Girls and Women in Sports

Since its inception in 1912, Girl Scouting has always promoted a healthy active lifestyle. It is only natural that many Girl Scouts are also gifted athletes. On February 4, 2009 and throughout the month, thousands of sports educators, coaches, athletic directors, recreation directors, association members, sponsors, students and parents across the country showed their support of the National Girls and Women in Sports Day and of this year's theme, "Look Who's Playing!" NGWSD is co-sponsored by Girl Scouts of the USA and several other women's organizations. Here are examples of some terrific Girl Scouts who are also athletes. Each week, we will add new profiles.

Elizabeth, Age 11

Level in Girl Scouting? First year Girl Scout Cadette

What sports do you play? For how long? I have been playing soccer for three years. I play on a town travel team, the Londonderry Blue Devils. At one of our last tournaments, we received the "Best Sportsmanship Award" and got our picture in the paper. We also play indoor soccer. In addition, I play for my middle school team, the Gilbert H. Hood Huskies. This summer I started Karate and I am now going for my purple belt. I love both soccer and karate and want to do them for the rest of my life.

What is your favorite thing about Girl Scouting? I really like how we are challenged and invited to learn new things and become leaders. I am the Cadette leader this month, and I get to combine two of my favorite things: Girl Scouts and Karate. My troop voted to work on the "Your Best Defense" Interest Patch this month, and I get to lead it! This past weekend, my troop helped out with a council-wide event, the Novemberfest Badge Blast at Salem High School. I got to lead some Junior girls in crafts that helped them earn the Folk Art badge as well as the Art in 3D badge, and it was awesome. I also like the community service projects that we do and they make me want to do more. This Thanksgiving I am helping serve a local community Thanksgiving Dinner, and I probably wouldn't have thought of doing that before I joined Girl Scouts. This past September, I earned my Bronze Award before bridging to Cadettes. I am very proud of that and am already starting to work on my Silver Award and the leadership requirements that go with it. I feel that every day I am becoming a better leader and a better person and that I am going down the path I am meant to follow.

Why do you like your sport? I like soccer because I get to run a lot and stay in shape. It only takes me about eight minutes to run a mile. I like being part of a team that works together. We try our best and we support each other even if we don't win. I also like it because we get to meet different people from all over New England. Soccer makes me feel proud and happy. Karate is great because I'm learning self-defense and it is fun at the same time. I am so much stronger now and I may be invited to the Black Belt Club, which focuses on skills you need to get your black belt. I do well and it makes me feel good.

What have you learned from Girl Scouting? I have learned to use my head (and I don't mean "heading" the ball in soccer) and get along with girls of all ages. I feel Girl Scouts is one of the best things I have ever done and I'm glad I joined. I have been doing Girl Scouts for six years and have learned to be more independent, more cooperative, more outgoing, more persistent and organized. I can be a follower when I need to but I can also be a leader. I know I have a lot of room to grow and mature, but I have my Girl Scout friends and leaders to help me through it all. They are my true friends both inside and outside of Girl Scouts.

What have you learned from the sports you play? I have learned that I am now an active person because of the sports I play and I like that about myself. I don't want to sit and watch TV all day. I like to work on a team as well as do an individual sport. Sports make me relax and I don't get stressed out.

What do you think about Title IX? My mom always tells me that when she was my age, there was no soccer, no softball or little league, no field hockey or basketball for girls. Everything was boy-only. I am glad I live now and get to play whatever I want. I hope it is that way forever.

Sydney, Age 6, Macedon, N.Y.

Level in Girl Scouting? Girl Scout Daisy – Second year/Troop 1097

What sports do you play? For how long? Soccer (3 years), Basketball (3 years), Softball (2 years)

What is your favorite thing about Girl Scouting? We get to do crafts, and go camping. I also like my Troop because they are my friends!

Why do you like your sport? I like soccer because you get run and you get to kick the ball. I like soccer because I like to be on a team and work together.

What have you learned from Girl Scouting? I have learned about the Girl Scout Promise and Law and how we should treat people with kindness and respect.

What have you learned from the sports you play? I have learned how to share the ball with my team mates and how to have fun.

