Applications are now closed for our 2021 Program.
Join us in 2022!

Eligibility

​Any athlete entering into or currently enrolled in high school is welcome to apply and we encourage cis girls, trans girls, non-binary youth, gender non-conforming youth, gender queer youth and any girl-identifying youth to be a part of our inclusive, welcoming space. Selected participants will join a new cohort (regardless of their year in high school) and work through our leadership program.

We think this program is a great opportunity for lots of different folks, like:

• Those who have a few years of ultimate experience under their belt and are interested in their leadership development
• Those who are interested in helping improve the culture and dynamics on their current teams
• Those who are interested in giving back to the community and working to make it a better place for everyone
• Those who are interested in future paid positions in ultimate (coach, league/tournament director, organizer, etc.)
• Those who are interested in investing in meaningful relationships with others in the program
• Those who are interested in learning, making mistakes and improving themselves
• Those who want to listen to and better understand the experiences of others

If any of those listed above speak to you, please consider applying to our program!

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​“I love that through GURLS I was able to gain more confidence in myself on and off the field. Now I am able to be an example to the younger generation, and especially girls who want to join the sport, but might be afraid to.”
​- Goodness Nwakudu, Year 3 GURLS participant

Classrooms & Cohorts

We select 10 individuals for each new cohort to start in our 1st GURLS Year. Each GURLS year builds on one another, so whether participants are freshman or seniors (or in-between), we believe they will find value in every year they are enrolled in GURLS.

Each of our 6 classroom sessions are 4 hours long, which includes a 45 minute meal break (don't worry, we provide the food!). Participants spend this time developing and strengthening their unique leadership style through lectures, activities, discussion sessions and project work. We also ask Guest Speakers to join us and share their perspectives as leaders in ultimate and their professional fields. Participants design and complete a service project to present at our GURLS graduation, which takes place in December.

We strongly encourage participants to attend all of our classroom sessions, but we understand that sometimes this is simply not possible. We will never turn away applicants who are unable to attend all of our sessions (and therefore encourage everyone to apply, regardless of their availability), but we may take attendance into consideration when selecting our 10-person cohort.

​“Along with learning leadership skills, I have also learned that I am not alone in my love for the sport and drive for making it a more inclusive space for all. I have met some of the most incredible people through the program and I am so excited to see the impact we can all have on the ultimate community.” 
​- Mia Beeman-Weber, GURLS Alumni

​Application Process

Those interested in our program must complete an online application. The application consists of six sections:

1. Email Address
2. Personal Information 
3. Demographic Information (optional)
4. Availability & Transportation Needs
5. Program Interests
6. Personal Story: What challenges have you faced as an athlete? What do you hope to see change in the near future?

“GURLS connected me to girls like myself and taught me we had the power to generate real change through collaboration.”

- Chuc Luu, GURLS Alumni

Entry Into The Program

​Those interested in our program must complete an online application. Once participants are accepted, they are welcome to work with us for every year that they are enrolled in high school. At no point will participants ever pay a fee to access this program — it is our belief that leadership opportunities such as these should be free and accessible to all.

Benefits of the Program

​Once accepted into the program participants will:

• Increase their confidence and sense of voice
• Build stronger connections with their peers and community
• Understand how to be a strong leader
• Understand how to solve complex problems
• Learn essential project management skills
• Learn from other powerful and successful folks working in a variety of different professional fields

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Got questions about our program? You can find a list of frequently asked questions about our application process here.

Apply to GURLS Today!

Are you interested in applying to GURLS or know someone who would be?
Email us at gurlsprogram@bayareadisc.org to find out more about our 2022 Program!

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