Lolits

This and that from the desk of Lolits  (aka little old lady in tennis shoes)

Growing old provides an occasional opportunity to reconnect with youngsters who are now adults with families and careers of their own.  I’ve lucked out and have now reconnected with 2 such persons whose lives engaged mine decades ago.
The first was with Femmefan‘s creator (a story, perhaps, for another day), and the other with Josie Washington McQuay of the greater Philadelphia area.
Each followed a path of balancing the responsibilities of raising a family, maintaining a professional career and later found challenges and established new, but different, vistas for women in the arena of sports.

Josie has been a student/observer of women’s basketball for many years, starting as a cheerleader for her mom, Marian E.Washington, who had a long and distinguished careers one of the game’s premier players and long-term coach at the University of Kansas.   
Josie, being the mother of two teenagers (a girl and a boy) who are active in athletics, soon became involved in many roles assumed by many parents of students, including, but not limited to: designated driver, cheerleader, and locator of resources that meet their individual interests and needs.

From these experiences, Josie recognized that there was a void to be filled for parents who were concerned about the total picture.
She was looking for quality programs that were available, accessible and focused on the complete child by  giving appropriate attention and time to skills development; academics;  guidance in locating colleges, and provision of a positive growth environment.  Finding none, Josie did what women often do: she set out to remedy the problem and launched a nonprofit organization, the American Basketball Academy (ABA), in 2008.

 ABA gives boys and girls, ages 10-18, who are interested in AAU basketball and college opportunities, a positive and complete learning environment that includes:  basketball camps, clinics, competitive tournaments, and visibility through AAU and NCAA Showcase events.  Additionally, and more importantly, academic effort and accomplishment is a mandatory and critical element that must be met by all participants. 

ABA

 The ABA program is a growing endeavor.  It has grown from 3 AAU basketball teams in 2008 and expects to reach a total of 12 teams in 2010. Additionally, ABA expects to expand its activities into other areas throughout the Mid-Atlantic area.  Through Josie’s tireless efforts and energy, working relationships have been established and strengthened with local schools, elected officials, service agencies, the NCAA, the AAU, colleges and businesses.

 ABA is beginning a number of Showcase initiatives by hosting annual AAU basketball tournaments and college Showcases for boys and girls at various venues throughout the metropolitan Philadelphia area and along the East coast corridor. 
The Showcase event held in Philadelphia this past October featured over 120 of the top-rated Tri-State basketball athletes and was well- received by parents, coaches and spectators. This event, coupled with its girls AAU events, underscores the growing receptivity, success and need for ABA.

Positive feedback from student athletes, parents, participants, public entities, and the general public helps to fuel the tremendous energy and determination that keeps Josie motivated to maintain ABA on a path of growth and success.  To Josie I say, “Go Girl Go” and remember every journey starts with a first step and every endeavor, regardless its size, adds value to our society”.

More ABA information is available at www.americanbasketballacademy.org.  To reach Josie, you may reach her at www.josie@ americanbasketballacademy.org.  I am certain that your inquiries will be well received..

 In closing, I believe that more initiatives by women are needed in all arenas of athletics.
Title IX, created greater opportunities for women in sports at all levels.
But for Title IX, there might not have been a Pat Summit, Kay Yow, Marian E.Washington, or Vivian Stringer, all of whom were titans in the world  of  titans in their field.  
Unfortunately, in recent years, we have been serious signs of reduced support for Title IX and efforts to weaken its reach and effectiveness.

I believe that women should be more than spectators in the world of athletics. 
Many studies have underscored the benefits that participation in sports provides, including development of leadership skills.   In short, let’s make certain that women continue to have a fair and equitable opportunity to assume leadership roles in the management and administration of boy’s and girl’s athletics.

Post Script.  On behalf of the Lolits of this world, I remind everyone that there are lots of us around who still have a deep respect and appreciation for the values of sports.
While our knees may creak or our energy may wane, our respect and appreciation for the values and lessons derived from sports live on. 
Hear from us!