Michigan Women's Sport in the News

The White House Project, a national nonprofit organization that offers training and education to women interested in running for political office, has given The Academy for Sport Leadership, an endorsement. Or at least, a vote of confidence in our good work. In the midwest edition of its monthly enewsletter and blog, The White House Project profiles the mission and programs of The Academy.

We think the White House Project's mission is very much like our own. It is a "governing GPS" program. The White House Project provides maps, guidance and direction for women whose goal is to blaze new trails in politics as local, state and national legislators and officials.

The Academy for Sport Leadership runs programs that offer "game plans," playbooks and guidance to young women whose goal is to succeed in the coaching profession.

We appreciate and are honored to have received the opportunity to talk with The White House Project about increasing the number of young women in coaching. And we enthusiastically support The White House Project programs to increase the number of women in political office.

We predict that it won't be too long before the photos commemorating the White House visits of NCAA championship teams will include a 'V for victory' hand-signing Madame President standing alongside a smiling female head coach.

TASL has received a total of 279 surveys from Michigan high school coaches around the state since we sent out the survey in February 2009. Of these surveys, 99 were from women and 180 from men.

We want to thank all of you for taking time from your busy lives to respond to this important survey.

Too, we especially appreciate the extra time you took to offer additional comments, all of which were thoughtful and insightful.

As you recall, we are looking at how you as high school coaches in our state get to where you want to go in your coaching careers, and whether you are generally satisfied with the opportunities afforded to you in coaching. Currently, we are running the numbers. We plan to publish our results and share them with you in the near future on this site.

Summer is upon us, a time when our athletes are going to camps, and we are often working for these camps to improve our skills and learn from mentor coaches.

It is appropriate then to share one finding from the Coaching Paths Survey that supports TASL's own commitment to offering coach education programs to young women. And that is, many coaches are looking for more formal training.

You can be most helpful as a current coach to young women interested in such training by considering TASL's upcoming Future Coaches Camp in Ann Arbor. This special camp, held from Monday, June 21 to Thursday, June 24, is in its eighth year.

If you know that a young woman in your high school would make the most of this unique leadership opportunity and chance to acquire career skills, then click on programs and check out the information on the TASL camp.

Again, thank you to all coaches who have responded to the Michigan Coaching Paths Survey.

Has the state of Michigan and our sport establishment been a progressive force in women's sport?

We are asking our own leader, Meg Seng, President of The Academy for Sport Leadership, this question and more in our podcast series: Playing and Leading: Conversations on Policy in Women's Sport.

What do you think? Please send in your comments about the ways in which Michigan has and hasn't been ahead of the game in women's sport.

How can we advance a positive agenda for women's sport in our state?

Please listen to the podcast (www.sportleadership.net/?q=node/37) and tell us your views.

We would like to have you tell us about your views of the new sport team scheduling for Michigan high school girls' sports. We want to hear from coaches and athletes.

1. What do you like about the new schedules? What are its benefits? 

    a. Does it prevent injuries?

    b. Does it give you a better opportunity to play more sports? To coach more sports?

    c. Does it help with scholarship availability for your athletes? 

     d. Do you have better coaching?  Are you a better coach because of it?

     e. Do you have access to better officiating?

     f. Do you have access to better facilities? 

What don't you like about the new schedule? Please let us know, by posting your views on this forum.