What if I told you the biggest thing holding your daughter back isn’t her skill level but the opportunities she’ll never get to see?

It’s a gut-punch for any parent who dreams of watching their daughter succeed.

On this episode of the Raising Elite Competitors podcast, Steph and Amy from Section Z share how they’re using the power of sports to change lives. They’re breaking barriers, creating opportunities, and showing how sports are more than just games – they’re tools for building confidence, resilience, and futures.

Steph, the founder of Section Z, is on a mission to give girls access to the transformative benefits of live sports experiences. Amy, a board member and seasoned researcher, helps amplify this work with her expertise. Together, they’re proving that exposure to sports can shape a young woman’s future in ways most of us have never imagined.

If you’ve ever wondered how to help your daughter thrive in a world that isn’t always fair, this is the conversation you need to hear.

What Is Section Z?

Steph describes Section Z as a movement to “leverage the excitement of live sports and set all girls, all girls up for success.” While many programs focus on play, Section Z takes things further by exposing girls to live sports events, creating workshops, and facilitating panel discussions with female executives.

“We’re like, okay, cool. Let’s partner with them and let’s be additive to this to actually try and move that needle together,” Steph explains. “So, what we focus on is exposing girls to live sporting events… They can see that inspiration, that representation. And then we have workshops. We have special curriculum that we’ve implemented in schools and we have like panels that we moderate and talk about female executives.”

The organization addresses barriers like cost and transportation, ensuring girls from underprivileged backgrounds can experience live sports and discover career paths they never knew existed.

The Spark Behind the Mission

Steph’s story is as inspiring as her work. After a life-changing accident in 2020, she had time to reflect on what truly mattered. “In 2020, I was in a really bad accident. I was tossed out of a golf cart. It flipped on me. I got airlifted out. I had a brain injury. I had like a laceration on my face,” she shares.

During her recovery, she realized, “The common thread was sports and like being an athlete and those transferable skills has allowed me in my life to pivot from career to career and be successful in places where like, I didn’t really technically have the background needed to do it.”

This led Steph to ask, “What’s the thing that I’m building that’s bigger than me so that it can like live on?” The answer was Section Z, a platform to give girls opportunities she wished she’d had growing up.

Why Sports Matter

Both Steph and Amy emphasize the profound benefits of sports for girls. Amy says, “Girls who participate in team sports have significantly better self-perceptions. They had really strong indicators of improved mental health, of sense of self, fitting in.”

Even attending live sports events makes a difference. Steph explains, “We all know that playing sports benefits all people, especially girls and young women, and yet not everyone has equal opportunities.”

This insight is backed by the largest cross-sectional study on women’s sports ever conducted in the U.S., spearheaded by Section Z.

Breaking Down Barriers

Unfortunately, not all girls have equal access to sports. The biggest predictor of who misses out? Socioeconomic status. Amy highlights a stark reality: “It’s households that make less than $50,000, especially households that make less than $25,000.”

Steph recalls a heartbreaking moment when a girl missed an event because she couldn’t get a ride to the bus. “My heart breaks because I’m like, she’s going to miss this experience that she thought she was going to because she didn’t have someone at home to pick her up.”

More Than a Ticket

Section Z’s tagline, “It’s more than a ticket,” perfectly captures their mission. They don’t just take girls to games – they create lasting memories and opportunities.

“When like they show up on the bus, I kind of get on the bus and like the thing I like to say is that we’re like the facilitator of fun. We’re not in charge. Don’t be asking me to go to the bathroom. But like, you know, like we want to make sure that this experience is totally like wrapped up, got a bow on it so that it’s all turnkey for you,” says Steph.

Amy adds, “The follow-up is just as important. We keep in touch, offer workshops, and even provide mentorship opportunities with female executives.”

Real Impact Stories

The impact of Section Z’s work is evident in the stories they hear.

“We asked them to like write some in their post-game survey,” says Steph. “There’s been a lot of the responses have been, ‘I didn’t even know a job like this existed.’”

