One of the great powers of sports is their ability to break down barriers, increase levels of communication and foster a spirit of collaboration. This panel led by Christine Brennan, highlighted the important role that sports plays in service learning.
The current environment has many issues relating to representation. The big discussion points include:
- Being seen, heard and valued
- Understanding the impact of sports and gender
- Exploring new sports opportunities including Flag Football which now has over 20 Million playerse in 100 countries
- Finding ways to build trust with the new generation of athletes
- Focusing on opportunities for access and inclusion
Speaking to kids who shared their stories about the influence of Caitlin Clark, picking up garbage around their fields and collaborating to increase accessibility were important topics. This generation of athletes has a very different perspective from many that grew up in the 60s, 70s and 80s and express a genuine desire to give back and make a difference in their communities.
