WESTERVILLE, Ohio - February 1 marks the 37th Annual National Girls & Women in Sports Day™ (NGWSD). The Ohio Athletic Conference recognizes NGWSD and those who help to support our female student-athletes, coaches, officials and administrators and lead us to a bright future.
Powered by Women's Sports Foundation (WSF), NGWSD draws national attention to the importance of equal opportunities in sport for girls and women. The Women’s Sports Foundation was established in 1974 to advance the lives of women and girls through sports and physical activity. Its mission is to enable all girls and women to reach their potential in sports and life.
National Girls and Women in Sports Day began as a special day to recognize and bring national attention to girls and women in sports. The event has evolved to acknowledge the accomplishments of female athletes and the positive influence of sports participation. The organization helps to expand opportunities for girls and women, of all backgrounds, in sports through research, advocacy, impact and a wide variety of collaborative partnerships. Many prominent female athletes are involved with the foundation.
“National Girls and Women in Sports Day is a good time for us to pause and reflect on how far we’ve come in terms of providing opportunities for females in sport - but also a good opportunity for us to acknowledge how far we have to go and make sure we are continually investing in our female student-athletes and coaches in the OAC," said OAC Commissioner Sarah Otey.
The Addition of Women’s Programs in the OAC – from “History of the Ohio Athletic Conference”
The 1984-85 year was one of reorganization and consolidation for the Ohio Athletic Conference. The incorporation of women's programs, a reaffirmation of its resolve to maintain high academic standards and continuation of a quality athletic program insured that the OAC's reputation as a model Division III conference would remain unimpaired. Especially significant was the addition of women's sports into OAC operations. The seeds for women's involvement in the OAC were planted in the early 1980s. When the NCAA began conducting championships for women in the fall of 1980, the demise of the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) was imminent. Institutions around the country were scrambling to find conferences for women's athletics during the national transition.
