It's been a labor of love for Flowery Branch girls basketball coach Courtney Newton.
In early 2022, through her work in the Hall County School District administration group, GALS (Growing Admin Leaders), she birthed the idea of a week-long celebration centered around National Girls and Women in Sports Day, which is on Wednesday.
She presented her project in October and has continued to work with each school across the county to celebrate the day and this entire week.
"It kind of grew out the admin class where we were asked what was our why and what we were passionate about," Newton said. "Obviously, girls sports is something that I'm passionate about."
The year's long project will come to fruition on Wednesday, when each high school across the county will host a breakfast for each cluster that will include a guest speaker.
Newton, a standout basketball player at Flowery Branch High School and the University of South Carolina, is practicing what she's been preaching, giving young ladies an opportunity to succeed at playing sports on a daily basis.
"This is important to me because I know what sports have done in my life," she said. "It has given me so many opportunities. Without sports in my life, I wouldn't have some of the opportunities, qualities, and friendships."
According to the Women's Sports Foundation, one in three girls ages 6-12 participate in a sport on a regular basis, and 40 percent of teen girls do not actively participate in sports.
Newton said after seeing those national numbers, she felt marketing local athletic opportunities needed to be ramped up.
"I want to make sure our girls and young ladies in the county know about the mentorship programs, get the information out there so our community knows how they can get their daughters involved in sports.
"I want to empower our ladies in high school to be leaders. We want to give our females the opportunity to be leaders and to build self-confidence and life skills through sports."
Below is a list of speakers and locations.
Cherokee Bluff -- Brett Ball
Ball is a former basketball player at the University of South Carolina. She is currently a color analyst for SEC Network.
Chestatee -- Emily House
House is a former canon and kayak sprint National team member.
Flowery Branch -- Darrice Griffin
Griffin is the senior deputy director of athletics at the University of Georgia.
East Hall -- Angela Middleton
Middleton is a former Flowery Branch girls basketball coach, and member of the 1979 East Hall girls state championship basketball team.
North Hall -- Lindsay Reeves
Reeves is the former University of North Georgia athletics director
Johnson -- Nan Sisk
Sisk is a former collegiate and Olympic women's basketball referee
West Hall -- Laura Lucas
Lucas currently serves as the director of Title I Services at the University of Alabama
http://accesswdun.com/article/2023/1/1164378/hcsd-welcomes-local-national-speakers-to-celebrate-national-girls-and-women-in-sports-day