High school sports implement Coaching Girls Beyond the Game program
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For female athletes at three local high schools, sports is more than a game.
Domestic Violence Services of Southwestern Pennsylvania is one of three domestic violence programs in the state selected by the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence (PCADV) to implement Coaching Girls Beyond the Game, an initiative focused on teaching young women about healthy relationships.
Southeastern Greene School District鈥檚 Mapletown High School girls basketball program adopted CGBG this 2021-2022 season.
So, too, did Connellsville High School girl鈥檚 basketball team. CGBG is also being offered through both Connellsville and Uniontown high schools鈥� girls track and field programs.
The schools are the first to pilot CGBG, a program Alex Reagle, DVSSP鈥檚 male engagement and prevention specialist, hopes to expand next school year.
鈥淭his is free for any district 鈥� that wants to implement it. There are 25 districts (in our service area). Ideally, we鈥檙e in all 25,鈥� said Reagle, noting the program is funded through PCADV. 鈥淎bout 60% of teens say that they鈥檝e been in an abusive relationship. That鈥檚 too high. (CGBG) not only lowers those rates, but then it has that really positive influence for their peers. It supports the prevention of teen dating violence and sexual assault among athletes. Hopefully the athletes 鈥� spread (the message) through the school, community, by then talking to their family and friends.鈥�
According to DVSSP, 1 in 3 teenagers will experience a form of dating abuse. 鈥淎buse鈥� includes physical or sexual assault, but can also be emotional (like isolating the victim from friends and family); economic (like tracking a victim鈥檚 spending) and digital, like demanding social media passwords or texting excessively.
鈥淒omestic violence is a lot more common than people think. Teens are susceptible to digital abuse,鈥� said Leslie Orbin, communications specialist for DVSSP. 鈥�(Coaching Girls Beyond the Game) helps us foster conversations between the coaches and the teen about dating violence and how to identify it.鈥�
Orbin noted young women may be embarrassed to admit they鈥檙e experiencing teen dating violence, or may not have a trusted adult at home to confide in. Coaches serve as role models, and CGBG offers both coaches and athletes a platform to learn about relationship red flags and discuss personal experiences in a safe space.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been good so far,鈥� said Connellsville softball coach John Burd. 鈥淭he girls have been really receptive to it. It鈥檚 brought about a lot of great conversations.鈥�
Burd said he spends about 30 minutes before or after practice, depending on the day, leading CGBG lessons. Burd is learning along with his athletes.
鈥淲e talk a lot about domestic violence and opportunities for women. We get into Title 9,鈥� Burd said. 鈥淚 feel it is a worthwhile program. (It鈥檚 good) to make them aware of all these things.鈥�
Reagle said he鈥檚 received positive feedback from coaches who have implemented CGBG. He and the DVSSP staff are excited to share the program with local schools.
Reagle encourages interested coaches to reach out with questions or to bring CGBG to their teams at cbim@peacefromdv.org.
鈥淚deally, the outcome of CGBG is to be able to teach these athletes to build skills and behaviors to have healthy and happy relationships 鈥� in all aspects of life: family, friends, dating partners,鈥� Reagle said. 鈥淎nd then to be able to recognize those abusive signs, become more proactive in the community. 缅北禁地 can be a big agent of change. Athletes and sports can really be that building block to really launch change.鈥