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49ers Get BAWSI

The 49ers had the morning off on Friday, but the practice fields were still full of football.

The 49ers invited 50 girls from the Bay Area Women’s Sports Initiative (BAWSI, pronounced “bossy”) to their practice facility for the opportunity to participate in the Gatorade Jr. Training Camp drills on the practice fields.

Over the years, the 49ers have worked with BAWSI on several programs teach young women the importance of staying active and to help ensure they have opportunities to play sports.

At Friday morning’s event the girls got to learn the fundamentals of playing quarterback, running back and wide receiver, and they learned proper tackling techniques as well.

The 49ers wanted to make sure the girls learned from the best, so quarterback Alex Smith, linebacker Patrick Willis, defensive tackle Isaac Sopoaga and guard Tony Wragge all helped out.

BAWSI co-founder and former women’s United States soccer team member Brandi Chastain was on hand to help teach the girls as well, and she expressed her gratitude toward the 49ers for helping with such an important cause.

“It’s important for young girls in our community to be involved in athletics,” Chastain said. “For the 49ers to give us a chance to come to the facility and meet the players and play on their fields, it gives these young girls an opportunity to expand their athletic abilities.”

Willis stopped by to talk to the girls about the importance of getting exercise and eating right before signing autographs for everyone in attendance.

Wragge has participated in several events with BAWSI over the years because getting girls involved in sports is something that has become very important to him.

“As a father of two girls I believe it’s very important for young women to be involved with sports,” Wragge said. “You get a different perspective on things when you have kids, and this cause has become something close to my heart.”

In addition to all the 49ers who helped with the event, former linebacker and 49ers Vice President of Football Affairs Keena Turner spoke to the group about what it means to be the father of a little girl and how important it is to support their daughters in sports. Also, several players’ and coaches’ wives including Kim Singletary, Tumula Sopoaga, Elizabeth Smith, Nicole Wragge and Jamie Michael all served as coaches for the football drills as well.