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BAWSI Girls Teams

BAWSI Girls Teams reverse the trend toward poor health and low self-esteem among girls by mobilizing women athletes to be living examples of healthy, inspirational lifestyles, while teaching girls that exercise and sports are paths to health, hope and wholeness. BAWSI's first program has grown from a pilot project at one San Jose school in 2005 to serve more than 1500 girls in 10 schools in San Jose, Santa Clara, East Menlo Park and Mountain View in 2007. BAWSI provides participants with individual coaching and mentoring by top college women athletes in a weekly after-school fitness program. The girls enjoy themselves tremendously while learning the benefits of a healthy lifestyle.

The athletes who are serving as mentors and role models this fall are:

• Evergreen Valley College women's soccer at Shirakawa Elementary in San Jose
• Menlo College athletes at Selby Lane Elementary in Redwood City
• Notre Dame High School athletes at Goss Elementary in San Jose
• Overfelt High School athletes at Dorsa Elementary in San Jose
• San Jose State University women's basketball at Horace Mann /St. Patrick's in San Jose
• San Jose State University softball at Washington Elementary in San Jose
• Santa Clara University women's crew at San Antonio Elementary and Dahl Elementary in San Jose
• Santa Clara University softball at Pomeroy Elementary in Santa Clara
• Stanford University women's basketball and cross-country alumni at James Flood in East Menlo Park
• Stanford University women's gymnastics at Belle Haven Elementary in East Menlo Park
• Stanford University women's lacrosse and softball at Castro Elementary in Mountain View

While participating in a curriculum of fitness activities developed by BAWSI, girls learn valuable lessons that lead to healthier choices. Each week the girls discuss nutritional information as well as words of affirmation, such as respect, responsibility, teamwork, belief, etc. The collegiate coaches share examples from their own lives which have a positive impact on the girls. The health benefits of increased activity for girls are striking. Research by the Women's Sports Foundation demonstrates that active girls are more likely to have a positive body image, confidence and self-esteem. Simply moving and playing can reduce a girl's risk for obesity, cancer, alcohol, tobacco and illicit drug use, osteoporosis, unintended pregnancy and gang involvement. BAWSI Girls Teams serve girls who lack other opportunities to participate in sports programs.

"BAWSI Game Days" are events on college campuses that are an integral part of the BAWSI Girls program to showcase the female athletes in action. BAWSI Girl Team members and their families are VIP guests at college women's sports events to see their coaches compete. In 2007, "BAWSI Game Days" will be held at a variety of intercollegiate women's sporting events on the campuses of Santa Clara University, Stanford, San Jose State University and local community colleges. "BAWSI Game Days" bring more community support to local women's college teams, and for most of the girls and their families, this is their first experience on a college campus. Giving girls and their families new vision, insight and hope for their futures is an important part of the BAWSI mission.

For more information, please visit:

	www.girlsarechampions.org
	www.GirlsontheRun.org
	www.gogirlgo.com
	www.womenssportsfoundation.org