HARRISON, NJ (Thursday, November 21, 2024) - Following a successful, record-breaking season on the pitch, NJ/NY Gotham FC announced today that the club’s flagship community initiative, Keep Her in the Game, surpassed its goal of impacting more than 500 youth players across New Jersey and New York in its first three months.

Launched in August 2024, Keep Her in the Game was developed to address the disproportionate rates at which adolescent girls opt out of sports. The research-backed initiative offers curated resources and data-informed programming to players, coaches, and parents in the region, to help motivate and empower middle school-aged girls and gender expansive youth to stay active and involved in sports.

Highlights of the inaugural season of Keep Her in the Game include:

• Over 800 coaches, girls and their families attended the launch celebration at Red Bull Arena – which featured 200+ girls participating in the pre-game ceremony ahead of the Gotham FC vs. Chelsea FC Women match on August 19, 2024.
• Thirty local youth club teams participated in the inaugural cohort during the fall of 2024. More than 30 coaches received specialized training, providing them with guidance on how to implement the Keep Her in the Game curriculum and better address the challenges that face young girls.
• The Keep Her in the Game curriculum, developed by Girls Leadership, includes 16 curriculum activities designed specifically for adolescent girls to build their confidence and foster a supportive and inclusive team culture.
• More than 70 parents and caregivers took part in a workshop, which provided access to tools to raise resilient young athletes.

“In just a few months, Keep Her in the Game created a meaningful impact in our community, laying the groundwork to help young girls in our area remain engaged in sports while developing essential leadership skills that will serve them for life," said Nan Vogel, Gotham FC SVP, Partnerships, In-Game Experience, and Community. “This has been a landmark year for women’s sports, but there is still work to be done. The initial feedback from program participants is profound, reaffirming our need to be active in this space. We are excited to continue to grow this program alongside our partners and expand its powerful reach in the years to come.”

In addition to the coach training sessions and curriculum, the initiative offered young players once-in-a-lifetime experiences, such as visits from Gotham FC players at their local club practices, which have so far reached more than 100 youth. These interactions offered participants a unique opportunity to engage with professional athletes, fostering inspiration and a deeper connection to the sport. Notably, Gotham FC goalkeeper Michelle Betos has provided valuable support throughout the program, including participating in initial research sessions conducted at clubs to inform the program and sharing stories with both coaches and parents about the importance of these key figures in her life.

“Keep Her in the Game has provided myself and other club coaches with invaluable resources to better understand the common challenges that girls and gender expansive youth face, and how we can better support them,” said Keep Her in the Game Coach Matt Perrella. “If I can implement and facilitate even 10 percent of the curriculum, I am confident I can keep our girls ‘in the game.’”

Gotham FC plans to expand the program to reach 1,000 girls within its first full year. The club will also establish a Youth Leadership Council composed of a group of high school players who have demonstrated exceptional leadership skills while “staying in the game.” Keep Her in the Game will leverage their voices to directly shape the evolution of the program.

Keep Her in the Game was created in partnership with the non-profit Girls Leadership and social impact advisor Charter Oak Advisory. The initiative's initial success was made possible through strategic partnerships with New Jersey Youth Soccer and South Bronx United, along with crucial support from the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund.

Gotham FC looks forward to welcoming a new group of Keep Her in the Game teams this spring, as well as activating Gotham FC's devoted fans and supporters to further grow initiative efforts. Visit gothamfc.com/keepherinthegame to learn more and get involved.

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