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At Play Like a Girl, we love highlighting the incredible journeys of our members, and today we are thrilled to share the story of Tanya Thomas. Tanya, the Program Support Officer at Frankston and District Basketball Association, has been a pioneer in creating inclusive sports programs and is also the President of Belvedere Breakers Basketball Club.
"My name is Tanya Thomas. I create programs like our Australian-first Blind and Low Vision Basketball Programs and our All-Abilities Basketball Competition," Tanya shares. Her role extends to running other inclusion programs such as wheelchair basketball and Walking Basketball. Tanya also coaches five teams, ranging from U12s to U18s.
Creating a sport from scratch, like the blind and low vision basketball program, has been one of Tanya's biggest challenges. "Figuring out how drills will work, what equipment we will need, and modifying rules is an ongoing challenge and an ongoing source of joy and excitement," she explains.
One of Tanya's fondest memories is the launch of the all-abilities program at FDBA. "Watching people who rarely get the chance to play sport, let alone be picked for a team, put on their uniform and take the court like everyone else was my favorite moment," she recalls. Another cherished memory is seeing Liz, a fully blind participant, dribble, pass, and catch the basketball, all while listening to her coach's instructions.
In her volunteer role as coach and president with Belvedere Breakers, Tanya finds immense joy in mentoring young players. "Guiding them to become coaches themselves as they grow is definitely one of my top experiences in sport," she says.
Tanya was inspired to join the Empowered to Lead course to learn from Holly and to gain confidence in her abilities as a leader. "I wanted to work from a place above the line to be my best," she says. Tanya hoped to gain tips and tricks to stay on track in the inclusion space and to support young female athletes aspiring to become coaches. She found a group of like-minded women who openly supported each other, which was an unexpected and valuable addition.
The course has significantly impacted Tanya's personal growth. "It has helped me in all aspects of my life. I know it is okay and safe to be confident and powerful," she shares. This newfound confidence has also made her a better mom and role model at home.
The concept of "above the line" thinking has left a lasting impact on Tanya. "In a world where everything is rushed, we often push through our day with negative self-talk. When I find myself doing this, I stop, readjust, and move to above the line thinking," she explains.
Completing the course has made Tanya feel more empowered to lead both personally and professionally. "I know now that being confident is not arrogance. It’s okay to share what I know and help others with my experiences by speaking up and not being frightened to lead," she says. Looking ahead, Tanya aspires to keep learning how to lead by example and to be a leader who promotes diversity and inclusion. "I want to empower future leaders, both people with and without disabilities, and make sports and other areas of our community accessible to everyone," she says.
Tanya's approach to leadership is guided by values of integrity and promoting diversity and inclusion. "You need to be honest and upfront in everything that you do. I hope to inspire others to put diversity and inclusion at the forefront of their actions," she explains.
For Tanya, success means being better than she was the day before and never giving up. "I measure this by always trying my hardest and being better and doing better than I did the day before," she shares.
Tanya advises girls and women aspiring to excel in sports and leadership roles to keep learning and to not be afraid to speak up. "Take courses, learn from everyone you can, and keep your knowledge current," she suggests.
Tanya believes initiatives like Play Like a Girl are crucial to combating the stigma that playing like a girl is a bad thing. "These initiatives show up-and-coming female leaders that, even though it seems hard, other women have gone before them and created a path to follow and succeed. All you need to do is believe that you can," she says.
Thank you, Tanya, for being a part of our community and for your contribution to the Empowered to Lead course. Your story is an inspiration, and we are excited to share it with others who may be motivated by your journey.
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