High school sports implement Coaching Girls Beyond the Game program
news@greenecountymessenger.com
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无毛视频檚 Mapletown High School girls basketball program adopted CGBG this 2021-2022 season.
So, too, did Connellsville High School girl无毛视频檚 basketball team. CGBG is also being offered through both Connellsville and Uniontown high schools无毛视频� girls track and field programs.
The schools are the first to pilot CGBG, a program Alex Reagle, DVSSP无毛视频檚 male engagement and prevention specialist, hopes to expand next school year.
无毛视频淭his is free for any district 无毛视频� that wants to implement it. There are 25 districts (in our service area). Ideally, we无毛视频檙e in all 25,无毛视频� said Reagle, noting the program is funded through PCADV. 无毛视频淎bout 60% of teens say that they无毛视频檝e been in an abusive relationship. That无毛视频檚 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 无毛视频� spread (the message) through the school, community, by then talking to their family and friends.无毛视频�
According to DVSSP, 1 in 3 teenagers will experience a form of dating abuse. 无毛视频淎buse无毛视频� includes physical or sexual assault, but can also be emotional (like isolating the victim from friends and family); economic (like tracking a victim无毛视频檚 spending) and digital, like demanding social media passwords or texting excessively.
无毛视频淒omestic violence is a lot more common than people think. Teens are susceptible to digital abuse,无毛视频� said Leslie Orbin, communications specialist for DVSSP. 无毛视频�(Coaching Girls Beyond the Game) helps us foster conversations between the coaches and the teen about dating violence and how to identify it.无毛视频�
Orbin noted young women may be embarrassed to admit they无毛视频檙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.
无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 been good so far,无毛视频� said Connellsville softball coach John Burd. 无毛视频淭he girls have been really receptive to it. It无毛视频檚 brought about a lot of great conversations.无毛视频�
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.
无毛视频淲e talk a lot about domestic violence and opportunities for women. We get into Title 9,无毛视频� Burd said. 无毛视频淚 feel it is a worthwhile program. (It无毛视频檚 good) to make them aware of all these things.无毛视频�
Reagle said he无毛视频檚 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.
无毛视频淚deally, the outcome of CGBG is to be able to teach these athletes to build skills and behaviors to have healthy and happy relationships 无毛视频� in all aspects of life: family, friends, dating partners,无毛视频� Reagle said. 无毛视频淎nd then to be able to recognize those abusive signs, become more proactive in the community. 无毛视频 can be a big agent of change. Athletes and sports can really be that building block to really launch change.无毛视频