MEDICINE HAT, AB – A fastpitch tournament was held in Medicine Hat and Redcliff this weekend.
This meant a four game weekend for a U11 girls team.
While these young athletes currently belong to a supportive sports team, many girls stop competing as they get older.
One in three girls leave sport by their late teens according to Canadian Women and Sport
The dropout rate for teenage boys 16-18 is only one in ten.
Jami Winter and Lana Osadczuk are working towards changing that statistic.
The coaches say sports allows girls and women to create friendships, support systems, and stay healthy and active, all factors that contribute to good mental health.
“Being a female and in sport, you often don’t see female role models passing on their love of the game to our little females, so it’s great for them to have a role model,” says Osadczuk.
She adds, “I still play ladies fastball on a traveling team, and they know that, and they know when they’re old and moldy like me that they can still be playing the sport that we all love.”
Initially joining the team to support her daughter, Osadczuk’s coaching journey has proven to be a fulfilling experience, and co-coach Winter agrees.
“It’s very rewarding. To see what we’ve learned over the years, to be able to pay that forward and give it to some young girls, especially in sport is invaluable,” says Winter.
The young players appreciate their coaches’ guidance, but also their ability to create a fun atmosphere.
This approach reinforces Osadczuks belief that sports should be enjoyable, not just a source of stress or pressure.
“They encourage us to have fun, and they’re also kinda silly like us,” says fastpitch player Jada.
“Everything. The team, and playing the game. The games are super fun. The outfits are awesome,” says Lilah.
“It’s just team sport, and it’s super supportive,” says daughter of coach Osadczuk, Elle.
Osadczuk believes that starting young and having fun is crucial for keeping girls interested in sports.
She says, “when you start playing things like this at a competitive level at their age, as long as they’re having fun, they’re gonna continue to play it, and continue to have great role models pushing them through in order to live this lifestyle of playing sports, being a great teammate, which is something that Jamie and I talk about a ton.”
With enthusiastic players and supportive coaches, the Medicine Hat Thunder fastpitch team is set up for a successful season.
