Athletes and coaches inevitably face gaps in their sports involvement due to aging out of a program, injury, relocating, family planning and more. These factors combined with the systemic gap in resources and media coverage for women’s athletics make it that much more difficult for women to transition into a sport once they leave. We aim to ease the transition and be on the other side of the athletic bridge.

Play Gap is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that expands awareness, accessibility and support for women’s sports opportunities. Since 2018, we have created connections for recreational and club teams to spread the physical and mental health benefits of sports to more women in the community.

Formerly known as the Northeast Ohio Women’s Sports Alliance, Play Gap has evolved beyond regional efforts to address the wide-spread challenges experienced by adult women in sports.

Play Gap serves adult women (18+) and their allies, whether they are current or aspiring athletes, coaches, and sports staff. For our youth organization partners, we support their adult leaders and help when their youth participants 'age out' of their existing program and find other sport outlets.

Originating in Northeast Ohio, including the surrounding cities of Cleveland, Akron, and Youngstown, Play Gap will consider expansion in the future.

No. Play Gap works with any adult 18+, regardless of their gender identity, who is currently or wants to be involved in sports in some capacity. However, we directly tend to the additional challenges in athletic-based services for womxn, an inclusive term to include all female-identifying and non-binary individuals, and aim to address them.

-Increase awareness and access points for adults to find a meaningful connection related to sports and recreation. Play, support, lead, volunteer!

-Create and connect resources, information, and promotion to help sports organizations be sustainable, safe, fun, and effective.

-Host and coordinate community events to connect women in sports and women’s sports fans.

We use the term “community-based sports” to capture recreational, competitive and club sports where players do not get financially compensated for their participation. Typically, these sports require the athletes to pay to play. Some of these sports organizations stay in one region or location while others may travel between cities and states to compete. Recreational sports can be seasonal, year round, or accessed through sporadic participation.

Play Gap does not govern the teams or sports organizations listed on our Sports page. These groups are Play Gap members who seek to better support and/or recruit women in their organization.

All operations, including overall structure and athlete registration, are set by each organization, and often per their governing association guidelines.

Play Gap discerns partnerships based on an assessment process that includes criteria related to safety, inclusion, and transparency practices. Play Gap provides consultation and direct support to help members promote inclusive practices and implement organizational strategies that improve future outcomes for the organization and its participants.

All types! Our mission is to support those involved in community-based, recreational sports but we will do our best to aid any adult athlete, coach, or sport staff who comes to us.

Play Gap definitely supports any professional athletes who are seeking resources and community. Play Gap welcomes interest from professional athletes who want to get involved. Our capacity and mission at this time focuses on recreational and community-based sports to make athletics more accessible for all adults.

Play Gap partnerships allow direct connections between adult women in sports, or transitioning youth to adulthood, to helpful and reputable organizations in different areas of focus. Play Gap does a lot, but does not intend to be experts in everything. Our thoughtfully aligned partnerships allow for whole person wellness and resources regardless of your role in sport. Contact us if you would like to be considered as a service partner.

As of Q4 2023, Play Gap is currently 100% volunteer run. Since inception, our volunteers dedicated over 7,000 hours to our programming. As the leading organization for women in adult recreational sports, we plan to increase capacity with sustainable funding for paid staff. We are always seeking invested volunteers who would like to advance our mission. Contact us if you’d like to be a part of our team.

There are countless ways you can get involved in these sports initiatives:

-Play or coach a sport

-Volunteer for Play Gap or contact us to find other places to volunteer

-Attend a Play Gap or local community-based sports event

-Make a donation or become a Play Gap Sponsor!

-Follow our social media accounts or sign up for our newsletter- links in the footer