Culture Shift, the Impact of Women in Sports

I’m so official all I need is a… 2023 was the year of women’s sports no matter the industry, but we’re truly just scratching the surface as we work toward equality on the court, in the locker room on the field, and wherever our attendance is considered a question. As a professional sports official, and former athlete, the lens is clear, and although we’ve made great progress, there’s more work to be done. But no one can deny, that our presence is a present. Through heightened viewership, NIL deals, and the opportunities for women to no longer press pause on our personality, the sky is the limit; one might ask how to support. You don’t have to be a sports guru to lean into the idea that change can be good, and it affects the little girls, the teens, the young adults, and those who look to us as the game changers, the role models and the groundbreakers. Attendee results:

• Learn about the history and lack of equality in an industry designed for men.
• Understand the why times are changing and why it’s important to buy in.
• Determine the difference between the experience of a coach versus player versus official.
• Develop an understanding of the current pressures women face in the age of social media, instant gratification and constant trends.

When Discipline & Determination Yield Results

Why are you giving up today when tomorrow is the day you’re going to win?

The day-to-day schedule of an official while in season requires multiple things to be aligned at all times. The travel schedule is demanding and grueling, you’re preparing to work a minimum of 2 hours by running up and down a court, so you have to stay healthy and in shape, and the lack of time spent home with family can sometimes affect your mental health. So what keeps you going? Is it the dream you had as a child, is it the will to win that you have now, and your personal competitive streak, or do you do it for someone who looks up to you and what you’re going to be? Motivation is great to have, but how do you operate when you’re not motivated? That’s where discipline comes in. Attendee results:

• Learn about the importance of believing in your plan because if you don’t who will?
• Understand how to rise to the top in your profession with consistency as your guide.
• Determine how to maintain when your setback is truly a setup for your comeback.
• Develop an untapped lane within what it is you love to do.

Brand Building – You can do it all

Who are you to others when you leave the room? Professionally, you see an NCAA Division I women’s basketball, but there’s more. The average person won’t know that there’s a brand building behind the surface, called Referee Ready, a training program that drives transformative initiatives to elevate officiating standards and personally, there’s also an entrepreneur, who’s passionate about the growth of the game internationally, a history making investment in The Bal’s Cape Town Tigers started it all. Attendee results:

• What is your personal mission statement?
• What does your brand say about you?
• How are you helping your neighbor?
• Who is going to speak your name in rooms where you’re not present and why?