'Come and try a new sport': U of A Pandas helping Edmonton girls find their game
When Pandas wrestler Taylor McPherson entered the sport in Grade 7, it was to make a point.
"I was like, 'Oh, I can be tough, too. I'm just small, but I can be tough,'" the 4'11" 22-year-old recalled, laughing.
"It was a thing I kind of used to prove myself."
And over the years, she did make a point, perhaps to herself more than anyone else.
"It's made me stronger. It's given me a lot of life skills I can carry forward into a job," she said.
"Confidence wise, you know, it helps build it – but then sometimes it breaks it down. But then you have to rebuild it again. You don't always win…If you don't, it's a learning opportunity"
These are the lessons she and her teammates are trying to pass on to the younger generation through a free drop-in program for girls.
For Girls By Girls is a federally funded partnership between University of Alberta Pandas Athletics and the City of Edmonton that aims to introduce girls to different sports.
Once a week at the Terwillegar Recreation Centre, Pandas athletes will teach the basics of their sport to girls aged nine to 15.
The first session of the four-month program was hosted Jan. 10 by members of the Pandas' women's soccer team, including former midfielder and recent education graduate Megan Duro.
"The first rule: no hands, obviously… And then we did passing, we tried out different parts of the body that we use on the soccer field, and then at the end, we explained the game rules and got them to experience a game as well," Duro told CTV News Edmonton of the first clinic.
"It was so admirable to see them never touching a soccer ball before but were so willing to learn and try new skills."
In part, Duro attributes that enthusiasm to the pandemic, which has affected in-person learning and activities. But the pair of Pandas athletes also believe their students' excitement is the result of being given an opportunity to play and learn in an environment that doesn't have any financial or experience obligations.
"The drop-in program gives them the opportunity just to come and have fun," Duro said. "There's no expectation or certain skillset that you need to have either, so it just gives them a fun and inclusive environment just come and try a new sport."
"We keep seeing numbers go down in girls sport participation, and we want to see those numbers go up. In every sport," McPherson added. In 2021, a study found one in four Canadian girls who participated in sports at least once a week before the pandemic were hesitant about returning to it. It also found girls drop out of sport in their adolescent years at three times the rate of boys.
McPherson said she "jumped" at the mentoring opportunity.
"There's not as many women in wrestling as men, so I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to share the sport of wrestling with young girls."
Canadian Women & Sport, behind the 2021 study, suggested making sports more available to girls.
More information about For Girls By Girls is available online. Clinics are run as first come first served.
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Touria Izri
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Iran fires at suspected Israeli attack drones near Isfahan air base and nuclear site
Iran fired air defences at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan after spotting drones, which were suspected to be part of an Israeli attack in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
NEW After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
In his new book 'As Long as You Need', hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words.
LeBlanc says he plans to run in next election, under Trudeau's leadership
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc says he plans to run in the next election as a candidate under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership, amid questions about his rumoured interest in succeeding his longtime friend for the top job.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Trend Line Anger, pessimism towards federal government reach six-year high: Nanos survey
Most Canadians in March reported feeling angry or pessimistic towards the federal government than at any point in the last six years, according to a survey by Nanos Research.
Colin Jost names one celebrity who is great at hosting 'Saturday Night Live'
Colin Jost, who co-anchors Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update,' revealed who he thinks is one of the best hosts on the show.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Nearly half of China's major cities are sinking, researchers say
Nearly half of China's major cities are suffering 'moderate to severe' levels of subsidence, putting millions at risk of flooding especially as sea levels rise.
Judge says 'no evidence fully supports' murder case against Umar Zameer as jury starts deliberations
The judge presiding over the trial of a man accused of fatally running over a Toronto police officer is telling jurors the possible verdicts they may reach based on the evidence in the case.