By Gean Mendez
Contributing Writer
Reaching full potential is a motive for the Arizona College Prep athletics program. Play like a Girl Club is helping girls in the athletics program learn about skills that can be used on and off the field and creating a supportive environment.
“It targets situations and issues that just more females deal with it is an opportunity to build a community amongst those female athletes,” said ACP’s Athletic Director Jaime McClure.
This is the first year of the club, and it was created because of McClure's own experiences and the hardships she was going through.
“I just saw a need to work with our high school girls and hopefully work on some of the issues I’m going through as an adult to help them before they become an adult. There’s a lot of things I am going through as an adult that I wished I would have someone help me navigate when I was younger,” said McClure.
Being the club's first year, it has created a different perspective for girls in ACP’s athletic program.
“It has given more exposure for actually how many female athletes we have on campus not something I really considered, but seeing them all in one room, it is great to see that see of women all come together to talk about the strengths and challenges of being a female in sports,” said girls badminton coach Melanie Klauer.
It has created a strong bond and an area where the girls' athletics program has been able to come together and show there are much deeper things than sports.
“It’s opened my eyes to see how great our male coaches are and how supportive they are of this because a lot of them have daughters and wives, and they want that for them for the females in their lives,” said McClure.
Play Like a Girl has continued to show how much of an impact it has had on both coaches and students.
“I definitely think the coaches and the athletes themselves have more of a comfort zone to come to where if something is going on they are able to have a safe place to come and be,” said Klauer.
Margot O’Donnal Arizona College Prep counselor one of the leaders of the club said, “Most of the students have really enjoyed it that they are grateful for it and like the lessons that are being taught, and it gives them a chance to be exposed to other people who have done something for girls' sports.”
It has even created a buzz around the school. McClure explained that they had a Play Like a Girl game in volleyball, and they had over 700 students attend, and it was the most that the school has had in a game.
This club has done so much for the students in the first year it has created a family, shown life lessons, and a deeper meaning of what athletes go through not just on the field but in life.
“The biggest thing we are trying to teach these girls is you don't need to change yourself,” said McClure.
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