Almost all male athletes have male coaches, so why don’t all female athletes have female coaches? I believe that young female athletes deserve female coaches because having a strong female role model and someone who believes in you means the world to a female athlete. Female coaches understand female athletes, while male coaches might not understand the mental and physical struggles that female athletes experience.

I grew up having male coaches, but then switched to Sundodgers. I have been in the Sundodgers organization for four years now, and it has changed my life immensely. I am not only a better softball player, but a better person, and I think this is because I have female coaches to look up to. In our organization, we focus on playing at the next level and we are coached by females who have been through the college process. This causes us players to have great role models and someone to help guide us through the recruiting process to hopefully achieve our goals of playing in college. 

I am lucky enough to be coached by Carli Rasmussen and Shawna Wright. Carli played soccer and softball at Pacific Lutheran University, and Shawna, who is the director of Sundodgers, played at The University of Washington and for Team USA. Having the both of them as mentors has made my softball experience amazing and I will forever be grateful for them. Carli and Shawna aren’t the only mentors I’ve had — Kennedy Robillard and the rest of the Softball University staff have also been through college athletics and are constantly pushing us to be the best we can be and helping us achieve our goals.

Former LEAP member Joh ’nell Clark told me that she met Carli and Shawna when she was thirteen, and at that time she didn’t really take softball seriously and was just having fun. Carli and Shawna showed her how to take the game seriously and also have fun, but she said that they didn’t only affect her softball-wise. She grew up wanting to be a strong, empowered woman like her coaches, and Carli and Shawna are what drove her to start coaching. Now, Joh ‘nell and her sister, Rhyme, coach the Sundodgers first 10U team! Female coaches inspire female athletes to also be coaches. In such a male-dominated position, it’s good to see more and more women step into that role.

There are many talented male coaches, but I definitely feel like there are benefits to having female coaches who know the sport. I hope that one day I can coach and inspire female athletes to do so as well!

What if you decided to join a sport on a random Monday? What if you decided to alter your life with one decision? What if you wanted to try something new for once?

When it comes to school sports, I will always be an advocate for joining one. Although there is a decrease in the involvement of teenagers in sports, there are so many benefits you are rewarded with. You never know what will happen when you decide to join…

Up until high school, I had gone to a small private school where I knew everyone in my grade. Going into a new school, which was about 10 times the size I was used to, I was considerably nervous. I wanted to go through high school as swiftly as possible, avoiding interactions with anyone and not wanting to branch out. I had decided that this was my fate before I even set foot in the building, and it took a toll on how much anxiety I was having.

Thankfully, even through my nervous emotions, I decided to join my school’s soccer team. Although I had played soccer for years before my freshman year of high school, I was not too keen on opening up to a new team. I had some rough times with previous teams and teammates that I had played with, meaning I was not ready to try another one. I built up a stereotype for what I thought I was going to experience solely because of what had happened in the past. Playing on more competitive teams outside of school was a completely different environment compared to what I was about to experience.

After the initial resistance, I went to my first practice, and to my surprise, I enjoyed being on a team with new people. I met girls from different backgrounds that I could never even imagine. I got an insight into how diverse Renton High School is and how everyone comes together to share similar traits and interests. Even though everyone knew each other and were previously friends, I felt welcomed not only to be social with the others but to play soccer. The pandemic took a toll on everyone, making it exciting to meet others and get back to the “norm” again. I am still grateful that I decided to come and meet those girls because they turned into some of my best friends to this day. Those same friends helped me come out of my shell and become the person I am: someone who is outgoing, expressive, and open to possibilities.

Because of the choice to join the soccer team, I was able to branch into other opportunities at school that I would have never joined if it were not for the people who helped me feel comfortable again. I joined my school’s student council and countless other clubs and activities, allowing me yet again to meet new people and observe student cultures.

Other things I learned from sports were competitiveness, teamwork, problem-solving, and leadership. This has led me to want to break the stigma behind joining new sports teams and make it a welcoming environment for all who want to play as well. Getting other peers involved in these same situations creates a better school atmosphere.

Still, three years later, my friends and I hang out, play soccer, and participate in school leadership. I was even shown other outside-of-school opportunities, helping further my growth as a person.

Whenever I am asked to write to a younger peer or my past self, I always suggest playing a sport. Not only was I able to stay active, I was able to make meaningful connections with others, which will stay with me, even out of high school. You can not answer “what if” unless you go out and see for yourself.

In this article, I would like to explore a topic that’s not only close to my heart but also a key focus of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) – the crucial role of inclusivity in high school sports, with a special spotlight on adaptive sports. The WIAA commits to respecting all individuals and communities, providing a safe environment for positive and healthy activities, including providing equitable and diverse opportunities, strengthening character, instilling confidence, and maximizing potential through sportsmanship, leadership, and service. This article’s focus is on how this noble mission embraces adaptive sports, ensuring every student has the opportunity to thrive in high school sports. Let’s explore this vital aspect of inclusivity championed by the WIAA.

