The inaugural Sensi Fit Women's Basketball Strength & Conditioning Conference, held on June 7 at George Mason University, marked a key milestone in promoting research and support for female athletes in collegiate sports. Organized by George Mason's Strength & Conditioning department in collaboration with Sensi Fit, the event aimed to educate on the unique challenges faced by female athletes and foster a supportive network for strength and conditioning coaches in women's basketball.
The conference drew an impressive turnout of a diverse group of strength and conditioning professionals that came together to share insights, engage in meaningful discussions, and learn from one another in a collaborative environment.
Dr. Faith Brown, associate director of strength & conditioning and head strength and conditioning coach for women's basketball, played a central role in organizing the event. Her commitment to amplifying overlooked areas of women's sports research was a driving force behind the conference.
"There isn't enough research being done studying women, and you'll literally see in the literature that people often don't want to study women athletes because of hormone fluctuations due to menstrual cycles and how the hormone fluctuations introduces variability into interpreting performance results," Brown explained.
She emphasized her vision for the conference as a space where women's basketball strength coaches could share their expertise and experiences: "I wanted to highlight the lack of research and give women's basketball strength and conditioning coaches a platform to be able to speak on what they do."
Corey Dulak-Sigler, director of strength & conditioning, praised Brown's leadership and the impact of her efforts. "Faith has been the one to really spearhead that and put us out there," he said, acknowledging her role in advancing the department's mission.
The success of this year's event has paved the way for future conferences, with planning already underway for next year.
George Mason's commitment to innovation in women's athletics is clear, with a strong focus on professional development and inclusion. The Sensi Fit Women's Basketball Strength & Conditioning Conference exemplifies the university's dedication to addressing the specific needs of female athletes while supporting the coaches who guide them. As momentum builds, George Mason is poised to become a national leader in championing evidence-based, athlete-focused development in women's basketball.
