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Aurora Today
By the People, for the People
Aurora Launches "She Plays Aurora" to Boost Girls' Sports Participation
City aims to address barriers and inspire more girls to get involved in youth sports programs.
Published on Feb. 22, 2026
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The city of Aurora, Colorado is launching a new initiative called "She Plays Aurora" to address the low participation numbers of girls in local sports programs. The program will include a free introductory sports trial day and an effort to recruit more women coaches and role models to inspire girls to get involved. The city believes increased girls' sports participation will strengthen the community by boosting mental health, developing leadership and teamwork skills, and building resilience.
Why it matters
Participation in sports has been shown to provide significant benefits for girls, including improved mental health, leadership development, and building resilience. However, Aurora has struggled to field all-girls teams in some of its youth sports leagues, prompting the city to take action to address the barriers preventing more girls from getting involved.
The details
The "She Plays Aurora" program will kick off with a free introductory sports trial day at the Southeast Recreation Center on March 15, giving girls an easy way to try out different sports. The city is also making an extra effort to recruit women coaches and role models for its girls' sports programs, as research shows this is one of the biggest reasons girls don't join sports in the first place.
- The "She Plays Aurora" program will launch on March 15, 2026 with a free introductory sports trial day.
The players
Aurora Parks Recreation and Open Space
The city department responsible for overseeing parks, recreation, and open space in Aurora, Colorado.
Alexandra Ries
The marketing coordinator for Aurora Parks Recreation and Open Space.
What they’re saying
“We want to be helping shape the future game changers and leaders of tomorrow on and off the court and field.”
— Alexandra Ries, Marketing Coordinator, Aurora Parks Recreation and Open Space (CBS News Colorado)
“It's about addressing the barriers to entry to sports.”
— Alexandra Ries, Marketing Coordinator, Aurora Parks Recreation and Open Space (CBS News Colorado)
“Making sure that girls have an easy introduction into sports, right from the get-go.”
— Alexandra Ries, Marketing Coordinator, Aurora Parks Recreation and Open Space (CBS News Colorado)
“Sports have proven to boost mental health. It's proven to create leaders and teamwork and resilience.”
— Alexandra Ries, Marketing Coordinator, Aurora Parks Recreation and Open Space (CBS News Colorado)
What’s next
The city will host a free introductory sports trial day for girls at the Southeast Recreation Center on March 15, 2026 as part of the "She Plays Aurora" program launch.
The takeaway
By addressing barriers to entry and providing more women coaches and role models, Aurora's "She Plays Aurora" initiative aims to inspire more girls to get involved in sports and experience the mental health, leadership, and resilience benefits that come with athletic participation.
