The Missing Ingredient to Everything You Were Taught About Coaching Leadership, Management, and Communication: Adapting with a New Recipe

- CAMBRIA ROOM -

A deconstruction of outdated/ inapplicable methods of teaching leadership, communication theory and organizational communication for management, and what to do instead to avoid coaching burnout and to better meet your athletic administrations, coaching colleagues, staff, athletes, and collective audience where they're at.

Networking & Advice: Making a Career Move

Featuring: Julie Manning, Missy Price, Micaella Riche, Kelly Diercks, Vanessa Fuchs, Pam Baker, Alicia Pelton, Veronica Alvarez, Malaika Underwood, Mary Ciampa, Dan McKane

- M CLUB -

This time is set aside for individuals who are looking for a new job, or think they want to make a move to a different level (high school > college > pro), and talk with individuals who hire and have experience. Getting a job is about networking and building relationships. Are you looking for a new job? Are you looking to hire coaches? ... use this time!!

Empowering Women Coaches: Exploring Well-Being Through Hooks' Feminist Lens

Missy Price, PhD & Coach Jen Larrick

- CAMBRIA ROOM -

This presentation delves into the intersection of women's coaching, their well-being, and bell hooks' feminist theory. It examines how feminist principles can shape the experiences and growth of women coaches, emphasizing the importance of self-care, community, and empowerment in both personal and professional development. Through hooks' insights, we explore ways to challenge traditional power dynamics and foster inclusive, supportive environments for women in coaching roles.

From Setbacks to Success: How to Fail, RESET, & Rise

Featuring: Ashley Kuchar, PhD & Danae Frentz

Moderated: Candace Hogue, PhD

- M CLUB -

Resilience isn’t about just “pushing through”—it’s about knowing how to adapt in the face of adversity. True resilience balances mental toughness with self-compassion, helping coaches and athletes navigate challenges and perform at their best without sacrificing well-being. In this session, you will learn RESET strategies to manage downward spirals, turn failure into growth, and build a culture of excellence.

Navigating and Transforming Sports Systems: A Values-Based Approach to Advocacy and Change

Erin Ayala PhD, LP, CMPC

- CAMBRIA ROOM -

How do you create meaningful change in sports organizations that weren't designed with everyone in mind? Join us for an engaging workshop that explores the fine line between staying committed to change and knowing when to pivot. Participants will identify their core values and explore how these align with their current roles in sports. Dr. Ayala will identify the real challenges often faced by women in sports organizations. We'll tackle the cognitive dissonance many experience in the industry and provide practical strategies to address these challenges. Participants will learn effective methods for navigating systemic barriers while maintaining their psychological wellbeing. We will explore techniques for making decisions that align with personal and professional values, even in challenging environments. The session will also cover approaches for creating sustainable, long-term change within organizations, along with developing the advocacy skills necessary to make a lasting impact in sports.

The Sideline Blueprint: Coaching With Purpose, Passion and Perspective

Brianna Edwards, M.Ed

- M CLUB -

The Sideline Blueprint: Coaching with Purpose, Passion, and Perspective is an intentional discussion designed to help coaches reflect on their ‘why,’ maintain their passion, and develop a broader perspective in leadership. This session will provide real-life coaching insights, practical strategies, and interactive discussions and scenarios to navigate challenges, build strong relationships, and create lasting impact beyond the game.

A Welcomed Disruption

A positive encouragement on how we add value to every seat we occupy even though it appears as if we are disrupting the flow of what has been.

We are thrilled to welcome Veronica Alvarez to the 2025 Women Coaches Symposium as this year's Jean K. Freeman Keynote Speaker!

Veronica Alvarez; Athletics - Coordinator of Player Development for Latin America, MLB Girls Baseball Ambassador, USA Baseball Women's National Team Manager, Catbird Seat Advisors Co-Founder

Veronica is a world-renowned athlete, coach and player on the Women’s National Team, and manager and leader in baseball. In her new venture as Co-Founder of Catbird Seat Advisors she is dedicated to empowering women coaching in men's sports. Veronica will inspire, motivate and encourage attendees to see the value they add in every seat they occupy, as we simultaneously disrupt the status quo.

Read more about this year's Jean K. Freeman Keynote Speaker

Unite Your Team: An Exploration of psychological safety and implicit bias in sports

Jennifer Jacobs, Ed.D. & Dr. Brooke Rundle (she/they), LPCC, CMPC

- CAMBRIA ROOM -

This session explores how psychological safety fosters athlete confidence and connection while addressing the role implicit bias plays in coaching and team dynamics. Through interactive discussions and practical strategies, coaches will gain tools to build cohesive teams where athletes and coaches can thrive.

From Research to Reality: Transforming Sport for All

Micaëlla Riché

- INDOOR CLUB ROOM -

As an elite athlete, coach, coach educator, and Director of Basketball Operation for Lay Up Youth Basketball in Toronto, Micaëlla brings research to practice in all sport spaces and embeds sport for development approaches at every level. Learn about how this approach and movement leads to better sport experiences and outcomes for both coaches and participants, creating a more impactful and inclusive sporting environment.

Running for Their Lives: A Multidisciplinary Discussion on Female Athlete Health & Wellbeing

Moderator: Nicole M. LaVoi, PhD; Panelists: Amanda Russell (athlete & producer), Dr. Heather Bergeson (sports medicine), Hayley Russell, PhD (sport psychology), & Anna Goorevich, MSc (sociocultural)

Discover the untold story behind an epidemic that has long evaded public scrutiny – RED-S.

"Running For Their Lives" is an educational awareness campaign that delves deep into the shadows of overtraining, underfueling, and supporting societal pressures plaguing female athletes. It peels away layers of secrecy, dispels misleading truths, and confronts myths about health, shedding light on a threat that has silently infiltrated the world of sports.

Education is the first step in breaking the cycle. Join us for an engaging panel discussion featuring Amanda Russell, Dr. Heather Bergeson, Hayley Russell, PhD, and Anna Goorevich as we challenge the notion that lean equals healthy and that more is always better.

"Running for Their Lives" sparks an essential conversation, unveiling the hidden perils of silence around women's periods and igniting a path toward transformative health and well-being."
~ Bartolomeo Rongone, CEO, Bottega Veneta

Watch the trailer for Running for Their Lives

WCS Program & Schedule

Join us for a post-WCS Happy Hour!