NFHS to Host First-Ever Women and Sport Leadership Virtual Summit in May

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (February 1, 2022) —In pursuit of the continued advancement of educational and competitive opportunities for women in sports, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) is hosting its first-ever Better Together: Women and Sport Leadership Virtual Summit on May 1-3.

The three-day virtual event features discussion from influential female leaders at all three levels of sport. It is designed to develop meaningful, actionable solutions to continue the growth of women in sports through coaching, officiating and administration.

“Title IX’s passage nearly 50 years ago served as the flagship legislation for the growth of high school girls athletic programs,” said Dr. Karissa Niehoff, NFHS CEO. “The Better Together: Women and Sport Leadership Virtual Summit strives to build on that growth, assisting attendees in connecting the skills learned in activities to those associated with being an effective leader.”

Through the virtual summit, participants can also expect to learn how to identify and articulate their personal strengths; identify gender stereotypes that create barriers; understand the importance of mentorship; and understand the value of advocating for other women.

Niehoff opens the virtual summit and its “Breaking Down Barriers” session at 6 p.m. Eastern time on Sunday, May 1. She will be joined during the three days by fellow featured speakers Dr. Jen Welter, the first female NFL coach and a sports psychologist; Betsy Butterick, a communication specialist and former collegiate and professional basketball coach; and Violet Palmer, a retired collegiate and professional basketball official who now serves as the NBA Referee Operations Manager and is the coordinator of women’s basketball officials for the Big Sky, Pac-12, Western Athletic and West Coast Conferences.

Welter highlights the inaugural event’s opening general session at 6:45 p.m. on May 1. A female trailblazer in her own right, Welter was the first female to coach in the NFL, having worked with Arizona Cardinals linebackers in 2015. She previously coached the Texas Revolution of Champions Indoor Football (CIF). It was with the Revolution that Welter also competed as the first female running back in a men’s professional league in 2014. The coaching roles proved to be a springboard to other opportunities. Welter most recently served as a defensive specialist for the Atlanta Legends of the Alliance of American Football (AAF). As a player, Welter had a highly decorated career in women’s professional football, including four world championships and eight all-star selections. She also won gold medals earlier in her career as a member of Team USA in the 2010 and 2013 International Federation of American Football’s (IFAF) Women’s World Championship.

“Reimagining Through Innovation” lays the foundation for day two, which begins with Butterick hosting the second general session at 2 p.m. on Monday, May 2. A former coach with college- and WNBA-coaching experience, Butterick uses her unique background to help improve communication for individuals from the locker room to the boardroom. She meets coaches where they are and supports the growth that they’re looking to make. Through her work as a communication specialist, Butterick also helps teams improve communication effectiveness while working collaboratively to create positive change at all levels of the team.

The third and final day of the virtual summit, coined the “Realizing Your Power” session, kicks off at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, May 2. Following the second day of moderated panel discussion at 3 p.m., the virtual summit draws to a close as retired basketball official Violet Palmer bookends the event as its closing general session speaker at 4 p.m.

Boasting experience in the NBA, WNBA and NCAA, Palmer made history in 1997 when she officiated an NBA game, making her the first woman to do so for a men’s professional sporting event. That same year, she also officiated the inaugural WNBA Championship. Palmer added to her legacy nearly a decade later when she became the first woman to oversee a NBA postseason game, and, in 2014, became the first woman to officiate an all-star game of any major sport in the United States. A native of Lynwood, California, she was a star point guard at nearby Compton (California) High School. Palmer helped later lead Cal Poly Pomona University to back-to-back NCAA Division II national championships (1985, 1986).

Breakout sessions led by esteemed coaches, administrators and officials follow introductory remarks on each day of the virtual summit. They feature discussion from experts with experience working alongside the Little League World Series, USA Track and Field, NCAA, Atlantic Coast Conference, Pac-12, and state high school athletic/activity associations.

For more information and to register for the Better Together: Women and Sport Leadership virtual summit, please visit: meetings.nfhs.org/btwls22/.