Ron Goch
The Telios Group
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April 18, 2024

I was visiting with my daughter Kennedy (whose nickname is “KJ”) before school one day last week, and she asks her trademark question, “Guess what Dad?” And I respond, as I usually do, “What KJ?” “My friends at school can’t believe I really play basketball.” I smile, thinking back to the day my wife Susie brought home the basketball registration form. I was surprised kids could start playing organized basketball so young. It wasn’t so long ago KJ turned six.

So I’m feeling all proud we started KJ at such an early age playing basketball, knowing her friends are equally impressed to learn KJ’s already a pretty good dribbler, a decent passer and a so-so shooter (sounds a lot like her Dad…the so-so shooter part).

Kennedy continues, “I told two of my friends I play and they said, ‘No way!’ I said, ‘Really, I do!’ They didn’t believe me. So, one of them asks Mom, ‘Does Kennedy really play basketball?’ and of course Mom says ‘Yes.’ They just couldn’t believe it Dad!” Kennedy says laughing.

I respond: “Well, now they know you play.”

KJ continues, “Yep! They just didn’t think girls played basketball, just boys.”

Quite surprised, I ask “What?” Kennedy explains, “They think only boys play basketball and girls don’t.” I said, “Are you kidding?” KJ says, “No, really. They didn’t know girls could play on a team. They thought only boys can play on a basketball team.”

Wow, talk about a reality check! Quite stunned, I turn to my wife and say, “Can you believe that? Here, I thought the girls were surprised Kennedy was playing at such a young age, but they’re surprised she’s playing because she’s a girl? Are you kidding me?”

My wife, seeing that I’m getting a bit worked up says, “That’s pretty sad!”

“That’s beyond sad, ” I respond in frustration. “I can’t believe these young girls don’t know there’s girls basketball, and they could be playing too. I thought after all these years, after all that has been accomplished in girls and women’s sports that we’d be much more informed, accepting and open to opportunities for girls and women’s sports. Obviously, we still have a long way to go.”

As I often say, every challenge is an opportunity!

What are your thoughts, suggestions and ideas on how we can all do our part to better inform girls and women of the many opportunities available in sports today?

How can we as parents better educate and inform our kids so they grow up knowing – boys or girls – they have the opportunity to play any sport or extracurricular activity they’d like to try?

How can we as Dads be more open-minded, accepting and supportive of girls and women’s sports, whether we have daughters or not?

We have so many opportunities, and although at first frustrated to learn we still have a long way to go in educating our youth – as well as society in general – I’m excited about the many opportunities in girls and women’s sports today…to participate, to support, to promote, to sell, to encourage…to be an athlete, to be a coach, to be a teammate, to be a fan of girls and women’s sports.

That’s what it’s all about…providing an opportunity, which will only lead to many more opportunities.

Your turn to take a shot!

If you have a thought, idea or suggestion you’d like to share, I’d enjoy hearing from you.

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Ron Goch, The Telios Group

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April 18, 2024

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