Ashley, Age 8, Troop 2236, Wilton/Lyndeborough, Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains

Level in Girl Scouting? Girl Scout Brownie, third year

What sports do you play? For how long? I am a skier and have been skiing for five seasons and ski racing for four seasons. I'll be starting my fifth season on the race team in a few weeks and I am looking forward to getting out on the snow again. I was a charter member of the new Crotched Mountain Junior Race Team (2004-2005 season) in the developmental Tigers program. I was the youngest member of the Tigers program for quite a few years and I started in the Tigers at age 4. We worked on learning basic skiing skills then more advanced skills and basic race skills. I had to keep up with all the older kids, including my big brother, so I learned to ski fast at an early age. It was a lot of fun. I started to participate in USSA sanctioned races at the age of 6 in the 2006-2007 season. To date, I'm undefeated in my downhill events with about 19 first place wins over the past two seasons. Ski racing is a lot of fun and it is easy, except when you hit a gate. I love to ski and have so much fun skiing with my family and friends, and participating in ski racing.

What is your favorite thing about Girl Scouting? My favorite thing about being a Brownie is being part of a great troop with my friends. We have a lot of fun and we learn a lot while we are working towards our badges. I like being involved in activities that help others, such as collecting much needed items to donate to a Women and Children's Shelter or our upcoming "Beanie Babies for Baghdad" project. Today at Brownies, we made drop boxes for the donations and posters and we hope to send over a lot of Beanie Babies for Iraqi children to enjoy and find comfort from. I also like to sell Girls Scout Cookies. My favorite cookie is Samoas and the little brownies.

Why do you like your sport? I like to ski fast and to ski race. Going around the gates is really fun. I have a lot of great friends on the team and we love to hang around together. My dad is now my ski coach and also coaches my older brother. It is a family affair and mom takes photos for the race team. He teaches me I can do anything if I try hard really hard at it. We have to travel to other mountains in New Hampshire for races and that is fun. I have met a lot of races from other team that I'll be competing against for many years to come. My nickname in the Central Division is "Squeaky" and when I leave the gate I hear everyone yelling "Go Squeaky" and they all support me.

What have you learned from Girl Scouting? I have learned be a good person and to be helpful to others. Girl Scouting teaches you about friendships and helping in the community. I have also learned how to make neat stuff during crafts and we do fun projects. We go on fun field trips such as apple picking or bowling or for a walk to an old cemetery. We also learn things we really need to know such as two meetings ago when a police officer came in and talked to us about bike and helmet safety and about Halloween safety. That was good information. I always wear my helmet but I did learn some new bike safety tips.

What have you learned from the sports you play? I learned to ski correctly and correct way to ski around the gates for a giant slalom race and a slalom race. I've learned to be a gracious winner and a gracious loser and that winning is not all that important, it is to have fun, exercise and to always do my best and represent my team with pride. This is also something we learn at Brownies.

What do you think about Title IX? I think it is kind of weird that girls could not play in sports like the boys before Title IX. I am glad it is equal today because I want to play sports.

Mom's Comments The whole family loves to ski and it brings us closer and we all share skiing and racing. It is really neat. I don't think she realizes how talented she is but she loves it and that is what counts. I feel ski racing and Brownies have given her a lot of confidence and she is a real go getter.

Sabrina, Age 11, Troop 20570, Derry, N.H., Girl Scouts Of the Green and White Mountains

Level in Girl Scouting? First year Girl Scout Cadette

What sports do you play? For how long? Soccer (4 years), running (3 years)

Favorite thing about Girl Scouting: My favorite thing about Girl Scouts is going on trips.

Why you do like your sport? It is fun to compete and be part of a team in soccer

What have you learned from Girl Scouting? I learned in Girl Scouting how to make a fire.

What have you learned from the sports you play? I have learned in the sports I play sportsmanship.

Mackenzie, Age 9

Level in Girl Scouting? Girl Scout Junior

What sports do you play? For how long? Soccer since I was 4 years old (6 years), Gymnastics since I was 3 years old (almost 8 years), Golf since I was 4 years old (6 years)

Favorite thing about Girl Scouting? I like selling Girl Scout cookies and magazines to raise money for my troop.

Why you do like your sport? I like soccer because I like running around and scoring goals. I like gymnastics because I like to do flips and back handsprings. I like golf because it is fun to play a sport with my dad and every time I swing the golf club and make a good shot I feel proud of myself.

What have you learned from Girl Scouting? I have learned how to be a better person and to care about my world and everybody who is sharing the world.

What have you learned from the sports you play? I have learned from playing sports that if you try really hard you will get better and that it doesn't matter if you win or lose just if you play the game right. I have also learned how to have good sportsmanship if I lose or my team loses.