Lydia Scrofani saw an opportunity and niche in girl’s athletics. One that would allow her to “build a girl” from the inside out. As a result, Girls Sports Academy (GSA) was born in Williamsburg, VA.
“I've coached young girls for over 20 years, and I felt something was missing in youth sports,” says Lydia. That “something” was a foundation of confidence and resiliency in young ladies.
The GSA mission is to develop this within each girl, using a variety of sports, to help build young girls who will become impactful, successful young women.
Where Girls Sports Academy Differs in Sports-Specific Culture
Lydia says that they can do this by allowing girls to play 5-10 sports in a given session enabling players to build muscle groups, tactile skills, and esteem. This is contrary to “sports-specific culture,” and Lydia spends a lot of her time educating others on how GSA is better than a year-round commitment to one sport.
“It’s important for me to stand out among sports programs promising scholarships and demanding commitment at a young age,” says Lydia. “It’s not for everyone and it’s difficult for most girls. If I can help parents see another option for their daughters, it will help them make the best decision for their child.”
Injury and high burnout rates are two of the downfalls she sees to typical sports approaches.
Lydia says that GSA is for the girl who doesn’t have it all figured out but wants to see what else she can do; and who is willing to pursue multiple sports to become a better overall athlete.
In her article “Confidence in Girls,” she talks about the importance of risk-taking to push boundaries, which helps girls realize their full potential. “There is so much work to be done building a solid foundation for girls to thrive in sports and in life. I'm excited to enhance the youth sports experience,” says Lydia.
Another challenge that she and her team address is the number of kids that can’t play sports because they can’t afford to buy the equipment. GSA offers access to all equipment for a rental fee. Players can take items home and even work out a payment plan if they choose to keep them.
Meaningful Wins
Lydia has coached for over two decades and any coach will tell you, there are always games and coachable moments that are more memorable than others, but the more meaningful moments, for her, are often in little things.
From the beginning, she has always stayed up late painting plaques and making homemade awards for each girl. Each award bears custom sentiments like “Tough Cookie,” “Heart Award,” or “Butterfly Award—most improved caterpillar.” She does this because she wants the girls to know that she cares about them, not as athletes but as people.
“Time and time again I’ll see a girl I used to coach that’s now in high school or college who will tell me they still have that award hanging in their room,” says Lydia. “That is what makes my heart happy–to know I made a positive impact in even a small way in their sports experience, and it’s why I continue coaching.”
The sentiment is echoed by parents, like this quote from one of the player’s mothers. “Empowering our daughter on the field has led to success in school, various other sports in addition to soccer (basketball, volleyball, swimming), and community engagement,” Mary Beth Sablan. “We are grateful Maddie had this experience so early on with such an impactful coach.”
About the Coach(es)
Between licensing, degrees, and her experience, Lydia’s background is impressive. Her website lists her personal player history and the teams she’s coached, such as William & Mary, Farleigh Dickinson University, and Warhill Varsity Women’s Soccer.
But Lydia isn’t the only one. There are five other coaches offering a wide range of talent and expertise to the cause.
Additionally, Lydia has two other jobs, working as a part-time instructor for CNU’s Luter School with over 70 students and she’s the Varsity Girls’ Soccer Coach at Warhill High School. Add to it, she’s a mother to two children, also athletes with busy schedules.
About the Programs
GSA offers summer leagues, overnight camps, and afterschool programs. Currently, they meet at the Kingsmill Athletic Club, but Lydia hopes to utilize school fields and the Jamestown 4H site in the near future.
Sports offered by GSA includes: soccer, field hockey, lacrosse, basketball, pickleball, yoga, and Taekwondo. Lydia says, “We also look forward to introducing sailing, rowing, volleyball, and XC.”
Know someone interested in signing up? You can learn more about their programs and this year’s ”Building the Girl Retreat,” on their website: https://www.girlssportsacademy.org/