Women’s sports are changing fast — bigger arenas, real sponsorships, games actually streaming. Your athletes are noticing. And that attention is quietly changing how girls see themselves as athletes for the long game.
You’re often the first adult to feel the ripple. Athletes arrive more confident, set bigger goals, and push back harder when something feels unfair. That’s the good news. The question is how to channel it.
We spoke with Dr. Jia L. Nettles, Girls Leadership’s National Sports Program Director, about what coaches can actually do with this moment.
Q&A with Dr. Jia Nettles: Coaching Girls in Sports Today
You talk a lot about sports and social-emotional growth. What are you seeing right now?
“Girls are forming a clearer sense of who they are as athletes, and that strengthens self-awareness and confidence. They’re also more attuned to fairness — they notice when their team gets the backup gym while the boys get the main court. As coaches create space for those conversations, girls can practice speaking up.”
What do girls say they want most right now?
“To be taken seriously. That’s the through-line. Coaches who name that out loud — who say ‘your sport matters, your goals are real’ — make a bigger difference than they realize.” The world does not always send girls the message that they should be taken seriously, and coaches have an opportunity to counter that message.
Some people say the current attention on women’s sports won’t last. How do coaches respond to that?
“As Jacki Zehner says, “women’s sports aren’t having a moment, they are having a reckoning.” Decades of unequal resources created a gap, not a lack of talent. Every time investment goes up, competition gets sharper and audiences get bigger. Coaches can share that context — it’s not just rallying the team, it’s accurate.”
Where would you start if a coach wants to open this conversation with their team?
“Ask your athletes: ‘When do you feel most respected as an athlete? From your teammates? Coaches? Fans? Media? What makes you feel that way? Do you feel like your team or sports community gets respect in the same ways that the boys’ team or communities do?’ Grounding it in their experience keeps the conversation real.”
What’s still missing from the conversation?
“Athletes with disabilities. Their achievements get limited coverage, and when they do appear, the framing often emphasizes inspiration over skill. Coaches can shift that by talking about performance and strategy — treating these athletes as competitors first.”
Need Resources
Want to learn more from Dr. Jia Nettles? Join our upcoming free training sessions for coaches, PE teachers, and sports directors.
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