Over the last couple of years at LeagueApps, we’ve worked with so many incredible women who are leading youth sports organizations. This year at the NextUp conference, we even held a Women in Sports breakfast where we got to exchange ideas and support one another in a room filled with peers. 

That’s why it was so jarring to hear from Candace Crawford, Recreation Program Director of Montgomery Soccer Inc., that she hasn’t met many female recreation program directors at all. 

“Part of my professional development journey involves reaching out to other recreation directors,” she said. “In my research of directors of clubs and organizations, I’ve yet to find another recreation program director that is a woman.”

While we feel there has been a lot of progress in this area, clearly it is nowhere near enough. As part of our effort to show young girls the career possibilities within sports that go beyond just playing so there are more women leading the charge in the future, we’re spotlighting four women in youth sports this National Girls and Women in Sports Month. 

Candace Crawford, MSI 

When Candace was a kid, she wanted to be an astronaut—but there were very few highly visible  female examples of that. That’s why she’s dedicated to providing female representation of sports leadership to the girls in her program. Whether it’s coaches, program directors, referees, or even just other girls playing in the program, Candace knows how important it is to show girls that this is an opportunity for them down the line.

In her previous role as the director of college counseling at an urban high school, her goal was always to expose her 435 students to all career possibilities there are in the world. Her goal at MSI is not all that different. She sees herself as one person who can represent a future in sports leadership for girls of color.

Julie Bruening, Open Field

Julie can’t separate her childhood from sports, because “that’s what it was.”

“I learned everything through the lens of sports,” she says. “Leadership, how to step up in situations, how to lean on your team.” 

However, through her role as Program Director at Open Field, she learned that not every kid is as fortunate as she was to have a foundation of youth sports throughout their childhood. 

The kids Julie works with are largely immigrant and refugee youth—and most of them come from cultural backgrounds where sports are not a huge priority for girls. Because of this, she doesn’t take her responsibility lightly and does everything in her power to make sure these girls are getting the best experience possible—one where they can thrive, feel confident, and want to continue coming back. 

“Our youth program teaches social emotional learning skills through soccer,” she explains. “We wanted to create a space for girls in our program that is more tailored towards their experience.”

Julie and her colleagues prioritize open communication with not just the girls in their program, but also the boys and the men to ensure they’re being allies and helping the girls stay in sport. 

One particular student in Julie’s program was feeling discouraged and didn’t want to play the following fall. Instead of simply letting the girl quit, Julie made sure this girl knew she always had a place on the field—whether as a manager, an equipment helper, or simply just to watch games. They continued to check on her throughout the season, and eventually she did decide she wanted to play again in the fall. 

Kristen Richards, Professional Women’s Hockey League 

“Going to a PWHL game is a whole different experience,” says Kristen. “It’s basically as close as you can get to a Taylor Swift concert.”

As Director of Player Development and Grassroots Growth at PWHL, Kristen Richards is a huge part of the magic at those games as she not only supports the current pro players in getting them what they need, but she’s also supporting the next generation. She advocates for grassroots initiatives to increase availability to girls and increase visibility and access to the game. 

But beyond that, she also has had her own incredible experience playing hockey from childhood through adulthood—so she cannot recommend the experience more to young girls who are looking for an activity. 

“Some of my lifelong friendships are people I met through hockey. It gives you more than what the idea of a teammate is—it’s what a family member is,” says Kristen. “You get to grow, go through obstacles together, go through triumphs together. So stay in the sport.”

Madison Hafitz – Atlanta Track Club

Madison manages the Kilometer Kids program at Atlanta Track Club—and she’s the perfect person for the job because she was once a Kilometer Kid herself! 

When she got her Masters degree in Public Health, she wanted to do something that would make an impact. As someone who grew up in sports—it was where she felt the most confident, and comfortable, and where she learned the most about herself—she knew she would need to find her way back to this space. 

Now, as tthe Senior Program Manager of Kilometer Kids, she is creating those same amazing experiences for young girls. Through running games, kids build their running skills, increase their social and emotional development, and reframe the sport of running through fun. When she was hired, she was tasked with rewriting the entire program curriculum—and that’s where her MPH really came in handy. 

“Running is a foundational skill for any sport,” says Madison. ““Whether a kid goes on to play soccer or basketball, compete in track & field, or just develop the healthy habit of moving their body through running or walking at a young age, we are setting them up for success in sport and in life.”