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Body Confident Sport

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (October 3, 2025) – USA Volleyball is excited to introduce Body Confident Sport (BCS) for the 2025-2026 season, a nationwide initiative dedicated to building inclusive volleyball communities where every athlete feels valued and confident in their body. Backed by a grant from Laureus Sport for Good and developed with global experts from the Centre for Appearance Research and the Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport, the program addresses body image concerns, one of the top reasons young women leave sports.

USA Volleyball is also launching a Body Confident Sport Club Contest for 2025-26. Details on how to participate are below.

Research shows up to 45% of female athletes stop playing during their teen years due to body confidence issues, often reinforced by pressures around appearance over athletic performance. Body Confident Sport equips coaches with free facilitator training and ready-to-use resources to lead meaningful conversations, reshape team cultures, and stop negative messages about body image. The curriculum encourages athletes to embrace body diversity and focus on what their bodies can do, not just how they look.

Volleyball, one of the most popular female sports, offers a meaningful opportunity to positively impact young women’s growth, development and confidence. As a national governing body, USA Volleyball can reach more than 400,000 youth athletes, but this requires the support of coaches. Coaches play a pivotal role in shaping team culture, fostering confidence and empowering athletes to take pride in their bodies and accomplishments on the court.

Results from USA Volleyball’s 2024 pilot implementation:

  • 91% of participating athletes felt more confident about their bodies on the court
  • 85% found the program valuable and would recommend it to friends
  • 100% of coaches felt prepared to facilitate the program and saw a positive impact on their teams

“Coaches hold a uniquely powerful role in shaping the experiences of athletes,” said John Speraw, USA Volleyball President and CEO. “By creating environments where athletes feel confident and proud of their individual builds, we not only retain more young women in sport but also empower them to excel as players and grow into tomorrow’s leaders. As an organization, we are deeply committed to fostering a culture where athletes can enjoy, learn, and develop within the sport, one that keeps them engaged for years to come as athletes and future leaders.”

How to Participate and Enter the Club Contest

For questions or help getting started, contact Dr. Lauren Walker at [email protected] or Dr. Jenny Jenny Johnson at [email protected]. Additional resources are available at the Body Confident Sport website.