December 1997 Newsletter Article                                    To Newsletter Menu

Title: Women in Sports - Prime Performance

Author: Ray Lauenstein, Athlete's Advisor

Years ago women were valued primarily on their looks. For a women to exert herself and maybe perspire was improper and unattractive. Wow! Have the ladies come a long way. Still, many young athletes struggle with gender role conflicts between what society, family and friends might expect of a female and the role that is required to compete and excel in sports at a high or elite level...Think of athletics as gender-less. There are certain personality and emotional traits that enable some to succeed more then others. These traits supersede gender, race and creed. Certain levels of aggressiveness, intensity and focus are needed to attain success. You must have them to succeed, male or female...

William Smith College in Upstate NY has become the first college in the US to open a Hall of Fame for women only. A perennial Division 3 power house in many women’s sports, William Smith is noted for excellence in academics as well as athletics. The Heron Hall of Honors opened in early October (1997)...Title Nine Sports is an active wear catalog "Inspired by and created for women." It specializes in finding clothes that are made especially for the needs and body types of women. Their # is 800-609-0092...The Women's Sports Foundation provides a number of services, scholarships, opportunities and research for, of, and about female athletes...In New England, the New Fund provides $50,000 of grants to various projects and programs that promote women's health, education and self-esteem through sports... Sports Illustrated for Women is growing each year and offers the same look at great  athletes as Sports Illustrated does, except they feature only women in the magazine...don't forget to keep up with your favorite professional athletes at the WNBA..or the Women's United Soccer Association