Women in Sports

JUNE 2019 | MODERNWELLNESSGUIDE.COM

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WOMEN IN SPORTS Alex Morgan

The world champion soccer star wants to inspire the next generation of female athletes

This movement is helping female athletes get into the global spotlight How one woman is using social media to inspire others to get fit

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How Erin Andrews “Brings Her A- Game” to the World of Sports

PHOTO:COURTESY OF FOX SPORTS

Erin Andrews knew from an early age she wanted to work in sports. After years spent covering football for ESPN and FOX Sports, it’s fair to say she’s at the top of her game.

You don’t reach the ranks of national fame in sports journalism by chance.

In the case of decorated FOX Sports reporter Erin Andrews, you could say her professional achievements are a natural extension of a childhood passion.

Andrews, 41, who reports for “Thursday Night Football” and “America’s Game of the Week” on FOX, grew up watching her dad work as a sports reporter for an ABC affiliate in Tampa, Florida.

“I decided I wanted to go to school for it because I would see women working in the industry, and that was something I wanted to do,” Andrews said.

Andrews enrolled at the University of Florida in 1997 not only because of the school’s top-rated journalism school, but also because of its reputation for success on the field.

“I said to my dad, ‘All the sports outlets that I want to learn from and work for

will be there,’” she said. And she never doubted herself.

“I never thought, ‘Oh, there aren’t many women doing it in the industry,’” Andrews said.

A fast rise After graduating, she nabbed a gig as a sideline reporter for the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning and then landed a job at ESPN. Andrews felt that when the famous sports network put her on a Thursday night NFL game, a Saturday morning college game, and another Saturday night primetime NFL game, she had made it.

“It was like, ‘Wow, this is really, really happening,’” she said. Even today, Andrews emphasizes the importance of always bringing your A-game.

“Preparation is so key in our industry, and it’s even more so for me because I’m a female and I never played football, I never played a down in my life,” she said.

“It feels like there will always be doubters out there.” n Melinda Carter

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LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD Only 4% of TV sports coverage is devoted to women’s sports, and a mere .04% of all sponsorship dollars goes to female competition.

Yet the women’s World Cup Final scored a larger audience than both the NBA finals and the NHL finals. And 45% of NFL fans are female. SeeHer, the Association of National Advertisers’ (ANA) global movement for gender equality in ads and media, is working with networks and leagues to improve the portrayal and increase the visibility and distribution of women in sports. Tag @SeeHer2020, join us at #SeeHerInSports and visit us at SeeHer.com.

As one of the most popular fitness influencers around the world, Australian personal trainer Kayla Itsines reaches millions of young women from her home gym in Adelaide, Australia, every day.

In fact, the new mom has 11.5 million Instagram followers and counting.

“For me, social media has provided an opportunity to create a positive space to support women

through their health and fitness journey,” said Itsines, 28, adding that through the Sweat app, where she provides workout videos and tips, she’s able to connect with her Bikini Body Guide (BBG) community. BBG is the original training program Itsines and her business partner and fiancé, Tobi Pearce, who is also a personal trainer, created in 2014.

“Social media also allows us to connect with others who add

PHOTO: STUART MILLER, FLIPP MANAGEMENT

This Workout Community Is Helping Women Get and Stay Fit

positivity and value to our lives,” she said. “It can be a great way to connect with like-minded people, which is evident in the BBG and wider Sweat communities.”

For many women, the most appealing part of Itsines’ programs is that they’re accessible anywhere, right from users’ smartphones or tablets. That ease of use is intentional, Itsines said.

“Digital fitness and apps like Sweat have made working out

accessible to any woman, anywhere, and at any time,” she said.

“For many women, it can be difficult to know where to start when it comes to fitness.”

Motivating others Finding what motivates you is also key for developing and sticking with a new exercise routine.

In Itsines’ case, that’s playing music in her car or on her headphones on the way to the gym to rev her up for a workout. Getting a good night’s sleep is also crucial, she added.

