This Wednesday, February 5, we celebrate National Girls & Women in Sports Day, a powerful reminder that girls and women belong in every aspect of sports. It’s a day to recognize achievements, challenge gender stereotypes and commit to creating more inclusive opportunities for girls in sports.

Sports aren’t just about competition—they’re about leadership, growth and unlocking potential. Yet, despite the well-documented benefits of sports participation, girls face systemic barriers that prevent them from reaping these rewards. The Play to Lead report by the Women’s Sports Foundation reveals that girls who participate in sports are more likely to develop leadership skills and confidence—but only if they have the support, representation and opportunities they need to succeed.

This is where parks and recreation professionals step in. As key providers of community sports, they have the power to dismantle barriers and ensure every girl has the chance to play, lead and thrive.

Here’s how to take action on National Girls & Women in Sports Day 2025:

1. Equip your coaches with the tools they need to succeed. The Coaching Girls course provides strategies to create inclusive spaces where girls feel supported and empowered.

• How to Access the Course:
  • Go to Coaching Girls Registration.
  • Fill in the required fields (Name, Email, Password, Date of Birth, Gender, Race/Ethnicity, and Role).
  • IMPORTANT: Select "Parks and Recreation Department" when asked about your organization type.
  • When prompted, answer "Yes" to the question about NRPA’s Million Coaches Challenge.
  • Complete the remaining questions and click Register to start the training.

2. Implement insights from Nike’s Coaching Girls Guide report to address the unique challenges girls face in sports participation. The guide supports program leaders and coaches to recruit and retain girls, plus creative inclusive, welcoming spaces for all young people.

3. Promote leadership by fostering environments where girls see themselves in positions of influence – both on and off the field. Created by the Women’s Sport Foundation, The Play to Lead report emphasizes that representation matters. When girls see women as coaches, officials, and administrators, they’re more likely to aspire to leadership roles themselves.

This National Girls & Women in Sports Day, we challenge you to Lead Her Forward. 

Use these tools and insights to create meaningful change in your programs and communities. By doing so, you’re not just shaping athletes – you’re building confident, capable leaders.

Because when girls play, they lead. And when they lead, everyone wins.

Brian McFadden (he/him) is a program manager at NRPA.