Today, we join others in the sports community in celebrating the 30th annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day.

The NFCA is proud to stand with the many organizations, schools, teams, government and community groups that pause on the first Wednesday each February in all 50 U.S. states to recognize the advancement of girls and women’s sports.

This year’s slogan, “Leading the Way” recognizes girls, student and pro athletes, coaches, athletic directors and parents who are leading the way to inspire greatness in this generation and the next.

The National Girls and Women in Sports Day began in 1987 as a tribute to U.S. Olympic volleyball player Flo Hyman for her athletic achievements and her work to assure equality for all women’s sports. Hyman, a 1984 Olympic silver medalist and three-time All-American, was the first female scholarship athlete at the University of Houston. She died of Marfan’s Syndrome in 1986 while competing in a volleyball tournament in Japan.

Since that time, the National Girls and Women in Sports Day has evolved into a day devoted to acknowledging the past accomplishments of all female athletes and recognizing current achievements by girls and women in sports. The day seeks to emphasize the positive influence of sports participation on girls and women, as well as shine a spotlight on the continuing struggle for equality.