Minnesota State High School League Leads the Way in Girls High School Sports by Introducing Coaching HER® Learning Modules for MSHSL Coaches
Posted: Tuesday, September 10, 2024 - 11:35 PM
The Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) and the Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport, based at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, are proud to announce that the MSHSL is the first state high school governing body to become a Coaching HER® Champion. This partnership keeps MSHSL at the forefront of advancing more equitable experiences and opportunities for girls in high school sports. Learning modules created by Coaching HER® will be available directly on coaches’ League Coach Dashboard and completion will report to their Activities Administrators as well as to their own record of learning.
Minnesota leads the nation in girls’ participation in middle and high school sports and the League recognizes that coaches are one of the most important factors in determining whether or not she keeps playing sports. This partnership will offer high school coaches the tools and knowledge needed to foster inclusive, supportive and equitable environments for young female athletes. Coaching HER® program director Alicia Pelton states, “We are honored to welcome MSHSL as our first state high school sports governing body partner. Their commitment to equity has a strong presence in the educational-based athletics sector, fostering other states to follow their lead. This will enhance the benefits of educational sports that have long-lasting definitive benefits.”
MSHSL Executive Director Erich Martens stated, “We believe that our activities provide some of the greatest educational experiences in high school. Equipping our coaches with the best training and information to support our female athletes is a League priority. The Tucker Center is a leader in this space, and we are thrilled to join together to benefit our students and coaches.”
The goal of Coaching HER® is to increase the likelihood that girls enter and stay in sport so they can benefit academically, socially, psychologically and have better health and well-being.
When a girl’s confidence is shaken because she internalizes gender biases and stereotypes, she is more likely to drop out of sports, based on a 2018 report published by the Tucker Center. The highest drop-out rate occurs during a critical age range when girls go through puberty, around 11 to 17 years old — which is exactly the age window when girls feel pressured to conform to an identity shaped by their peers and by adults, including coaches.
This online training platform currently includes six Foundational Modules on coaching girls and fostering a gender-positive climate that reduces stereotypes. Additionally, three Body Confident Sport Modules to educate coaches on inclusive coaching practices that support body confidence in their athletes plus Body Confident Athletes help coaches lead girls through a program that upskills girls with the knowledge and strategies to connect with their bodies, reduce body talk and help athletes focus on what their bodies can do, rather than how they look.
Tavia Bachman, Head Girls Softball Coach at Frazee and the Girls Sports Representative on the Minnesota State High School League Board of Directors shared, “The partnership between the League and the Tucker Center will provide new opportunities for coaches to educate themselves on best practices in coaching and providing the best environment for our female participants. This opportunity to learn and making it easily accessible will give coaches resources to lead our girls and build confidence to grow our participation and support our young women. Nothing is more impactful than the lifelong lessons and relationships built through educational-based activities. This opportunity for our coaches will only grow those relationships and the positive experiences for our female athletes.”
About the Minnesota State High School League [MSHSL] The League’s mission is to provide educational and leadership opportunities for students across its membership of public, private, charter and home schools. The League oversees 240,000 high school students in more than 500 member schools who participate annually in athletics and fine arts activities. To learn more, visit mshsl.org.
About Coaching HER® The Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport at the University of Minnesota, in collaboration with NIKE®, has developed and launched Coaching HER® – a groundbreaking initiative that can empower and educate coaches through online modules demonstrating how to coach in a way that is inclusive and supports body confidence in athletes.
