WEBINAR RECAP: Empowering Athletes: Listening to Our Bodies in Sport

In our ongoing collaboration with Dove BODY CONFIDENT SPORT—a groundbreaking Online Coaching Program developed in partnership with Nike—we recently conducted the third and final session of our three-part webinar series. In this final session, we delved into the profound significance of establishing a strong connection with our bodies and listening to their cues—a practice that is pivotal for athletes, especially girls, in achieving peak performance and holistic well-being.

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Our all-star lineup of panelists featured Leslie Osborne- Olympian, Former USWNT Soccer Player; Sue Enquist- Former UCLA Softball Hall of Fame Coach; Ros Gold-Onwude- Sports Broadcaster & Former Stanford Women’s Basketball Player; and Dr. Nicole M. LaVoi- Director of the Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport. Together, these esteemed individuals brought a wealth of knowledge, experience, and passion to the discussion, shedding light on the profound impact of body awareness and listening to one’s body in athletic performance and overall well-being. Here are some key highlights for coaches and caring adults from the webinar:

Why Establishing a Strong Connection with the Body Matters: 

Dr. LaVoi emphasized the critical importance of athletes—particularly girls—establishing a strong connection with their bodies. By tuning into bodily cues, athletes cultivate a profound understanding of their physical and mental states, empowering them to optimize their performance and overall well-being on and off the field.

Personal Anecdotes: Insights from Athletes Themselves: 

Our esteemed panelists shared personal experiences where paying attention to bodily sensations during sporting activities proved transformative. From Ros Gold-Onwude’s mindful awareness of her body’s signals during basketball games to Leslie Osborne’s recognition of the balance between pushing limits and avoiding harm, these anecdotes underscored the profound impact of listening to one’s body in enhancing athletic performance and minimizing the risk of injury.

Striking a Balance: Pushing Limits vs. Avoiding Harm:  

Athletes often grapple with the pressure to push through discomfort or pain in pursuit of success. However, our panelists highlighted the importance of striking a balance. By listening to their bodies and differentiating between discomfort and pain, athletes can make informed decisions that prioritize their long-term well-being while maximizing their potential for success.

Fostering Respect and Self-Care: 

As female athletes, our panelists discussed their journey toward developing a deeper respect for their bodies and prioritizing self-care. From Coach Enquist’s intentional check-ins to Ros’ mindfulness practices, these strategies empower female athletes to provide their bodies with the care and nourishment needed to perform at their best.

Beyond Physical Signals: The Role of Emotional and Mental Cues:  

In addition to physical cues, our panelists highlighted the significance of emotional and mental signals in athletic performance. By being attuned to these cues, athletes can enhance their self-awareness, regulate their emotions, and optimize their decision-making—factors that are instrumental in achieving peak performance.

Translating Listening to One’s Body Beyond the Sports Field:

Beyond the confines of the sports field, the skill of listening to one’s body transcends into improved self-awareness and decision-making in other areas of a female athlete’s life. Whether it’s navigating academic challenges, managing personal relationships, or making career decisions, the ability to tune into one’s body becomes a guiding compass for empowered decision-making and holistic well-being.

As we conclude our three-part webinar series, we are reminded of the transformative power of listening to one’s body. By establishing a strong connection with our bodies and honoring their cues, athletes—especially girls—unleash their full potential, embody resilience, and embark on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment that extends far beyond the realm of sports. Together, let us continue to champion body confidence, resilience, and holistic well-being in the lives of athletes worldwide. 

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About the Panelists

Leslie Osborne 
Olympian, Former USWNT; Co-Founder & Owner of Bay FC

Leslie Osborne, a Wisconsin native, achieved high school stardom with three state championships and Wisconsin Player of the Year awards before becoming a standout athlete at Santa Clara University. As a key player in their 2001 National Championship win and recipient of the 2004 Honda Sports Award, Osborne left an indelible mark on Santa Clara’s soccer legacy. As a former US Women’s National Team member with an impressive international career, including appearances in the 2007 Women’s World Cup, Leslie captained various teams in the Women’s Professional Soccer league for 10 years. Osborne’s contributions led to the retirement of her #10 jersey at Santa Clara and induction into the West Coast Conference Hall of Honor. Today, she shares her expertise as a Fox Sports studio analyst, and the Co-Founder and Owner of @wearebayfc, the newest women’s professional soccer team in the Bay Area.  Leslie is also a member of the PCA National Advisory Board.

