With it being Women’s History Month, I was looking back on my formal education and reflecting on the women who have shaped me. Ms. Johnson immediately came to mind. Sitting in her 6th-grade class, in the corner on the 2nd floor at Cleveland Street Elementary School in Orange, NJ, she held my classmates and me accountable while allowing us to be ourselves. Ms. Johnson taught me how to be responsible without having to say it. For example, she designated me, along with Faruq (my classmate and...

As a professional, former athlete, an official and now a parent of a middle school athlete, I’ve learned that parenting in sports goes well beyond signing up for a team or sitting in the stands. Our role begins even before a child chooses a sport by encouraging physical activity (yes, going outside and playing), helping them discover what they enjoy, and supporting their first steps into athletics. Over time, our responsibilities shift to ensuring balance, protecting them, and guiding them...

Thinking back on my life, I realize sports have played an intricate role in shaping who I am today. My early "playing field" were on...