Featured Chik: Jess Colson

We couldn't be more excited to introduce you to Jess Colson, Owner of NWS Fastpitch - a softball training company, that specializes in softball pitching. Jess works to empower females with everything she does, so pull up a chair to read more about her! 

“Girls shouldn’t major in sport management”. That’s what a high school educator told 17-year-old me. “There aren’t any jobs for sports management college graduates,” a teammate told 20-year-old me. “I don’t understand why female coaches aren’t applying for coaching jobs,” an athletic director told 22-year-old me.

For so long, women have been discouraged from pursuing education and careers related to sports and sport management. It’s no wonder that coaching is still a male dominated field, with about 68% of men coaching women’s sports in the NCAA.
One of the reasons I knew I had to pursue NWS Fastpitch – the softball training company based in Western Massachusetts that I own, is the importance of women coaching girls and women’s sports. Studies show that girls who see women in coaching roles are more likely to envision coaching as a future career, which normalizes the pathway to success. I have been fortunate enough to have women coaches leading my teams growing up. They have been important role models to me – showing that women can be strong, confident, and competitive.

I’m extremely proud of NWS Fastpitch, which specializes in softball pitching. Our teaching method focuses on the whole athlete – striving to prepare students for physical and mental success in the sport of softball. Here, I’m able to work with students ranging in age from 6 to 19 on the mechanics of pitching, building confidence, and advising on college softball opportunities. There is no better feeling than using your experience and expertise to help the next generation of girls and women succeed, and I’m grateful to every coach who pushed me to get where I am today.
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I know that I have an important role to play in changing the narrative around women in sports, and I’m so glad NWS Fastpitch continues to play a part in flipping the script.

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