The doors of Abington Friends School opened for the 2024-2025 school year with the sounds of students, teachers, and coaches flooding the hallways of the Berman Athletic Center with cleats, rackets, and sneakers. The Upper School has about 300 students, and 73% play on at least one interscholastic team.
A lot of people participate in sports to help with organization, exercise, and developmental skills. Title IX is a law that ensures girls to have full access to athletic and academic opportunities as boys. I sat down with the Assistant Director of Athletics Lisa Treadway-Kurtz to discuss.
Growing up did you participate in any sports? If so, for how long?
During my childhood, organized sports and Title IX [were] not around yet. However, track and field became my love. I liked to watch the Olympic games and athletes like Wilma Rudolph compete. Overall, she was my role model and inspired me!
What sports have the least amount of racial diversity amongst Black female athletes?
Field hockey, lacrosse, swimming, golf, and equestrian sports. Fortunately, gymnastics has made a huge shift as evidenced by this past summer olympics.
How do sports silence Black female athletes’ voices on the highschool and collegiate level?
Although, I feel like silencing is happening less nowadays, ultimately it depends on accessibility. Not everyone prioritizes sports, but they can be an amazing entry into the lives of children, because of physical activity, learning how to be a leader, and learning how to be seen outside of a classroom setting. This means it is about letting Black girls have opportunities in and outside of school like neighborhood club sports. As a society we are still working on the accessibility of all sports.
How can coaches and teammates be upstanders if they witness their player getting discriminated against while competing?
I recommend looking at the Friends School League (FSL) website. They have specific statements about sportsmanship, the use of oppressive language/behaviors in the realm of sports and how to alert trusted adults if something happens. It is helpful in the early days of meeting your teammates, like preseason to formulate group norms and naming possible solutions to problems that could arise and making sure the coaches are partners in the norms too. Black female athletes endure the intersectionality of racism and sexism at any and every level. You are encouraged to say something if you see or hear something!
NJ'28 • Oct 30, 2024 at 7:44 am
One of the questions asked was “What sports have the least amount of racial diversity amongst Black females.” In response Lisa listed sports such as lacrosse, swimming, and golf. These three sports are all sports that I play. As an African American female I know that I will have to put in extra work to have any chance in excelling at these sports. Although the times are changing (to an extent) It is still important for people like me to step up in these sports. Just as Simone Biles did in gymnastics, we can change how people view the sport. So, I would say yes, these sports don’t have a lot of racial diversity but don’t let that scare you way from them. Be the first to that there can be others to join you.