This! In so many ways!
I love coaching and working with kids, especially young girls – I hope I can help make sure they remember how powerful they are, and that they learn how to lose, and to be confident in who they are no matter the situation or obstacles they face. It’s also fun to shut others up who treat females in sport or powerful positions as a “novelty act” by proving them wrong.
Most of my interactions with young players is as a goalie coach and learning to lose is a big piece with that position. I remember one girl was having a hard time emotionally with being scored on. I showed her one of the worst goals I’ve EVER allowed, even to this day it’s at the top of the list. It cost us the game and it cost me my starting position, but that’s part of the game and you have to learn to accept that and move on. It helped her to see someone older and “successful” in her sport fail, to start to understand that it’s okay and it’s part of sport and life.
I’ve lost a lot in life, but I’ve had amazing parents and a big brother that didn’t let me stop and who taught me from the day I was born that I could do anything I wanted if I get back up and fight.
I’m extremely lucky to have family, and our friends, who never held myself or their kids back due to their gender. There are so many powerful women, and supportive men, in my life that set the example for how we should all live, whether male or female.