Empowering Female Athletes - Course. Plus a Grant and VC pitch for investment

Unlocking Potential with girls, grants and angel investors in Youth Coaching

Discover how to coach girls effectively and learn about a new scalable aquatic platform, all in this episode, #59, of Heavy Or Not. Quick updates on multiple topics.

• CoachingHer supplies the free digital toolkit, created by Dr. Nicole LaVoi and the Tucker Center, by visiting Read.SwimISCA.org.

• Core psychological needs for female athletes: competence, choice, and care – presented as a simple cycle.

• The CoachingHer pyramid: physiological basics → safety → belonging → esteem → self‑actualization.

• Then, the second application for the $50,000 Moonshot Aquatics Grant. There is still hope for the funding for the AI Coaching Wizard.

• Lastly, we seek assistance from Angel investors to launch of a media‑first aquatic lifestyle brand that turns swimming into a scalable, inclusive community.

Access the free resources:

• https://read.swimisca.org

1. Introduction to the CoachingHer Program

• Purpose & Vision – A free video and course designed to help coaches effectively coach girls and women.

• Why Coaching Matters – Coaches are a key factor in whether girls enter, stay, or drop out of sport.

• Creator Background – Dr. Nicole M. LaVoi: former tennis coach, scholar‑educator, Director of the Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport.

• Core Issue Highlighted – Unconscious gender bias & stereotypes that hurt girls’ self‑perceptions.

• Toolkit Features – Evidence‑based, on‑demand digital resources; bookmarkable, pause‑and‑play, device‑agnostic.

• Upcoming Modules – Body‑confident coaching, de‑stigmatizing menstruation, mental‑health, body‑image.

• Community Call‑to‑Action – Join, spread the word, become “her reason” to stay in sport.

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2. Accessing the Materials & Learning Management System (LMS)

• Link Provided –read.swimisca.org(redirects to the International Swim Coaches Association LMS).

• Free Availability – All CoachingHer resources are offered at no charge.

• Support & Funding – Program supported by the University of Minnesota, Nike, and other major sponsors.

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3. Mark Rauterkus’s Personal Coaching Context

• Location & Setting – Coach in Pittsburgh, PA; Assistant Coach at an independent girls‑only private school (akin to an international school).

• Observations on Coaching Girls vs. Boys/Co‑ed – Distinct approaches needed; emphasis on psychological needs.

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4. Psychological Needs Framework for Coaching Girls

• Three Core Needs (Cycle)

  1. Competence – Development and improvement of sport‑specific skills.

  2. Choice – Empowering athletes with self‑determination (e.g., attendance, skill focus, event selection).

  3. Care – Demonstrating genuine value and individualized attention.

• Reverse Ordering Mentioned – Care → Choice → Competence, emphasizing the cyclical nature.

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5. Pyramid of Athlete Needs (Adapted from CoachingHer/Tucker Center)

• Base Layer – Physiological Needs

  • Food, water, warmth, safety, appropriate pool environment, locker‑room logistics, travel considerations, weather conditions.

• Second Layer – Psychological/Safety Needs

  • Sense of belonging, love, relationships, team bonding, camaraderie, inclusion.

• Third Layer – Esteem Needs

  • Self‑pride, prestige, accomplishment, building confidence, avoiding belittlement.

• Top Layer – Self‑Actualization/Fulfillment

  • Achieving full potential, creative expression, personal growth.

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6. Grant & Funding Opportunities

• Moonshot Aquatics Grant – Version 2

  • $50,000 Letter‑of‑Intent (LOI) round; previous attempt unsuccessful, now re‑submitted with additional partners.

  • AI assistance used in drafting the application.

• Insights from Barry Healey

  • “If you don’t ask, you don’t get.” – Emphasis on persistence.

  • Grant outcomes often depend on reviewer bias, regional trends, and timing.

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7. Challenges Facing the Aquatic Industry

• Current Issues

  • Pool closures, disengaged parents, coach turnover, lack of unified brand, fragmented solutions, weak industry voices.

• Market Gap – No scalable, cohesive platform that ties together content, community, and commerce for swimming.

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8. Proposed Solution: A Scalable Aquatic Lifestyle Brand

• Concept Overview

  • Podcast → Platform → Evergreen training → National TV rollout.

• Leadership & Credentials

  • Mark Rauterkus (50+ years in swimming, 100+ published titles) backed by International Swim Coaches Association.

• Business Model Highlights

  • Media‑first approach targeting youth sport but extending across a lifetime.

  • Early‑bird opportunity: 150,000 USD for early entry; existing content & network already in place.

• Scalability & Execution

  • No prior aquatics experience required for participants.

  • Demonstrated metrics and rapid momentum.

• Positioning

  • “Ted Lasso for the pools” – delivering fun, sticky, inclusive swimming experiences.

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9. Closing Call‑to‑Action

• Invitation to Investors & Partners – “Let’s talk… big gusts of wind in our sails.”

• Final Thanks – Appreciation for the audience’s time and attention.