How has playing sports changed your life?  
How have your teammates and coaches helped you to grow?  We asked some collegiate - and Olympic - Êtregirls...see what they said below!
AAAND, a GIANT welcome to our friends & #AthleteRolemodels at espnW! Check out their awesome resources, stories & videos here!

BIG NEWS! We're thrilled 2 introduce you to our new teammates on the Être #BeStrong squad: 
​The Sparkle Effect! 

The Sparkle Effect is an awesome nonprofit that helps students nationwide create middle school, high school and college cheer and dance teams that bring together students with and without disabilities. Nothing cooler. To learn more about starting a team at your school - and promoting diversity, kindness and inclusion under Friday night lights -  check out their website and video. We're cheering already.

Let's talk about more STRONG women...like our friend & MMA fighter Michelle Waterson. Also known as "The Karate Hottie," Waterson was a model before she began competing professionally, and...get this...she started training in karate AT THE AGE OF TEN! We got to meet Michelle and we asked her about starting her sport in middle school, being tempted to quit and ultimately sticking with what you love.

To read our interview with Êtregirl role model, UFC athlete & TV / movie favorite Michelle Waterson, click here! To get workout tips and see Michelle in action, check out her videos here.  Awesome advice from an athlete who started at just your age.

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For all our #StrongGirls: Don't miss these incredible photographs of girls in sports, girls being silly...really girls being themselves! The book is awesome & we can't get enough of the pics or the message!  #strongisthenewpretty

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Want 2 know more about espnW? Picture all the thrill of ESPN sports you love...now imagine it was focused ENTIRELY on female athletics! Add in athlete voices, advice from coaches and sport parents, motivational music & inspiring films (srsly - watch "When I Play," like, right now)...and you have espnW.  A sports site for girls like you and your teammates...by your new favorite role models. Follow them @espnw and chk out #WhenIPlay

OK, ready, set, GO! Meet new Être role model NASCAR driver Julia Landauer! Since making history as the 1st and youngest champion in the Skip Barber Racing Series at AGE 14 (let that sink in...we'll wait), Julia has amassed dozens of wins in tons of different racing series! But, here's the coolest part...while collecting all these NASCAR wins, Julia is also using her racing platform to encourage #girlsinSTEM! Read OUR INTERVIEW with Julia here, follow her on social everywhere @julialandauer...and get as fired up as we are!

Huddle up now & listen to THIS: According to The Women's Sport Foundation, by age 14 girls are dropping out of sports at two times the rate of boys.  We SO don't want that 2 be U!  Girls...stay in those cleats! Be encouraged by the quotes & resources below, and just...stay in. #Stay2Play

So proud to point you towards some of our fav BFFS... Girls On The Run! Inspiring girls to be joyful, healthy & confident through a creative curriculum that incorporates running, Girls On The Run and their awesome middle school program Heart & Sole  encourage physical wellness, team building and standing up 4 yourself! Check out their Girls On The Run 5K event and follow them everywhere...we're thrilled to run alongside them!

Êtregirl advice to #staystrong from one of our favorite USA Olympic medalist and National Pro Fastpitch softball pitcher...

"There's never traffic

on the extra mile."

Monica Abbott  #14

About to break into your happy dance yet? Want 2 know what music your favorite athletes listen to before tough workouts? Check out espnW's heart pounding Music & Motivation playlists here, and get moving! 

So...if you see sports in your future too, what should you be​ doing about it now? Check out some of the websites below for inspiration & cool new ideas!

U.S. Sports Camps
​Partnered with Nike, USSC offers 24 programs in 15 sports; enrolling athletes 10-18 yrs old from the U.S. and abroad, they have it all.

GirlSports Part of the U.S. Girl Scouts program, GirlSports organizes local running clubs, athlete badges and features inspirational USA athletes to keep you going!

Women's Sports Foundation If you need motivation, check out this site!  Head to the Athletes page for inspirational profiles and quotes - zillions of sports covered.

Newsflash - being strong also means staying healthy!  
We're not here to preach...we like marshmallow peeps as much as the next girl...but balance is our goal.  For every milkshake slurped...consider a fruit smoothie later on. For every Netflix marathon indulged...add in a run the next morning.  Academics & athletes agree: strong, athletic girls have great balance - across the board! For more thoughts on balance, check out our posts on Thrive Global about unplugging and catching your breath! #BeStrong. #StayBalanced