Another powerful story came through a text: “Now I feel like I can play soccer too. Cause the players on the field look like me.”

One girl even took a Section Z poster reading Athlete Today, Leader Tomorrow and taped it above her bed. “To us, you know, that’s our ROI, right? Like that’s good enough for us as the investment that we’re trying to do with this,” Steph says.

How You Can Help

Feeling inspired? Here’s how you can get involved:

• Follow Section Z on Instagram: @thesectionz.
• Visit their website: www.thesectionz.com.
• Donate: https://thesectionz.com/donate
• Spread the Word: Share Section Z’s mission with your network.

Amy adds, “We collected this data as almost like a public service. Like, we’re a 501c3. Protégé donated the data collection, which was very gracious of them. We are, we’re like sort of open platform about our data. So, if you want a copy of our report, you work for a company that you think would be interested in this, write to Steph and we’ll share it with you.”

Final Thoughts

Steph and Amy’s work with Section Z is proof that sports can be a powerful tool for breaking barriers and building futures. Whether you’re a parent, coach, or just someone who cares about equality, there’s a role for you in this movement.

“Together, we can ensure every girl has the chance to succeed,” says Steph.

Let’s make it happen!

Episode Highlights: 

[00:16] Podcast Overview. The podcast focuses on raising confident, mentally strong girl athletes, aligning with Steph and Amy’s mission.

[00:56] Community Shoutout. A parent shares a success story about how the Elite Mental Game program boosted her daughter’s confidence and performance.

[02:00] Introducing Steph and Amy. Steph’s background as an entrepreneur and founder of Section Z; Amy’s experience as a researcher and lifelong athlete.

[03:54] Steph and Amy Join the Conversation. Steph and Amy join the podcast and share their excitement about connecting again.

[04:19] What is Section Z? Steph explains Section Z’s mission: leveraging live sports to empower girls with exposure, workshops, and representation.

[05:54] Amy’s Role in Section Z. Amy shares how her research background helps scale Section Z’s mission and why it resonated with her as a lifelong athlete.

[07:17] The Value of Research. Amy and Steph discuss the importance of data in proving Section Z’s impact and how Amy contributes to its success.

[08:00] Steph’s Personal Story. Steph shares how a life-changing accident inspired her to create something meaningful and impactful for young girls.

[10:00] The Power of Representation. Steph recalls the emotional realization that access to sports could change lives for girls who’ve historically been excluded.

[11:30] Why Sports Matter. Amy highlights the benefits of sports participation, including improved mental health, confidence, and sense of belonging.

[13:00] Groundbreaking Research. Section Z’s large-scale study analyzes sports participation, its benefits, and barriers, drawing insights across generations.

[17:00] Addressing Barriers. Amy and Steph discuss socioeconomic challenges that prevent many girls from accessing sports opportunities.

[19:00] The ROI of Women’s Sports. Steph outlines how investing in women’s sports provides long-term benefits for brands and communities.

[24:00] Breaking Down Barriers. The team explains how Section Z provides transportation, workshops, and other support to eliminate obstacles for young girls.

[28:00] Success Stories. Steph shares impactful moments, including a girl taping a Section Z poster above her bed and another inspired by diverse athletes on the field.

[34:00] Sports as a Unifier. Steph discusses how sports foster community and build connections, transcending differences like race or socioeconomic status.

[37:00] It’s More Than a Ticket. Steph emphasizes that Section Z offers a complete experience, not just access to games, with mentorship and community-building.

[38:00] How to Get Involved. Steph and Amy share how listeners can support Section Z through donations, partnerships, or sharing their mission.

[39:00] Closing Thoughts. Steph and Amy express gratitude for the opportunity to share their work and encourage listeners to take action.

Next Steps:

• Join our FREE Training for Sports Moms – How to Strengthen Your Athlete Daughter’s Mental Game so She Believes in Herself as Much as You Do
• Visit our podcast website for more great episodes

Thank you in advance for joining us on our mission and leaving a rating and review on Apple Podcasts.