TeamSnap Impact Partner Profile: Women’s Coaching Alliance

Women’s Coaching Alliance (WCA) has big goals. It’s helping rec sports organizations fill much-needed coaching positions by training young women to coach. But the work doesn’t stop there. The WCA also educates their coaches to be empowered women leaders of tomorrow. 

“Coaching is leading,” explains Pam Baker, founder of WCA. “Through coaching kids, these young women are developing lifelong leadership skills they’ll carry with them as they head into jobs and careers.”

This two-fold approach — helping sports organizations today, and supporting growth for tomorrow — is exactly why TeamSnap Impact (TSI) sought to partner with WCA in 2024. Says Lance Lee, director of TeamSnap Impact, “Gender equity initiatives have been a priority for TeamSnap Impact since its inception.” 

Building up women coaches

WCA finds high school or college young women who have played a particular sport, but maybe they suffered an injury at some point, were cut from a competitive team, or didn’t mesh with a coach. “Coaching offers these young women a way to stay connected to the sport,” says Pam. 

The young women attend the WCA Leadership Academy where they learn the fundamentals of good coaching – creating a fun environment that kids want to return to and where they can learn key skills. 

It works. Recently, a mom told Baker that her son didn’t want to go to the first practice of the season. After it was over, he asked her when he could go back. 

“It’s so powerful when we can create an environment that is different and better than what kids might expect,” says Baker. “It gives so many kids the opportunity to get those amazing life lessons and experiences that are unique to playing sports.”

Nationally, girls are dropping out of sports in large numbers in middle school. WCA is exploring whether or not female coaches can change that dynamic.“We know that for some girls, seeing a role model that looks like them, from their community, can really make a difference in sticking with sports longer,” says Baker.  

I think it’s really valuable for both boys and girls to see young women as leaders and role models,” she adds. She looks forward to the day when it’s not a novel experience to have a coach who is a woman. “I hope it changes how kids think about who a leader is, that they are just as likely to be men as women, of all different races and ethnicities.”

Learning to lead

WCA coaches work closely with two adult mentors – one who is a seasoned coach and one who has solid leadership experience. Baker is looking forward to finding mentors within TeamSnap Impact. 

“Mentors help the young women connect the dots between the coaching skills that they’re learning and how they link over to leadership,” she says. She feels confident that the TeamSnap community has “exactly the kinds of skills that we’re looking for.” 

One leadership skill young women learn to navigate is compensation. WCA pays their coaches in recognition of the time and effort they put in, but also so they understand the value of their work. “In order to shrink the gender wage gap, we have to talk about value and our reticence to ask for what we are truly worth before these young women head out into the work world,” says Baker. 

Signs of success

“At the beginning of the season, none of our coaches thought that they’re going to be good coaches,” says Baker. By the end of the season, the young women have been exposed to different coaching styles, navigated uncertain situations, and found a sense of confidence. The change in the young women is noticeable. “We hear about them talking about themselves as leaders,” Baker says. 

All the work the WCA is doing – filling coaching positions, creating more women coaches, helping girls stay in sports longer, and teaching young women to be strong leaders – benefits so many.  “This is not something we can do on our own,” says Baker. “The mentors, the donors who support us, are all key parts of our success. We really appreciate TeamSnap Impact’s partnership and helping share what we’re up to.” 

Learn more about TeamSnap Impact – and how sports can make a difference in the lives of kids everywhere.