Playing one-on-one with Michael Jordan wasn't something NancyLieberman-Cline bargained on last summer when she agreed to helpteach at the basketball superstar's kids camp in Elmhurst, N.Y. Butas a woman who made history in 1986 by becoming the first femaleplayer in a men's professional basketball league, Lieberman-Clinewasn't about to wimp out when Jordan challenged her in front of agym full of excited kids.
'I had the self-confidence to accept the challenge,' saysLieberman-Cline, who notes that her first reaction was, 'Why'sMichael trying to embarrass me? Then I realized that he'd createdone of those special, teachable moments. Michael ended up winning 10to 2, but I was a winner the minute I accepted his challenge.'
After the game, Lieberman-Cline says, she and Jordan told thekids, 'How often have you been afraid to play with some- one who's bigger or better than you? That's a bad attitude. Howare you going to get better if you're afraid to lose?'
Lessons like this one are an important benefit of sportsparticipation, which promotes qualities essential for success, suchas risk-taking, focus and teamwork. But until recent years, most ofthese lessons were reserved for boys.
'In today's world, where most families need two incomes, littlegirls must be as well trained as little boys if they're going tocompete in the workplace,' notes Donna Lopiano, executive directorof the Women's Sports Foundation, a nonprofit educationalorganization in East Meadow, N.Y. 'It's important for parents toknow that sports are not all fun and games but can improve theirchild's health and self-confidence and be an invaluablesociocultural learning process,' she says.
On Thursday, WSF is co-sponsoring special events around thecountry as part of the eighth annual National Girls and Women inSports Day, focusing attention on the importance of athletics. 'Wewant to encourage girls to get active instead of always going onstupid diets,' says Rep. Susan Molinari (R-N.Y.), a jogger who ledefforts to pass the NGWSD resolution in the House ofRepresentatives. 'Activity helps you clear your mind, reduce stressand feel good about yourself.'
The confidence boost from activity is particularly essentialfor teenage girls, who experience a dramatic drop in bothself-esteem and sports participation during adolescence, noteresearchers at the Melpomene Institute for Women's Health Researchin St. Paul, Minn. 'We know from study after study that physicalactivity enhances self-esteem,' says Lynn Jaffee, chief investigatorfor the Melpomene study. 'And at a time when many girls hate theirnose, legs, hair, fill-in-the-blank, sports participation helpspromote a positive body image.'
Today, there are increased opportunities for girls inathletics, Jaffee says, but 'parents still put more importance onsports for their sons. Girls I interviewed spoke a lot about howtheir fathers did sports activities with their brothers but notnecessarily with them.'
Athletics can help give teenage girls the confidence to standup for themselves and make better choices, reveal WSF studies, whichshow that high-school girls who participate in sports are:
- 80 percent less likely to have an unwanted pregnancy;
- 92 percent less likely to be involved with drugs;
- 3 times more likely to graduate from high school.
Becoming good in a male-dominated sport 'gives girls extraconfidence,' says three-time tae kwon do world champion and Olympicgold medalist Lynnette Love of Clinton, Md. 'We're changing men'sattitudes about what women can do, and more important, we'rechanging our own attitudes too.'
Resources
- NGWSD Fitness Walk. Join Redskins Art Monk and Monte Colemanin a 2-mile walk on the Mall, Feb. 3, at 7:45 a.m. east of ThirdStreet, near the Capitol Reflecting Pool.
- 'Growing Up Female and Strong.' Video and curriculum guide areavailable for $28.45 from Melpomene, 1010 University Ave., St. Paul,Minn. 55104.
Next week: Are you trying to lose a few pounds? Eating Righttells you how to avoid spousal sabotage.
