For many girls in Portsmouth Public Schools (PPS), stepping onto the field will now come with more comfort and more confidence. The PPS Office of Division Athletics just received a donation of 300 brand new sports bras for girls competing in sports.
The donation came from Bras for Girls, a national nonprofit that provides high-quality sports bras for young athletes who may not have access to the proper athletic apparel to compete comfortably and confidently.
“Having the appropriate athletic apparel directly affects confidence, performance and long-term physical wellbeing,” said PPS Division Athletics Coordinator Shani Twyman about the impact of sports bras for athletes. “After receiving reports of student athletes complaining of chest discomfort from concerned coaches, I began exploring resources that could help meet this need at no cost to families.”
While Twyman was searching for a solution, she came across the application for Bras for Girls online. She found their reports aligned with what she was hearing in Portsmouth. Specifically, according to research from the organization, nationally only 20% of girls engage in at least 60 minutes of daily physical activity. Barriers identified for this lack of activity include girls’ concerns about body changes and the need for a sports bra.
“We are always looking for partnerships and resources that support student athletes and remove financial barriers to participation,” Twyman said. “After submitting information about our female athletes, their sports and the number of items requested, the organization promptly followed up with approval and shipping details.”
The sports bras will be distributed to student athletes in need at each middle and high school participating in basketball, cheerleading, field hockey, soccer, softball, tennis, track and field, volleyball, wrestling and general fitness programs.
“I hope these sports bras remove avoidable obstacles to participation, boost confidence and ensure that every recipient feels prepared and supported - physically and emotionally,” Twyman said. “More than anything, I hope this empowers all of our student athletes to continue to advocate for themselves, knowing that we will do all we can to set them up for success.”