The Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport at the University of Minnesota, under the leadership of Nicole M. LaVoi, PhD, director and senior lecturer in the School of Kinesiology, has unveiled the Body Confident Sport initiative, a pioneering effort aimed at building body confidence in 11- to 17-year-old girls and individuals across the full gender spectrum involved in sports. The program, developed in collaboration with the Centre for Appearance Research, Nike, and Dove, combines coach education with user-friendly curriculum and guides. LaVoi emphasizes the groundbreaking collaboration between academic and industry partners, with the initiative showing scientific evidence of improving self-esteem and body confidence in clinical trials involving over 1,200 girls. The initiative addresses the impact of body talk on athletes, seeking to shift the conversation from appearance to abilities and contribute to positive cultural changes in girls’ sports.

Nicole M. LaVoi, PhD, director of the Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport and senior lecturer in the School of Kinesiology, was interviewed extensively in a December 20, 2023, PopSugar.com piece, “Toxic Coaching Can Kill Young Athletes’ Confidence — and the Effects May Last For Years.” The article discusses the long-lasting impact of coaches’ comments on young athletes, with Olympic gymnast Laurie Hernandez and dancer Alyssa Larsen sharing personal experiences. LaVoi emphasizes the significant influence coaches have on self-perceptions, confidence, and body image, highlighting the need for positive coaching approaches that prioritize fun, personal improvement, and discourage comparisons. The article also mentions Body Confident Sport, a campaign by Nike and Dove in collaboration with Dr. LaVoi and the Tucker Center which aims to guide coaches toward body-positive coaching styles and improve young athletes’ body confidence.

Nicole M. LaVoi, PhD, director of the Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport and senior lecturer in the School of Kinesiology, is featured in the fourth episode of “About Time,” a hudl + WeCOACH YouTube podcast focusing on the journey of women in sports. The podcast discusses Dr. LaVoi’s groundbreaking research on the challenges faced by women coaches, highlighting the significant increase in the percentage of women head coaches according to the recent Women in College Coaching Report Card. The conversation delves into the impact of media on women’s sports and the crucial need for a supportive culture for women coaches. The overall aim of the podcast series is to provide insightful conversations and learning opportunities for women and girls in sports, emphasizing the importance of representation and empowerment through sports participation.

Nicole M. LaVoi, PhD, director of the Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport and senior lecturer in the School of Kinesiology, was a featured speaker at the November 3 USTA Northern Annual Meeting & Conference with her talk entitled “What Everyone Needs to Know About the Tennis Workplace.” The regional conference, “Rallying for a Healthier Tomorrow,” in Eagan, MN, brings together tennis industry leaders to learn from industry experts, network with other program providers and contribute expertise and perspective to address the growth of tennis within their communities.

Nicole M. LaVoi, PhD, director of the Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport and senior lecturer in the School of Kinesiology, will keynote the Women in Ski Coaching Association’s (WSCA) 2023 Women in Ski Coaching Summit in Park City, UT, on Monday October 16. LaVoi’s keynote presentation is on “Keeping Girls in Sport.” The conference will be “a combination of professional development and education in ski coaching specific skills” with the mission “to provide an in-person opportunity for women coaches to build connections, share knowledge, and learn together.”

On Wednesday, October 11, Nicole M. LaVoi, PhD, director of the Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport and senior lecturer in the School of Kinesiology, along with Dr. Nancy Lough (Chief Academic Officer, Sport Innovation Institute, University of Nevada, Las Vegas), Alysse Soll (CEO, Underdog Advisory and Board Chair, Women in Sports Tech), and Marilou McFarlane (Founder & CEO, Women in Sports Tech), will host a panel on leadership at the 5th Annual Rose Bowl Institute Women’s Empowerment Symposium 2023. The symposium seeks to “provide insight and working knowledge of societal and cultural topics, health, and more presented by women experts, business leaders, and former college and professional athletes.” LaVoi’s team will stream their panel presentation on “Women in Sports Innovation” to those registered for the symposium.

Nicole M. LaVoi, PhD, director of the Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport and senior lecturer in the School of Kinesiology, appeared in a video produced by Angel City FC and Gatorade for the Women’s World Cup Equity House. LaVoi Sarah Spain of ESPN, serve together on the Women’s Advisory Board for Gatorade. The video looks into the media’s role in shaping perceptions and overcoming gender bias.

Nicole M. LaVoi, PhD, director of the Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport and senior lecturer in the School of Kinesiology, conducted a workshop with a delegation of high level coaches and sport administrators from Singapore sponsored the U.S. Department of State Sports Visitor Program. The workshop was about women in coaching and reducing gender stereotypes in coaching through the Tucker Center’s unique Coaching HER program.

Nicole M. LaVoi, PhD, director of the Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport and senior lecturer in the School of Kinesiology, and Dr. Nancy Lough, Tucker Center affiliated scholar and professor in the Department of Educational Psychology, Leadership, and Higher Education at UNLV, were interviewed in a CNN video, “This professional sport has the smallest gender pay gap. Here’s what it got right.” LaVoi and Lough comment on the pay difference between men and women in both prize money and sponsorships, and counter the false narratives around why the differential exists.