After the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, females began to think it possible to have access to the resources and opportunities that were so readily available to males.  Below is a movie clip that shows some of the pre Title IX biases female student athletes, their coaches and administrators had to endure. 

The movie, “Believe in Me” is a true story about female high school students with a desire to play fundamentally sound basketball in the late 1960's.  Significant progress has been made since the time of this movie and the 1972 passage of Title IX (a federal law prohibiting discrimination based on sex in schools that receive federal funds); however, the recent economic downturn is causing a slow return to the mindset of low expectations for female student athletes. 

This mindset often translates into a reduction in access to resources; a decline in student participation in athletics; an increase in "at-risk" behaviors; and, a rise in the consequence of sedentary lifestyles such as obesity and an increase in Type II diabetes in middle and high school students. 

The National Title IX Holiday Invitational Conference and Classic (NTHICC) is designed to address the slippage in Title IX compliance by informing players, parents, coaches, athletic directors and administrators about the educational, physical and emotional benefits associated with participation in school based team sports and the rights and protections provided by Title IX.

During this winter break, eight of the top nationally ranked female high school basketball programs will be joining local scholar athletes with GPAs of 3.0 or better at NTHICC-12.  These champions in the classroom, on the court and in their communities will demonstrate what it means to Play With a Purpose as they encourage our local talent to also say Believe in Me!

Much has been accomplished since the time depicted in the Believe in Me movie.  And, although still struggling thru the "soft bigotry of low expectations" and the self-perception of "underdog", female champions continue to rise and as information is shared about their accomplishments their fan base continues to grow. Spread the Word!

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• 2012 marks the 40th Anniversary of the passage of Title IX of the Educational Amendments Act of 1972 ... a law we have come to know as Title IX. The law is comprised of 47 little words, but these words have a big impact on high schools, colleges and universities that recieve federal funding and employ or serve both males and females.   The law simply states: "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance."
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• Events DC has committed to not only help us recognize Title IX at 40 but to acknowledge the District/Maryland/Virginia (DMV) region as the hot spot for high school girls basketball as we include #3 ranked McEarchen from Powder Springs, Georgia as our marquee team; and welcome undefeated and #10 ranked South Medford of Medford, Oregon as our West Coast representative in this year's 4-day conference and classic in the Nation's Capitol. 
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• Head Coach, Phyllis Arthur (see photo below) said "... we get better by playing the best teams and the field of talent that has been invited to participate in this event guarantees an opportunity to learn and grow on multiple levels.  We consider it an honor to be invited to participate ... this is more than just three days of basketball; the conference, workshops and tour of the Nation's Capitol make the National Title IX Conference and Classic something we can't say no to."

• McEachern Coach Phyllis Arthur runs past fans, high-fiving them, after winning the state championship game at the Gwinnett Arena. Credit: Kate Awtrey. 

• Below is photo of South Medford at the Oregon State Championship ... South Medford has accepted our invitation to participate in the Title IX Conference and Classic where Coach Cole and our other champion coaches show and tell their  "raising the bar" strategies for college bound athletes at NTHICC-12!

Details coming soon for the 4th Annual National Title IX Hoiliday Invitational Conference and Classic -- December 26-29, 2012

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  MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Girls Basketball 2011/12 Season Rankings
  
  1. (1) St. Mary's (Phoenix) (30-0)
  2. (2) Whitney Young (Chicago) (34-0)
  
  3. (3) McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.) (33-0)
  Came out of nowhere, really, and climbed the rankings ladder by doing what great teams do: Playing other elite teams and beating them. An extraordinary season by any measure.  Coach Phyllis Arthur is bringing her Lady Indians to the Nation's Capitol to not only play some of the best talent in the country, but to be empowered and help inspire coaches, players, parents and fans by participating in the Title IX Conference and Workshops. 
  
  4. (4) Duncanville (Texas) (39-1)
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  5. (5) Riverdale Baptist (Upper Marlboro, Md.) (38-2)
  
• Despite the absence of Jonquel Jones, Riverdale got some big plays from Jennie Sims and won the ESPN National High School Invitational by beating Dr. Phillips -- and there's plenty of firepower back for next year.  Riverdale is scheduled to participate in the National Title IX Conference and Classic.
• 6. (6) Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) (34-3)
  7. (7) Bolingbrook (Ill.) (26-2)
  8. (8) Riverdale (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) (34-3)
  9. (9) La Jolla Country Day (Calif.) (33-1)
  
  10. (10) Cicero-North Syracuse (Cicero, N.Y.) (21-3)
  Unlike many male and female high school athletes, Breanna Stewart stayed home and played at the public school where she lived. It was good to see her, and her teammates, rewarded for that choice.  Coach Eric Smith will help raise the bar of expectation for female scholar athletes and their coacheas by bringing his Lady Northstars to the Nation's Capitol and participating in the 4th Annual National Conference and Classic this December!
  
  11. (12) DuPont Manual (Louisville, Ky.) (37-2)
  
  12. (13) Hoover (Ala.) (31-3)
  The Buccaneers play a tough schedule, and picked up a couple nice intersectional wins. And they beat Bob Jones, Alabama's other top team, twice.  Coach Don Quinn was one of the first to say "count us in" when invited to the Title IX Conference and Classic.  They are looking forward to more than just another basketball tournament " ... a tremendous educational opportunity in the Nation's Capitol."
   
• 13. (14) Twinsburg (Ohio) (25-3)
  14. (15) MacArthur (Irving, Texas) (35-3)
  
  15. (16) South Medford (Ore.) (30-0)
  Six-foot-5 Tess Picknell was the centerpiece on a South Medford team that, like several others in the Xcellent 25, won a championship in a state with more than a few quality programs.  Coach Tom Cole will be bringing his Lady Panthers to DC to participate in the National Title IX Classic and to share his best practices in the classroom, on the court and in their community of South Medford at the Title IX Conference and Breakfast Workshops in December. 
  
  16. (17) Dr. Phillips (Orlando, Fla.) (29-3)
  17. (18) Science Hill (Johnson City, Tenn.) (38-1)
  18. (19) Heights (Wichita, Kan.) (25-0)
  19. (20) Goodrich (Mich.) (28-0)
  20. (21) Edmond Santa Fe (Edmond, Okla.) (28-0)
  21. (22) Oakton (Vienna, Va.) (31-0)
  22. (23) Seton LaSalle (Pittsburgh) (32-0)
  23. (24) Reynoldsburg (Ohio) (26-1)
  
  24. (11) Our Lady of Good Counsel (Olney, Md.) (30-5)
  The season-ending loss to H.D. Woodson means that Good Counsel beat one ranked team (Dr. Phillips) and lost to two unranked teams (Woodson and St. John's). But the three wins over St. John's offset that loss, and so the Falcons stay in the Xcellent 25.   and Coach Tom Splaine and the Lady Falcons are participating in Sankofa's National Title IX Conference and Classic this December, "holdin' it down" for the DMV!
  
  25. (25) Hopkins (Minnetonka, Minn.) (31-1)