Leaning on a support system, as the BBG community has illustrated, doesn’t hurt either. “[The members of the BBG community] are such a big part of my life, and to hear their stories and how my BBG programs have changed their relationship with exercise and their body is truly incredible,” Itsines said. “They inspire and drive me every day to continue working on my programs and create content that adds value to their journey.” n Melinda Carter

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Female Leaders in Sports Empowering the Next Generation We asked women involved in athletics at the highest levels what sports mean to them and what motivates them to achieve greatness. This is what they had to say:

Kate Vibert, Professional USA Weightli�ting Athlete After ending a decade-long gymnastics career when I was a teenager, I wasn’t sure what I was going to do next. I found weightlifting through CrossFit classes I took to get back into shape since I had not been in gymnastics for months. I quickly got hooked — I loved the feeling of being strong and seeing progress through my personal records. After I placed at Youth Nationals in 2016, I knew I had to give this sport a decent shot. With such a strong passion and some talent, I wanted to see what I could do if I gave weightlifting my all. There isn’t a day I don’t think about how much I love weightlifting, and there is not a single sport I’d rather be doing. I am eternally grateful for the opportunities it has given me and how ful�ılling it has been in my life.

Christina Muccini, National Coaching Sta�f USA Karate As a child, I watched world champion tennis players get ready for the U.S. Open at a private tennis court in Queens, New York, and this made me want to be an elite athlete. I tried a karate class when I was nine. The sensei was a world champion and told me I could do the same. I competed internationally at the age of 12 and, for the next 16 years, my life revolved around training and traveling for Team USA. In 2007, I was asked to be a national coach for Team USA. It felt natural and gratifying to help others achieve success.

I made history by coaching the U.S. women’s team to a bronze medal at the World Championships in 2010. Overall, athletics as a lifetime endeavor made me a better person. It taught me how to push beyond my limits, achieve success, rebound from failures, and, most importantly, to believe in myself.

Anne Cribbs, Former USATT Board Chair I got involved with table tennis when I led the San Francisco bid for the 2012 Olympic Games. After our U.S. bid “won the silver medal,” The Bay Area Sports Organizing Committee was asked by the International Table Tennis Federation to host the 2007 World Junior Table Tennis Championships, which were held at Stanford University. After hosting a very successful World Championships, I became involved in Ping Pong Diplomacy, celebrating the opening of international relations between the United States and China in 1975. An invitation to join the Board of Directors of USATT came in 2012 and I became the board chair of USATT in 2013. Table tennis is a sport for a lifetime — good for everyone — young, old, and in-between; good for both body and mind and played by millions around the world!

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PHOTO: TAYLOR BAUCOM, THE PLAYERS’ TRIBUNE FOR NIKE

Kicking It With World Champion and Role Model Alex Morgan We talked with U.S. soccer star Alex Morgan about her rise to fame and what motivates her every day.

How do you manage the pressure of being such a well-known role model for young women?

I honestly do not feel any pressure to be a role model. For me, it is an opportunity and something I was able to ben-

efit from because of the women that paved the way before me. I try to emulate the grace, power, and undeterred confidence of so many former [U.S. Women’s] National Team players.

Did you ever consider a career outside of sports?

I have always loved soccer and it is my absolute passion. I even wrote it down

on a sticky note for my mom when I was seven, telling her I was going to be a professional soccer player. At the time, I had never even seen the Women’s National team play but I definitely wanted to play at that level.

What are your hopes for future generations of female athletes?

I hope that future gener-

ations of female athletes are confident in what they’re doing and have the support they need to dream big regardless of what obstacles are in the way. When I was seven, I didn’t even know that professional soccer was a possibility, and I didn’t let that deter me.

I want to help influence female athletes to reach for more and feel empowered by those

who came before you.

We need to see more progress made across the sports landscape, and we hope to inspire the next generation to provide a healthier and more equal arena for women in sports to succeed.

What has been the most rewarding part of being such a high-visibility athlete?

The ability to be a role model for young girls and women is so incredibly rewarding. I love the idea that someone can watch us play or see how we lead our lives, and take inspiration from that to achieve something they believe in. Knowing that others coming up after me are finding strength in my story makes me work harder every day toward bigger goals. n

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As Sports Nutrition Grows, So Do Opportunities for Women Sports nutrition has exploded onto the athletic scene in recent years and has carved out a unique space for women in sports.

Sports dietitians are advanced practice registered dietitians who have specialized in the area of performance nutrition.

They translate the latest scientific evidence into practical sports nutrition recommendations for athletes.

Sports dietitians work with teams and individual athletes to improve performance, enhance

recovery, and advance overall health. They help athletes with nutrition-fueling strategies based on sports, time of year, training schedule, and performance and health goals.

