty of athletes,
businessmen, and scholars to look up to. They can grow up wanting to "be like
Mike," or fantasize about being the next internet and computer guru or NASA
engineer.

Girls and women, however, have not been awarded the same luxury.

Until only recently, young girls could dream about being the next Marion Jones,
Val Ackerman or Mia Hamm.

Numerous research studies suggest that girls who participate in sports are
less likely to get involved in drugs, less likely to get pregnant, and more
likely to graduate from high school than those who do not play sports. A lesser
known fact, however, is that girls drop out of sport at a rate 6 times higher
than boys.

Even more frightening is that if a girl does not participate in
sports by the time she is 10, there is only a 10% chance she will participate by
the time she is 25.

When they are young, girls are just as interested as boys are to participate
in sport. Unfortunately, a combination of a lack of opportunity, lack of peer
group support when they do play sports, and a lack of encouragement often causes them to drop out.

Despite the recent onset of apparent role models for young girls, more
mentoring and leadership activities must be encouraged if one wishes to reduce
the dropout rate. Not all role models and mentors must be elite athletes,
scholars, or business tycoons. All it takes is a little patience, a little
caring and understanding, and a lot of positive encouragement.

Let's examine the Valerie Still Foundation www.valieriestillfoundation.com,located in Powell, Ohio. The VSF is a
non-profit organization with at least eight highly qualified instructors whose
mission is to "help girls grow into balanced, confident women."

This can be
achieved through academics, athletics, music, or art. It offers two very unique
programs, the SKIP program, which is about kids learning to dream, develop and
find personal fulfillment as they grow in to young women through activities such as art and journaling, and Val's Gals, a group geared toward
all ages who want to be involved with a positive community outreach program, and where mother-daughter participation is encouraged.

In addition, the Valerie
Sill Foundation also offers basketball camps, for those young girls interested
in pursuing atlhetic interests.

Kids today, especially young girls, need someone to look up to, someone who
can give them a "thumbs up" and tell them "great job." They need the opportunity
to have an adult female as their role model, someone who can help them cope with
the everyday struggles in life.

Another group called Giant Steps (http://www.giantsteps.org) promotes and
supports health lifestyles, holistic health practices, and participation in
sports and fitness activities. Their organization is also geared toward young
girls and women.

This author had a wonderful mentor and "big sister" growing up. She provided
me with the compassion and encouragement I desired, and kept her advice simple:
"Never give up." Her name is Allison Greene. She is a successful scholar,
athlete, and business woman who graduated from Dartmouth after a successful
career on the womens' basketball team. She played professionally overseas and is
currently working on her doctorate, while serving as a top assistant women's
basketball coach at Old Dominion University.

Despite geographic
constraints at times, Allison and I have kept in touch for over 10 years now.
She has had a profound impact on my life. I owe much of my success on and off
the court to her. I know that the best way to show my appreciation of Allison,
is to become a mentor myself, and that is exactly what I am planning to do.

Every young girl deserves to have the opportunity to have a role model like I
did. With the continued establishment of organizations like Giant Steps and the
Valerie Still Foundation, and increased support from businesses and communities,
more of our little girls can continue to have big dreams, too.