About Us

PowerPlay NYC is a 501(c)(3) dedicated to educating and empowering girls through sports, teaching life skills and building self-confidence and self-esteem for life! Our programs provide girls, ages 7-18, with the opportunity to feel connected, competent and confident, so they can make positive decisions about their lives and learn how to “live healthy.”

Our programs reflect the fundamental principles of PowerPlay:

• Girls who participate in sports are more likely to feel better about their bodies and have higher levels of self-esteem than girls who do not play sports.


• Many of the fundamental life skills for success can be learned through sports participation.


• It is critically important to continually provide opportunities for girls to engage in sports and fitness to encourage a lifelong commitment to an active, healthy lifestyle.

Since 2000, the PowerPlay STARS (Sports Training and Role Models for Success) programs have been offered in collaboration with more than 25 schools and community-based organizations citywide, serving approximately 400 girls per year. Our programming has been offered in all five boroughs of New York City and is concentrated in low-income and underserved communities.

PowerPlay programs are distinguished by our providing a "girls only" space and female coaches, the two elements that are most significant in engaging girls in sport participation.

The PowerPlay program format is unique in its combination of providing focused sport skill development and an age-appropriate life skills curriculum that provides awareness of, and interaction with, female role models. PowerPlay program coaches are trained in both (i) coaching skills to impart sound fundamental sports skills and (ii) facilitation skills to engage participants in interactive learning and participation in life skills development

PowerPlay’s programs and resources include:

• STARS Series, an after-school sports/healthy living program for girls ages 8-14 which teaches fundamental sports/fitness skills and utilizes the GoGirlGo curriculum created by the Women’s Sports foundation.


• SuperSTARS Summer Leadership Academy, an eight-week summer program, which provides opportunities for high school girls to (i) be physically active, (ii) explore a variety of careers, (iii) receive training in important career and life skills and (iv) benefit from supportive relationships with positive female role models.


• SuperSTARS provides monthly programming and events, including college trips, sports and cultural events, mentoring lunches and community service for Leadership Academy participants.


• STARWorks, a career mentoring program during which SuperSTARS participants are assigned to two week mini internships with NYC businesses and organizations including HBO, IMG, New York Sports Clubs, Brooklyn Cyclones, The After School Corporation, New York City Sports Commission.


• PowerPlay Days, are half or full day events with sports clinics and educational workshops on topics such as nutrition, goal setting and gender equity.


• NYC Girls Sports Directory, a free, user-friendly resource identifying where girls can participate in sports in New York City.


• RePlay, a program to collect gently used sporting goods which are then used by PowerPlay and also re-distributed to other community programs in need of equipment.


• Coaches Workshops, coach training sessions for PowerPlay staff coaches and for onsite staff of partner organizations.


• Staff Training Workshops for youth organization staff to help them implement engaging and effective youth sports and recreation programs including: Sport for All; Teambuilding for Success; Girls Got Game; Powerful Positive Coaching.

"My experience at PowerPlay has been fantastic. Every day we learn something new. My life has been completely changed by this experience, from the way I eat to the way I speak. My life will never be the same again." Christie R. says about her PowerPlay Summer Sports Leadership Academy Experience.