Sports dietitians help athletes achieve and maintain an appropriate body composition for their sport and athletic goals, while advising how to fuel-up before, during, and after competition.

These specialists also collaborate with a multi-disciplinary team of sports medicine physicians, sports psychologists,

athletic trainers, and strength coaches. Through collaboration, this team is able to provide well-rounded, complete care for athletes.

Now is the time Sports nutrition is an exciting, challenging field that continues to grow and gain momentum as athletes, coaches, and athletic departments reap the rewards of investing in qualified sports dietitians.

In 2005, there were fewer than 10 full-time sports dieti-

tians at NCAA Division I programs. Today, there are more than 170 NCAA sports dietitians, and the growth of sports nutrition programs has extended to the NFL, NBA, MLB, MLS, NHL, Olympics, and military settings.

Women have played an integral part in this growth and continue to be well represented across all settings, including comprising 140 of the 170 active NCAA Division I sports dieticians.

With new research continuing to inspire advancements in the field of sports nutrition, the momentum behind this exciting and rewarding field is growing, and will continue to play an important role in the world of elite sport; as well as forging a space for women to impact athletes in a meaningful way. n Collegiate & Professional Sports Dietitians Association (CPSDA) Board of Directors

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Why Smart, Business-Savvy Women Should Consider a Career in Sports Management

Cameron Myler, Clinical Assistant Professor, Faculty Fellow in Residence, Preston Robert Tisch Institute for Global Sport, NYU School of Professional Studies

Nicole Melton, Director of Undergraduate Programs, University of Massachusetts

We talked to leaders at two of the nation’s most successful sports management university programs about the opportunities for women in this field.

and conferences that are focused on the business of sport; you’ll have the chance to network with a broad range of professionals and also learn about current trends.

industry you find interesting or exciting.

What advice do you have for women looking to get into this industry?

Nicole Melton: Do your research and find a sports management program that is housed within a business school, has a high job-placement rate, and offers an extensive alumni network within the sports industry. Also, it’s never too early to build your network and add to your résumé. Be strategic and connect with people working in parts of the

CM: One of the Fundamental Principles in the Olympic Charter states that “the practice of sport is a human right. Every individual must have the possibility of practicing sport, without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity, and fair play.” Promoting

Cameron Myler: Start connecting with professionals who work in sport; informational interviews are useful at any point in your career, but particularly when you are looking to learn more about a new industry. Attend events

Why is it important to encourage women to play a bigger role in this industry?

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diversity and inclusion of all kinds is important not only on the playing field, but in all aspects of the business and governance of sport.

NM: Women can be the change we want to see in the sports industry. For example, women need to play an essential role in shaping new policies related to equal pay, player safety, domestic violence, sexual assault, etc. In addition, women need to collectively raise their voices to celebrate the successes of women in sport. One of our rising juniors, Alannah Scardino, recently did this when she organized a Women in Sports Night for the Rochester Red Wings. Her efforts show that all women, regardless of position, can make a meaningful impact in the sports industry. n

How One Woman’s Passion Paved the Way for a New Field of Science You don’t have to look further than Instagram, Amazon, or an online article with a celebrity interview to know sports nutrition has hit the mainstream. But if you leapt back in time by about 50 years, you’d find a totally different reality.

Dr. Susan Kle-iner, a registered dietitian and certified sports nutritionist, lived in that world, and without her, sports nutrition would not exist as it does today.

“In those first years, we were all creating a path for all the people who came after us,” Kleiner said.

Fueling her goal Kleiner grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, before the passage of Title IX — a policy that forbade exclusion from federally funded educational programs, including sports, on the basis of sex.

“There were no sports for girls at all at my high school,” Kleiner said. “We had a boys’ pool — a large, beautiful, Olympic-size pool — and on the door it said, ‘Boys’ Pool.’”

She would eventually go on to receive her master’s from Case Western University’s department of nutrition — a feat she accomplished after persuading the department to allow her to focus on nutrition and exercise as a combined science.

The department heard her out, and Kleiner went on to receive her Ph.D. in nutrition and human performance.

“Around 1982 or ’83 is, I believe, when we started to call that sports nutrition,” Kleiner said.

