In Las Vegas, a group of nearly 100 middle school girls were introduced to the transformative power of sports through the RUSH program at the UNLV Peter Johann Memorial Soccer Field. Funded by the Las Vegas Raiders and led by professors from the UNLV School of Public Health, RUSH aims to showcase the myriad benefits that sports can bring to young lives.
Dr. Jennifer Pharr, a professor of public health at UNLV, highlighted these benefits in her keynote address at the program’s launch. She spoke about how participating in sports can help girls develop critical life skills like leadership and goal-setting, as well as provide them with opportunities for scholarships and future participation in collegiate leagues.
Despite these advantages, research has shown that girls are more likely to drop out of sports than boys during middle school. This is why RUSH was designed specifically to encourage girls to continue playing sports into high school. Flag football was chosen as the core of the program due to its increasing popularity among young women and its potential for long-term success both on and off the field.
RUSH was created in response to a growing concern among teenagers during the pandemic: an alarming increase in anxiety and depression. Dr. Pharr emphasized that sports can be a powerful tool for helping girls navigate their teen years successfully, building confidence and resisting peer pressure while avoiding health challenges down the line. The ultimate goal of RUSH is to empower youth in Las Vegas and beyond with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive and succeed in all aspects of life.
With its focus on health benefits, academic achievement, and personal growth, RUSH is poised to become a game-changer for young women in Las Vegas and beyond.
