KIM TURNER, J.D.
Game Plan Insights
Professional consulting, speaking / workshops, and strategic project plans for an intersectional approach to gender equity through sports. Training sessions, facilitated discussions, and data-driven tools for systems-level change for schools, leagues, parks and recreation and more.
Kim Turner, J.D. - Title IX lawyer, nonprofit leader, Division 1 college athlete, youth sports coach, and parent to youth athletes.
Featured Resources
Curated group of practical toolkits and resources of essential external guidance and Title IX resources for youth sports gender equity materials. Kim has contributed to and/or supported these materials and all permissions are up-to-date (with gratitude to the nonprofit authors).
🏀 Toolkit re: girls / women in sports
Game Plan For Girls in Sports
An easy-to-use guide (from the nonprofit Positive Coaching Alliance) to instill gender equity across youth programs with quick 1-2 page materials any athletic director, coach, teacher, family, or leader can use!
🏀 Title IX Insights
Breaking Down Barriers
A comprehensive overview (from the nonprofit National Women's Law Center) on Title IX athletics.
🏀 title ix information
Play Fair: Title IX Guide
A nonprofit Women's Sports Foundation resource for achieving athletics equity through Title IX.
🏀 NRPA INITIATIVE
Get Her in the Game – NRPA
The NRPA initiative supports girls’ participation and equity in youth sports through parks and recreation departments across the nation.
KNOWLEDGE SHARING
Gender Equity and Support Trainings
Gender Equity & Title IX Basics
A foundational look at how Title IX shapes access and opportunity for youth athletes (Alliance for Girls)
Gender Equity in Schools
Effective methods for schools to foster welcoming environments for girls in sports (All of the Above)
Advocating for Sports Equity
Engaging webinar on getting and keeping girls in sports in your youth program (Positive Coaching Alliance).
Girls and Women in the Game
How to recruit and retain girls on sports teams and in leagues in youth contexts (Positive Coaching Alliance).
About Kim
Kim Turner, J.D., is an independent consultant dedicated to equity and access in youth sports. With a diverse background as a senior Title IX attorney and a former Division I college athlete, she brings an authoritative and methodical approach to systems-level change and professional consulting.
She has led grant-making for a state agency, co-led a prominent Bay Area youth sports nonprofit and directed nationwide equity initiatives. Kim serves on national advisory councils, including for the Women’s Sports Foundation, and provides expert commentary for news outlets on the most pressing issues in intersectional equity today.
Whether facilitating community-wide discussions or developing strategic project plans for schools, districts, and parks and recreation, Kim’s work is rooted in the proven, lifelong benefits of sports and physical activity. She continues to coach youth sports, bridging the gap between high-level policy and the joy of play on the ground.
Multi-Generational Sports Family
Sports are part of Kim’s family DNA. Growing up, the volleyball court was a shared tradition where Kim, her brother, and her mother all played college volleyball (including multiple national championships between her mom and brother) after being active in youth sports, along with a father decorated in sports during his youth. Kim's mom was recently inducted into the Skateboard Hall of Fame (skating because girls had virtually no opportunities to play sports pre-Title IX in the 1950s and 60s). This multi-generational background, built on lived experience, constantly informs her work and approaches to sports-oriented consulting today, along with playing recreational sports with her husband, coaching her kids' teams, and helping all in the community thrive and stay active.
Writings & Commentary
Selected editorial pieces and academic commentary on the intersection of gender equity, Title IX, and youth sports.
HuffPost
Articles on keys to advancing gender equity in sports and society.
ABA Journal
Analysis of the intersection of labor and athletics in education re: gender equity in college sports / coaching / employment contexts.
SCHOOLS & DISTRICTS
Tailored support for K-12 athletics and play spaces, re: Title IX and intersectional equity across campuses and districts. Kim provides Interactive sessions and keynotes, and has done so for the likes of San Francisco Unified School District, Piedmont Unified School District, and a wide array of similar institutions.
PARKS & RECREATION
Collaborating with government departments to implement community-wide equity approaches and enhance accessibility and equity. Delivering training to park and recreation commissioners, agency staff, and on-the-ground coaches and administrators is central to Kim's past and current work, understanding that publicly-funded agencies need support and guidance to shift practices in easy-to-progress, tangible ways.
ATHLETICS ASSOCIATIONS
Strategic consulting for state and national bodies, focusing on systemic change, policy development, and best practices. Kim has delivered sessions, articles, and keynotes for the lthe California State Athletic Directors Association, the National Recreation and Park Association, and the California Parks and Recreation Society among others.
YOUTH CLUBS &
NON-PROFITS
Partnering with youth clubs, professional leagues, and nonprofits on a wide range of trainings, activations, projects, and initiatives. Kim provides fun, easy-to-digest tools and talks, such as for the male coaches of a co-ed/mixed youth soccer club interested in gender-informed lenses on coaching, a youth sports group with all girls playing and women coaching, and corporate leagues, such as the WNBA.
Quick Insights, Resources & Keys
Building Inclusion for Girls in Recess / Play Time
Five keys to help girls jump into casual pick-up games in co-ed / mixed settings.
+ 1. Encourage girls to try playing even when they're unsure of the rules.
+ 2. Connect several girls together to build confidence.
+ 3. Assess equity and inclusion practices and intervene.
+ 4. Post rules of the game in neutral areas.
+ 5. Encourage everyone to keep at it!
Encouraging Allyship for Gender Equity in Sports
Three keys to encourage all to play and enjoy sports.
+ 1. Attend games and root each other on.
+ 2. Model support for all genders through displays.
+ 3. Wear and promote each other's gear to show support.
Promoting Women Coaches and Women Leaders
Four keys to promoting women leaders in sports.
+ 1. Recruit and support women coaches!
+ 2. Lift up their victories and milestones.
+ 3. Ensure facilities are shared equitably.
"Kim helped us with many ideas, tools, and insights on how to get more girls playing, women coaching, and allyship from all!"
- Conference Participant
Rates & Next Steps
Rates are project-based and available upon request. Sliding scale options available. Zoom and in-person capacity across U.S.