Sue Enquist 
Former UCLA HOF Softball Coach

Sue Enquist has left an indelible mark on the sport of softball as both player and coach. Guiding UCLA to 11 National Championships, she is the winningest softball coach among all D-1 coaches, with a remarkable record of 887-175-1. Her leadership helped garner numerous National Coach of the Year and Pac-10 Coach of the Year honors. Her legacy as a player is equally remarkable, with triumphs at the World, NCAA, and Pan American levels. Notably, she is the first individual in NCAA Softball history to claim a championship as a head coach and a player. Enquist has been inducted into six halls of fame, notably International Women’s Sports, National Fastpitch Coaches Association, and UCLA. Sue is a UCLA Graduate School Instructor in Transformational Coaching and Leadership. She is also a culture consultant for USA Volleyball, where they secured their first-ever Olympic gold medal at the 2020 Olympics.

Ros Gold-Onwude
Sports Broadcaster; Former Stanford Women’s Basketball Player

Ros Gold-Onwude is an award-winning sports broadcaster covering Men’s and Women’s basketball at every level.  Gold-Onwude earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, followed by a Master’s Degree in Sociology of Business, both from Stanford University. As a member of the Stanford women’s basketball team Gold-Onwude played in three Final Fours and two national championship games helping the Cardinal win four conference titles as starting guard, and was named the 2010 Pac-10 Co-Defensive Player of the Year.  Following her Stanford career, Gold-Onwude played on the Nigerian National Basketball team.  Over the course of her journalism career, Ros has covered the game of basketball on the most elite stages from the 2016 Rio Olympics, NBA and WNBA Finals to the NCAA Tournament.  In addition to game analysis, her expertise focuses on the intersection of sports, business, tech and culture. Ros’ passions include mentoring young girls, empowering minority women in business and media, raising awareness for mental health issues and developing opportunities for the youth in Africa.

Nicole M. LaVoi, PhD
Director of Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport

Nicole M. LaVoi, Ph.D. is a Senior Lecturer of social and behavioral sciences in the School of Kinesiology at the University of Minnesota and the Director of the Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport. Through action-oriented collaborative research, she translates data and answers critical questions that can make a difference in the lives of girls and women. As a leading scholar on gender, leadership and women coaches, Dr. LaVoi has published 100+ book chapters, research reports and peer-reviewed articles in top-rated journals. Her Outstanding Academic Title award-winning book Women in Sports Coaching, the annual Women in College Coaching Report Card™ and Emmy-nominated documentary GAME ON: Women Can Coach help inform countless stakeholders who changing the system for women sport coaches. She is the Product Manager of Coaching HER®, and co-creator of Body Confident Sport, free tools to upskill coaches to more effectively coach girls. As a public scholar she consults with a variety of stakeholder groups, works with industry partners, speaks around the world, fields media requests, provides thought leadership, and serves on mission-driven advisory boards such as her third term on the Gatorade Women’s Advisory Board. She is an award-winning athlete, coach, scholar, and distinguished teacher, 2013 regional Emmy winner for Best Sport Documentary, two-time Hall of Fame inductee and was named a 2023 USTA Champion of Equality. LaVoi played collegiate tennis at Gustavus Adolphus College winning a NCAA-III National Team Championship where she currently serves on the Board of Trustees. Prior to her career in higher education, she was a USPTA Teaching Pro and head tennis coach at Wellesley College. In her free time, she enjoys being outdoors, biking, hiking, golf, painting and soaking up the sun.

Moderator: Marti Reed
Director of National Partnerships & DEI Programming Manager, PCA

Marti Reed is the Director of National Partnerships & DEI Programming Manager for PCA. She originally joined PCA in 2014 with the Los Angeles Chapter working as a Partnership Manager to grow the movement with local schools and youth sports organizations. Marti transitioned into a Development Manager role for Southern California in 2017, allowing her to start the LA Chapter Leadership Council and help implement PCA’s Pro Team partnerships in the area. In 2019, she assumed the role of National Partnerships and Marketing Manager, then Director of National Partnerships & DEI Programming Manager in 2021. In this capacity, Marti supports all national and corporate partners throughout the country, and also led the launch of PCA’s Sports Can Battle Racism initiative. Marti has been featured on CBS, ESPN Around the Horn, and ABC 7, using her voice to help educate coaches and leaders with the tools needed to foster a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion through sports. Marti has separated herself as one of PCA’s best trainers, presenting at live workshops for coaches, parents, and athletes throughout the country.