Coaching Girls | Nicole Lavoi 

This module is central to Coaching HER® and will outline common coach perceptions about coaching girls, and how these perceptions can undermine girls’ experience in sport. It will also help you coach girls more effectively, so that more girls get into, engage, and stay in sport. 

Name, Image, and Likeness | Stephanie Grady

Stephanie’s presentation will delve into the unique opportunities that NIL provides female athletes and the strategic steps they can take to maximize their influence. She will cover key state and university-level rules and regulations athletes need to be aware of, including the current status of high school athletes in Wisconsin, and what they can do now to best position themselves when their NIL window of opportunity opens. She will explore how athletes can leverage personal branding, develop essential communication skills, and build lasting partnerships that extend beyond their athletic careers. Attendees will walk away with actionable insights to help female athletes not only succeed in the NIL space but also build a foundation for long-term success and impact.

Empowering the Future: Leveraging Sport to Unlock Girls' Potential, Build Leaders, and Foster Holistic Well-Being. | Alicia Pelton & Anna Goorevich

This interactive workshop meets coaches where they are, providing practical tools to create environments where girls thrive. Through Caring, Competence, and Choice, we’ll explore how to build trust and inclusive spaces (Caring), empower girls with the skills and confidence to grow (Competence), and give them autonomy in their sports experience (Choice). Topics will include fostering leadership, creating menstruation-friendly environments, and hidden issues about body confidence Ithat impact engagement. Whether you're new to coaching or a seasoned leader, this session will help you take the next step in supporting girls’ success in sport and life.

U.S. Center for Mental Health & Sport | Margaret Domka

The U.S. Center for Mental Health & Sport (US-MHS) offers specialized training on risk and protective factors in the sports environment. Their programming has emerged as a leader in athlete mental health, focusing on behaviors and initiatives to support athletes’ well-being. US-MHS provides best practices for athletes, coaches, officials, parents, and administrators, drawing on scholarly research to define each role in supporting athlete mental health. Aiming to raise awareness and prevent issues like depression, anxiety, and suicide, US-MHS partners with organizations like US Youth Soccer and the American Youth Soccer Organization. They have also collaborated with US Soccer.

Peak 9 Integrating Mental Skills Training into Your Daily Coaching and Self-Development  | Stephanie Gabbert

Stephanie’s background in psychology has helped mold a curriculum for clubs, coaches, and parents to better understand their role in building confidence for girls 11-18 years old. By teaching our girls to become advocates for themselves, they will play with higher levels of confidence, courage, and resilience so they are more likely to try new things and improve.

Dr. Nicole LaVoi

Director of the Tucker Center

This year's symposium will feature Nicole LaVoi, Ph.D., author, Senior Lecturer, and Director of the Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport at the University of Minnesota. A tennis coach turned scholar, her multidisciplinary research answers critical questions that can make a difference in the lives of sport stakeholders—particularly, girls and women. Known internationally for her work, Dr. LaVoi most recently presented at the Olympic Games in Paris, France. 

Stephanie Grady

CEO of Influential Athlete

Stephanie Grady is the co-founder and CEO of Influential Athlete, an NIL coaching company empowering elite female student-athletes in high school, college, and club sports to maximize their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) potential. A two-time Emmy-winning journalist and former competitive figure skater, Stephanie combines her media and athletic experience to provide tailored NIL guidance. With nearly 20 years as a TV news anchor, she brings a unique perspective, helping athletes, families, and coaches navigate the NIL landscape and build a foundation for long-term success.

Alicia Pelton

Coaching HER Program Director

As Tucker Center Coaching HER Program Director and Founder of the Athletic Leadership Alliance, Alicia shares over 30 years of experience in sports across various roles. A track and field student-athlete at UW-Madison, Alicia has a deep appreciation for the female athlete pathway. She has been instrumental in promoting female participation and leadership, co-founding the Wisconsin Women’s Soccer Advisory Council, and growing girls’ hockey in Wisconsin. 

Margaret Domka

Executive Director of the U.S Center for Mental Health and Sport

Margaret Domka, a Wisconsin native, is the co-founder of the U.S Center for Mental Health & Sport, and current Executive Director. A former FIFA Women’s World Cup Referee, Margaret is a PhD candidate at Clemson University. Her team highlights often-overlooked mental health challenges in sports and is dedicated to helping athletes and their support networks #StayInTheGame.

Stephanie Gabbert

CEO & Founder Peak 9

Stephanie Gabbert brings over 25 years of experience in sports as an elite coach, administrator, and program developer, with a passion for empowering women and girls as well as underserved youth. Her distinguished 17-year tenure as a successful Division I women’s soccer coach and US Youth National Team coach highlights her deep commitment to the sport. Through her work with Peak 9, Stephanie is focused on empowering female youth and college athletes, teams, and coaches by developing mental performance skills that drive success both on and off the field. In 2024 alone, she has delivered nationally recognized Peak 9 programs to over 1,000 athletes and coaches from more than 15 states across the country.

Anna Goorevich

Tucker Center 

Anna Goorevich is a doctoral student pursuing a PhD in Kinesiology/Sport Sociology at the University of Minnesota, where she also serves as a Research Assistant in the Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport. Goorevich’s research interests revolve around the gendering of coaching and sport leadership, gender identity and sport participation, and menstruation and sport.