PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — From coaching to administration and broadcasting, women have shattered the glass ceiling in the world of sports. Philadelphia’s Black Women in Sport Foundation is making sure more girls of color are exposed to all types of sporting opportunities.
The organization is celebrating its 30th anniversary on Saturday, marking the milestone with its annual Sneaker Ball at Temple University.
Vivian Stringer, the legendary retired women’s basketball coach at Rutgers, is being honored with the Living Legend Award. Jemelle Hill, one of the few Black female sports journalists, will be given the Trailblazer Award.
The foundation’s goal is to increase involvement among Black women and girls in all aspects of traditional and nontraditional sports.
Lacrosse and field hockey coach Jazmine A. Smith said the key to more involvement is access.
“Most of the nontraditional sports have not been geared toward our community unless you live in a certain demographic of affluence,” she explained. The same can be said for mentoring. She wants girls to feel completely safe in a family environment.
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“A lot of times, playing nontraditional sports and traditional sports, most girls, especially girls of color, do not feel safe to really embody themselves, to take full leadership roles or be able to really drive in those sports,” she added.
Lacrosse and field hockey are two sports that could use more young girls of color, Smith said. About 6% of lacrosse players are Black, and only 18% are female.
Samiah Hayes, 14, has been playing lacrosse for eight years. She looks up to Black female athletes that came before her.
“Alice Coachman, she was the first Black woman to get an Olympic gold medal,” she said.
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Samiah plans to continue playing sports for years to come, maybe even going pro. She hopes more Black girls join her.
“Usually, when we go to the games, you don’t see a lot of Black teams,” she said, “so I think a lot more Black girls should get into sports.”