While pursuing her Ph.D., Kleiner conducted the first ever study that looked at nutrition’s effect on muscle strength and power. In her research, she analyzed how

steroid use and dietary patterns affected heart disease risk and body composition in 35 male bodybuilders.

“All the research had been on aerobic exercise and endurance exercise — people were jogging and bicycling — and I became fascinated with building muscle,” she said.

Kleiner is considered one of the first people to work in sports nutrition. Now, as jobs in the field have become more lucrative, more men have entered it. In fact, more people in general have taken an interest.

“It has been wonderful to mentor young women,” Kleiner said, “and it has also been profoundly impactful for me to do research on female athletes, and be able to work with, and validate the needs of, female athletes to themselves.” n Melinda Carter

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PHOTO: COURTESY OF CBS SPORTS

Amanda Balionis on Golf, Her Career Path, and the Future of Women in Media

CBS Sports journalist Amanda Balionis never doubted herself while climbing to the top of her field.

A graduate of Hofstra University with a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism, Amanda Balionis always knew she wanted to report on sports. She had five internships in college, including ones with the New York Jets,

New York Islanders, WCBS, ABC News Digital, and Us Weekly.

“People always ask ‘what’s the way?’ I don’t think there is any one way,” said Balionis, 33.

“I think you just have to be dedicated. You have to be OK with it not working out the way you think it’s going to.

“None of my career worked out the way I thought it was going to,

but thankfully, in the end, it has.

It took a decade for me to get to the place I thought I was going to be. It’s about being passionate and not giving up.”

After covering high school sports for several networks in Pennsylvania and New York, Balionis joined the PGA TOUR in 2011 as an in-house reporter and host, where she produced and reported tournament highlights and events.

Two years ago, she landed a job as a golf reporter for CBS Sports.

She also works as a sideline reporter for some of CBS’s NFL and college football games.

Always prepared As a woman in a male-dominated industry, Balionis says

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she is not intimidated but, especially early on, women don’t have the same room for error as their male counterparts.

Her defense is to always be prepared: “No one’s going to ever catch me not doing my homework or not asking a question because I wasn’t prepared for it.”

These days, she rarely feels like the only woman in the room because she’s usually not.

“I work with a lot of amazing women at CBS,” she said, citing female colleagues behind the scenes and in front of the camera, including her colleague Dottie Pepper, who Balionis called an “incredible” analyst. n Kristen Castillo

The Degrees That Will Help You Properly Care for an Athlete’s Well-Being Our panel of experts discusses the role the right education and training plays in preparing you to positively impact the fields of sports medicine and nutrition.

Why is a degree in sports science and rehabilitation important?

Dr. Krystal Tyree, DAT, LAT, ATC, Instructor, College of Health Sciences, Logan University

Carrie Lane, M.S., Wellness Coordinator, Indiana Health Information Exchange

Krystal Tyree: Athletic trainers (ATs) are passionate about providing care and guidance that empowers athletes to thrive and helps them stay active and healthy, on and off the field. It’s much more than treating injuries — it’s caring for their whole health.

Why is an M.S. degree in nutrition and human performance important?

Carrie Lane: I am equipped to provide value beyond

the typical food diet patterns and macronutrient basics. I treat the whole health of my patients and provide tailored instruction specific to their health and medical needs.

I am able to help patients achieve optimal health or body composition goals, or even halt or reverse current disease states naturally.

How important is the role of a trained professional in ensuring athlete/patient safety and well-being?

KT: ATs can work in most settings where an injury can occur, and we’re usu-

ally first to respond. So, a quality sports science and rehab education is crucial — we must have specialized training that spans multiple healthcare professions, so we are equipped to act on the spot, assessing, treating, and overall maintaining the health and safety of the sport.

CL: The role of a properly educated nutrition professional is crucial to keeping patients safe.

There are multiple factors to consider when providing care to patients and those factors vary greatly for each individual.

What are ideal qualities for your profession?

KT: It takes confidence to take a patient’s well-being into your hands. Confidence is gained through hands-on, rigorous, ongoing training. Those who do well think critically, work hard, and are very skilled. They are leaders who strive to always grow stronger and wiser. They have compassion for others and commitment to evidence-based, natural healthcare.

CL: Great nutrition professionals are highly trained, empathetic problem solvers with a penchant for the details.

The ability to view the whole picture involving patient goals, medical history, and current symptoms together is crucial. n

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