Bridging the Play Gap: Empowering women through sports
CLEVELAND — In the heart of Cleveland, a non-profit organization is making waves, not with professional athletes but with everyday women who share a love for sports. Play Gap, formerly known as the Northeast Ohio Women’s Sports Alliance, has been working with women in recreational sports since 2018. The 100% volunteer-run organization believes women everywhere should have equal access to safe, inclusive sports. Play Gap aims to build awareness, accessibility, and support for women’s sports opportunities in Ohio and beyond.
Elise Bigley, formerly an athlete for the Cleveland Fusion women’s tackle football team, found her season ended with an ACL tear in her inaugural year. However, this was not stopping her from continuing to be involved in the athletic community. With a professional background in digital marketing, she did freelance work for Fusion during her recovery, promoting the teams and the athlete’s stories. “These athletes each have incredible stories on and off the field.” Elise shared. “They have to balance so much as adults to play the sport they love, and it was so frustrating to me that no one knew about them. I wanted to change this.”
Play Gap began with the leaders of five Cleveland-based recreational women’s sports teams, who had come together to collaborate on obstacles they faced as teams- recruiting athletes, lack of funds, and lack of awareness for their teams within the community. Elise promoted the first fundraiser, a 2019 calendar, and met Barb Anthony through her fundraising purchase. Barb came to Elise, and with her nonprofit expertise as a licensed social worker, the two formalized the group as a non-profit to help centralize marketing for the teams and alleviate a few of the challenges they were facing.
Today, Play Gap partners with over 20 Ohio teams, leagues, and sports organizations, connecting women with opportunities and supporting leaders with organizational challenges.
Play Gap’s mission is to champion equity and accessibility in sports for adult women. Serving as a resource for women wanting to engage in sports, whether as players, coaches, volunteers, or spectators, Play Gap has become a vital force in the community. Hosting events to build camaraderie among women, Play Gap is more than just a sports organization – it’s a community builder.
“Athletes and coaches face inevitable transitions,” says Elise. “Combined with the systemic gap in resources and media coverage for women’s athletics, it’s difficult for women to find, enter, and stay in sport in adulthood.” Play Gap envisions a world where all women, regardless of their age, skill level, or socioeconomic background, are empowered to play sports as adults and have the support and access to do so.
Play Gap invites the community to stay updated on local women’s sports by following their social media accounts and attending games and events. The organization is currently seeking new board members and has openings for volunteers in more project-based roles as well.
In a special message to the Plain Township community, Play Gap echoes, “It is never too late to get back into sports.” With a mission to make women happier and healthier through sports, Play Gap encourages adult women of all ages and skill levels to tackle their athletic journey.
As Play Gap continues to redefine the narrative around women’s sports, the impact goes beyond the field – it’s a testament to the strength of the community and the enduring spirit of women in sports.
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