Ashlyn Harris has a plethora of victories under her belt. During her time playing goalie for the United States Women’s National Soccer Team, she helped the country win two World Cups. But before all that, Harris was a lost kid — and she fully credits youth sports as her saving grace.
Opening up during the SHE Media Co-Lab Whole Life Health event at SXSW, Harris vulnerably discussed how grateful she is to have had sports as an outlet during a particularly tumultuous time in her childhood. Her parents, both working two jobs, were also in the midst of a separation.
“Sport became my chosen family,” she said during the panel. “My parents were going through a really rough time, and they were going through a really traumatic divorce, and it was hard in the house. So sport became my home away from home, and I loved it from the beginning. It was everything and anything I could have imagined that felt supportive. I felt seen and had space to be who I wanted to be.”
Now Harris, who is the proud mom of kids Sloane and Ocean, who she shares with ex Ali Krieger, wants to make sure those spaces exist for kids nationwide.
For all kids — and perhaps even more so for kids who are struggling, as Harris was — youth sports have research-backed benefits. There are the obvious physical benefits such as improved bone health, improved cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness, and a reduced risk of cancer and diabetes. But there are also incredible mental and emotional benefits. Participating in sports is associated with lower rates of anxiety, depression, and stress. It also reduces the risk of suicide and results in less substance abuse and fewer risky behaviors. Plus! It increases kids’ confidence, creativity, cognitive performance, and life satisfaction.
“I can honestly say without sports in my life, I would definitely not be sitting in this room, on this stage,” Harris said.
“It gave me a second chance,” she continued. “It gave me an opportunity to fight like hell for young kids to be seen and have a space where they can do what they love. And not be in a generation of, not graduating from high school means just f*ck up.”
“I am very lucky to say that sports absolutely saved my life.”
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