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

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

Keywords

Coaching girls, CoachingHer, Dr. Nicole LaVoi, Tucker Center, unconscious gender bias, psychological needs, competence, choice, care, pyramid of needs, physiological safety, belonging, esteem, self‑actualization, swimming coaches, International Swim Coaches Association, Moonshot Aquatics Grant, $50,000, angel investors, aquatic media platform, podcast, youth sport, inclusive swimming, community building, Ted Lasso for pools.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.