Coaching is more than teaching a sport. It’s stepping into a young person’s life at a time when they are growing, discovering who they are, and learning how to face the world. To be a coach is to have a front-row seat to one of the most important journeys a person can take: growing up.

When I started the Girls Academy, I wanted to truly understand what girls needed in a program designed for them. This question led me down an eye-opening path… one that revealed why so many girls were leaving sports at an alarming rate.

Progress happens when people have the courage to speak up and challenge the status quo. It cannot rest solely on the shoulders of marginalized groups to push for change. If we want to reshape the narrative around girls and women in sports, it requires more than just their voices—it demands that men in the room stand up, call out inequities, and be active allies in the fight for fairness. Real change happens when everyone takes responsibility.

Creating opportunities for girls isn’t about exclusion—it’s about inclusion. It’s about giving them a space where they can develop their skills, build confidence, and thrive in the game—without having to justify their presence.

A few years ago, while traveling with the UBC Women’s Golf Team, we had a conversation in the van about how each player got into golf. Every single girl had learned from a male coach. That moment stuck with me long after the trip.

Up to 62% of Canadian adolescent girls are not participating in any sport, and one in three who have participated drop out by late adolescence. Girls are more than three times as likely as boys to drop out during this period, and only 18% of women aged 16-63 remain involved in sport. These statistics highlight a significant issue, emphasizing the urgent need for improvement.