Why does inclusivity matter in sports? It not only matters but is necessary. It means ensuring everyone, regardless of their physical or mental abilities, has an opportunity to participate. It’s about creating an environment where differences are not just acknowledged but celebrated. Adaptive sports, tailored to athletes with disabilities, play a critical role in this. Adaptive sports modify traditional sports to meet the needs of all athletes, with physical or mental disabilities. These modifications level the playing field, allowing athletes with disabilities to compete and excel in sports they love. From wheelchair basketball to sitting volleyball, adaptive sports are as diverse as the athletes who play them.

Inclusivity through adaptive sports breaks down barriers. It challenges stereotypes about what athletes with disabilities can achieve and promotes understanding and empathy among all students. When schools embrace adaptive sports, they’re not just fostering athletic talent; they’re cultivating a culture of inclusivity and respect. Today, organizations like Seattle Adaptive Sports and Special Olympics are working to make adaptive sports accessible for all. And beyond this, participating in sports has physical and psychological benefits for all students. It boosts self-esteem, fosters teamwork, and improves overall health. Along with this, the impact of inclusive sports programs goes beyond individual benefits. They’re a powerful tool for social change, promoting equality and acceptance in the broader community.

For true inclusivity, adaptive sports shouldn’t be an afterthought but a key component of high school sports programs. Schools need to actively promote these opportunities and ensure they’re accessible to all students. Let’s champion a world where every high school athlete, regardless of ability, gets their chance to shine. Inclusivity in sports isn’t just about playing the game; it’s about changing the game for everyone.

Entering my first year of high school, I was confident I wanted to play volleyball—not only did I love the sport, but before my arrival I caught word of a rumor that “Interlake volleyball is getting a 6’2 freshman!” While I am not actually 6’2 (5’11, close enough) I felt I had to fulfill expectations to the best of my ability. What I encountered during this season was an incredible group of girls working together to play highly competitive volleyball. Though I look back on that experience very fondly, with an abbreviated season from our hybrid, post-pandemic schedule, and no real semblance of the school’s dynamic or culture, my understanding of what the future would hold at that time was greatly obstructed.

My first official experience of high school was my sophomore year, 2021, now with in-person learning. My nerves from the thought of having to build an entirely new social circle dulled quickly as the Fall volleyball
season began. There was an immediate bond throughout the team—even more significantly here than from the season prior. Despite our variety of backgrounds, differences in class, or even preexisting friendships, there seemed to be an overarching consensus that forming a connection with every person on the team was a priority. We attributed a ton of our success to this chemistry, pushing us through stressful five-set matches and dawn-till-dusk tournament days.

After finishing our last games at State, the season came to a close. As the glamor from the preceding months faded into a memory and my day-to-day lifestyle calmed, it did not take long for me to see the reality of my school.

Interlake is unique. For those who aren’t familiar, the International Baccalaureate (IB) program is a rigorous academic curriculum where students are required to learn and test in a broad scope of subjects, earning a diploma if they pass. Traditional IB is completed through the student’s junior and senior year, but with Accelerated IB, students can earn the diploma early by starting the program their sophomore and finishing their junior year. Interlake offers a trifecta—General Education, Traditional IB, and Accelerated IB. While this variety of educational pathways offers many opportunities, it has also produced a clear element of disunion. This problem is exacerbated by the reinforcement of these divisions: there is minimal overlap between General Education and IB, and even Traditional and Accelerated IB hardly intersect, despite involving the same classes in many cases. Distinctions structurally led to distinctions socially, and now stereotypes and stigmas run rampant between the different cohorts of Interlake.

Being in Accelerated IB, playing a high school sport has been one of the only consistent opportunities for me to branch out beyond the people in my particular curriculum. I have been able to form amazing relationships with people on separate paths, sustaining and cherishing them throughout my four years. And I am not alone in this experience—I have witnessed friends and peers connect with people from all different grades and groupings, starting solely from the court or the field. At Interlake, I’ve found there is more power in playing a sport beyond just staying active and engaging in competition—it has become a vessel for mending divisions and expanding empathy across differences.

I am so grateful for Interlake. I’ve been able to meet incredible people, gain supportive mentors, challenge myself academically, and grow immensely as a person; I have experienced these things to such a degree that I don’t believe I could have anywhere else. But there are changes to be made, and we are changemakers.

One of the many reasons I love being a part of WIAA LEAP is because we get to actively address systems and give voice to making changes. And one of the many reasons I love Interlake is it has shown me that while we wait for systems to change, I have a clear and powerful action step. It is my individual responsibility to find ways to reach across barriers—to be a bridge builder. We can all do this through sports, clubs, activities, and interest. Building community is exciting, challenging, and there for the willing. Because the great news is you don’t actually have to be 6’2 to get in the game.