Making Space for Girls Within Your Association
Over the last 2 years, Baseball Ontario has been encouraging local associations to make space for girls within their association by offering dedicated female programming.
We recognize that this can seem like a daunting task, so we've identified some resources to help you. Remember, change doesn't happen overnight! Develop a plan, break it down into manageable tasks, and set realistic targets and deadlines that will encourage growth and development year over year.
Some suggestions:
- Ensure that your association advertising includes images of both male and female participants. Girls won't know what you're offering is for them if they don't see girls in your promotional materials.
- Keep your language gender neutral on your website and in your social media feeds, especially where you're promoting registration.
- If you don't have enough females sign up for dedicated female teams in the first year, that's ok. Put them on mixed teams, but if possible, ensure there are at least 2 girls on each team. No one wants to be the only one.
- Even if you don't have dedicated female teams to start, you can have dedicated female practices. Ensure your association sets aside time for the female players to come together, even if it's only once a week, so they can learn and train together.
- Reach out to other local associations in your area. Work together to offer female programming, even if its only training to start. Again, girls want to learn and train together!
- Make sure you're talking about girls baseball at your local and affiliated association meetings. Talking about it will make it happen!
- Encourage your affiliated association to host dedicated female events such as "try-it" days, clinics, jamborees, games, mini-tournaments, tournaments etc.
Resources:
2020 AGM Workshop: Growing Our Sport Through an Untapped Market
2021 AGM Workshop: Female Baseball, The Amazing Possibilities!
Same Game: A Step-by-Step Toolkit to Bring Your Gender Equity Vision to Life (Women & Sport)
Engaging Newcomer Girls & Women: Physical Activity & Sport Handbook (Women & Sport)
12 Tips for Recruiting Athletes, Coaches, Officials & Volunteers via Social Media (ViaSport BC)
Gender Decoder: Check for linguistic gender-coding in your messaging
INSIDE PITCH
Are you getting our Inside Pitch newsletter? Make sure you're signed up to receive all the details about Baseball Ontario news and events! Sign up for the Inside Pitch!
