CHECK OUT THE JR. WNBA RESOURCES TO SUPPORT GIRLS IN SPORT: BELONGING IN BASKETBALL!
- About
ABOUT
JR. WNBA is the WNBA’s initiative dedicated to championing change on behalf of girls and women and providing them with ways to connect, collaborate, and actively engage with basketball and one another.
Joining the JR. WNBA COMMUNITY will allow you to access the Belonging in Basketball Resources, connect with other girl-serving organizations, stay up to date on development opportunities, and help RECRUIT AND KEEP GIRLS IN THE GAME.
CONTACT
The staff of the Jr. NBA is happy to answer questions regarding Jr. WNBA. Please email JrNBA@nba.com and a representative will be available to assist.
- Resources
Belonging in Basketball Resources
Jr. WNBA’s Belonging in Basketball resources, created in partnership with Girls Leadership, are culturally responsive and healing centered, designed for and by girls.
After completing registration, coaches will have easy, exclusive access to the following resources to support how they work with girls in sport:
- Certification:
- Training to equip coaches with activities, coaching tips, and mindsets to create a strong foundation of wellbeing, belonging and community for their teams.
- Curriculum:
- 36 lessons across 3 age groups (7-9, 10-12, 13-17) designed to ground players in creating a space to be brave, make mistakes, and lead; created in partnership with Girls Leadership.
- Wellness Check-Ins:
- 23 quick activities to build the social and emotional muscles of self-awareness, empathy, and connection to others; created in partnership with Girls Leadership.
- Journal Guide:
- Everything 7-12-year-old girls need to start their own journaling practice, including why journaling is important, different options of journaling, and 12 journaling prompts paired with real stories from WNBA players.
- Beyond the Game Lessons:
- Athlete and Coach Guides to help 13-17-year-olds expand their Vision of who they are beyond an Athlete and evolve from being an Athlete to becoming a Visionary; created in partnership with Athletes to Visionaries.
HOW CAN YOU ACCESS THESE RESOURCES?
All resources will only be accessible through the Her Time To Play Academy, a digital hub for self-serve, on-demand learning. Registration is required in order to gain access.
The Belonging in Basketball resources will help coaches achieve the following:
- Engage their players in meaningful self-awareness activities and leadership conversations.
- Learn how to cultivate a sense of belonging for every girl on the team.
- Support the building of social and emotional muscles of self-awareness, empathy, and compassion for others.
WNBA CHANGEMAKERS x VOICEINSPORT
Get mentored by WNBA athletes! The WNBA Changemakers and VOICEINSPORT are on a mission to unlock the power of mentoring for the next generation of athletes. Our collective goal is to keep girls in sport and build future leaders by fueling access to professional athlete role models and mentorship content focused on mind, body and nutrition. Learn More
- Certification:
- Vision Box
Jr. WNBA is excited to partner with The Vision Box to bring a unique Vision board experience to you and your team.
VISION:
The ability to create or plan the future with imagination or wisdom.
VISIONARIES:
A group of people who come together with bold & original ideas about what the future can & will be like.
HOW CAN YOU RECEIVE THE VISION BOX?
Coaches must first complete the Belonging in Basketball Certification on the Her Time To Play Academy. After completion, they will be shipped a free Her Time To Play Vision Box with materials to help create a unified vision for their team.
The Vision Box will include the following:
- Her Time To Play x The Vision Box Magazine
- Foam Board
The magazine is filled with images, quotes and affirmations to transform your team’s vision to reality related to the following themes: teamwork, body image, accountability, unity, advancement, creativity, wellness, friendship, voice, purpose, pride.
The unified vision will be created by discussing the following questions as a group:
- Who are we collectively?
- What do we stand for together?
- What are our hopes and goals as a team?
- What steps do we need to take in order to reach them?
Additionally, individual Vision Box items will be available for each individual player if organizations register their players/coaches through their unique organization link provided by a Her Time To Play representative.
The number of registered players and coaches will determine the quantity of program materials provided. Items to include:
- Player: The Vision Box with Her Time To Play journal & inspirational stickers
- Coach: whistle/lanyard
- Organization: Wilson basketballs
- AT&T Partnership
AT&T PARTNERSHIP
AT&T, the MARQUEE SPONSOR OF THE WNBA and an inaugural member of the league’s Changemakers program, is committed to supporting the next generation of champions and raising the visibility of women’s sports through Her Time To Play.
In partnership with the WNBA, AT&T has hosted Her Time to Play clinics and panel sessions for girls ages 7-17 around the country. These clinics pair on-court training with off-court discussions exploring the challenges that girls and women face in sports and in life.
Since 2020, the WNBA and AT&T have hosted virtual community conversations and in-person events led by WNBA players, coaches, and league office executives. Each session included fun ice breaker questions, discussions about the value girls can gain from playing sports, and mindfulness and fitness sessions.
