Did you play sports when you were younger? I did. I played soccer for four years and softball for two years. I wasn’t very good at softball. I was also the catcher and that really did a number on my knees.
I was good at soccer. I was the goalie. I loved playing soccer.
My kids were never really into sports growing up. Our daughter did track for a bit until she got really hurt when she fell doing a jump over a hurdle. After that she quit.
There is one thing I have noticed – girl teams don’t seem to get the same amount of attention or respect as the boy’s teams do. Have you ever noticed that too? More people seem to attend the boy’s basketball team games than the girl’s team games. The same applies to baseball (at least around here). And don’t get me started on the all mighty football team. They get the most attention.
I think girl’s sport teams often get the “short end of the stick,” so to speak.
Always is trying to do something about that. In fact, Always and Walmart have teamed up to bring much-needed assistance to keep girls in sports across the US. Together, they will provide one girls teams in each of the fifty states with resources like new equipment, uniforms or a facility upgrade to help give girls the confidence to Keep Playing #LikeAGirl.
This is part of Always #LikeAGirl program where Always has been working with retailers to help support girls in sports.
Check out this brief video about the program.
It’s been well-documented that girls who participate in sports report higher levels of self-confidence, but new Always survey data shows that half of girls will quit sports by 17 and nearly 7 in 10 girls reported that they don’t feel encouraged by society to play. When Always examined where that feeling stems from – community support, parental encouragement, funding – they knew they needed to do something to keep girls in the game.
The Keep Playing movement will reinforce the link between sports and confidence and provide coaching tips to help keep girls motivated to participate in sports through support for coaches, educational materials and access to experts. I think this is a marvelous idea. I wish someone had thought of it sooner (like back in the day when I did sports).
“Always® and Walmart® have something powerful in common – we’re both working to make a difference in women’s lives,” said Annie Walker, vice president, over the counter merchandising, Walmart® U.S. “We’re proud to support the Always®’ ‘50 Teams, 50 States’ Program, supporting local communities in which we operate and giving schools the help they need to keep girls playing #LikeAGirl.”
The program has already started. The first recipients of the campaign is a junior high school girls’ basketball team located in Hulbert, Oklahoma.
The girls were unaware of what was about to happen to them. This video captures their shock and surprise when they see their brand new locker room and uniforms, compliments of the 50 Teams, 50 States campaign.
I love how surprised and incredibly happy the girls were when they saw their new locker room.
The girls were asked about the challenges and the benefits of their athletic experience, and what helps them stay in the game. Their Coach, Towanna Scott, sums it up the best.
“The fact that Always® and Walmart® chose to support our school and spent time helping our girls has had a huge effect on their confidence already,” said Coach Towanna Scott of Hulbert Public Schools. “The backing has helped to change opinions and show people that girls in sports matter. To see the girls’ faces when they realized how much support they truly have is an experience none of us will ever forget.”
I think it’s wonderful that Always and Walmart are helping girls to succeed not only in sports, but also in life. I am proud to support brands who do such wonderful things for our community.
For more information about the #LikeAGirl movement, visit www.Always.com. You can also check out the brand on social media. Be sure to show your support by using the hashtag #LikeAGirl on social media.
Did you play a sport when you were younger? Does your child/grandchild play a sport now? Do you think that girls sports get the same amount of support and attention as boy’s sports do? Feel free to share your thoughts. I always love to hear from readers.
Kimberly
*I have partnered with Always to bring you this information. Although compensated the opinions expressed (unless otherwise noted) are my own and not influenced in any way.
Quanda Dykstra says
It is good to hear that Always and Walmart are working together to support the girl’s sports. I didn’t know about their program. Thank you for sharing.