Meisha Wide is a Girls Inc. volunteer and led Economic Literacy this winter.

Spring time is a fun time of year. The anticipation of spring flowers and cool breezes help paint a picture of fun weekends to be enjoyed with friends and family in the month of March. What’s even more exciting for me about the month of March is the excitement and energy that builds around the game of basketball. As a kid I participated in a variety of sports (gymnastics, tennis, volleyball, kickball, track & field) but basketball seemed to be the one sport that made the most impact in my life. Basketball introduced me to some of the most important people in my life today.

My freshman basketball team may not have been the most talented, but sharing fun moments on the court during practice and games is how I developed a relationship with one of my best friends, who I still talk to weekly. I have also been involved with the game of basketball off the court by getting involved with a non-profit organization founded by WNBA star Tamika Catchings called Catch the Stars Foundation. This has given me the opportunity to show kids how being fit can and should be fun, and not something that is boring or dreadful.

I have also been fully enthralled in March Madness by working as an event coordinator in fan events during Men’s Final Four and Women’s Final Four. Last year I had the pleasure of working with the 700+ volunteers at Men’s Final Four during Bracket Town and it was an amazing event that gave attendees the opportunity to get an interactive experience during the tournament. This year, I am helping to create the ultimate fan experience at the Women’s Final Four in Tourney Town. Tourney Town is going to be a huge family fan festival with free concerts, youth clinics and Talent Showdown. By working in this capacity with the college basketball tournaments, I had the opportunity to see that there are many ways for women to get involved with the sport. There are many great female leaders working to create opportunities for fans of basketball to have great experiences. 

So how can girls get involved with sports off the court or the field? Get involved with non-profit organizations and sports events as a volunteer or a community leader to a part of the excitement surrounded with the sport.