Comments on: How to watch women’s Olympic ice hockey with your three-year-old daughter (and why it matters)

By: Bobby riggs

Bobby riggs — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 18:53:13 +0000

Why is there no women’s ski jumping in the Olympics?

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 18:56:15 +0000

I completely agree with your sentiments Emilie! As a mom to two young daughters, I have already started thinking about how to foster their interest in sports. Your suggestion of watching sports with them and using it as a teaching opportunity is a great idea. I do hope my girls have the chance to experience the positive effects that sports had for me.

By: Dolly

Dolly — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 17:45:29 +0000

Emily, as always your wisdom and role modeling are to be admired. Were your ears burning? We had a lengthy discussion about your time as a hockey player in college while watching a women’s game. The impression you have left on both my daughters continues to this day. I, too, have been watching the Olympics every night with my two girls. We are still trying to figure out the rules of Curling! However, we have had fun discussing what we think they might be. More importantly, I find them relating to the commitment and love of sport through their own experiences, commenting on the relationships they have seen between Olympiads and their mothers and coaches. When you are both the mother AND the coach the relationship between love of sport and respect for each other’s talent is to be truly treasured. This year during basketball season I have seen many more mothers on the bench alongside me, instead of up in the stands. When I see that I think of you and our co-coaching days, the work that was done through Mom’s as Mentors, and the important balance it brings to the world of youth sports. Most importantly, it’s the message and positive role modeling that young girls are getting. Keep up the great work, and I look forward to following your work.

By: Koreen

Koreen — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 15:16:53 +0000

What a great article on supporting our daughters. Your advice about steering away from “Isn’t she pretty” is so important and extends beyond sports. Despite my strong feminist values, I sometimes have to remind myself here at school not to comment on a student’s appearance (“cute sweater!”) as a means to engage. There are so many things that girls are and can be – smart and strong should start the list at school and in sports.

By: Kate

Kate — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 23:50:07 +0000

Emily,
This is wonderful insight. As a former coach for a high school girls’ dance team, I watched young women criticize and alienate each other constantly. We also much teach these ladies to respect one another and work as a team.

By: betsy ratenr

betsy ratenr — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:55:47 +0000

emilie, this is so important to shar! Thank you for expressing thefun and learning in a user friendly manner. I am so gald you posted this fabulous experience to help mom’s,grammma’s aunts andother female friends of young girls understand how they can help shape girls to be more self confident (often a result of sports and teamwork), interested and involved with the joy of sports (ice hockey is the beginning to model the the concept you shared). You go girls, the world of sports opens up so much!

By: thatsally

thatsally — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 15:28:12 +0000

Your point about female sports role models is a good one. Your lucky daughters have you to look up to and to emulate, but many little girls are not encouraged to have an interest in team sports, and are not exposed to them very much as preschoolers. Look at this link about the longer-term benefits of team sports to girls:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/16/health/16well.html?ref=science