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Girls playing with the Boys, and Boys playing with the Girls

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Women, Sport, and Film - 2002
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Girls playing with the Boys, and Boys playing with the Girls

Zoe Meyer

On the athletic field, in the gym, or on the ice, there have always been standards for the athletes to follow. These standards range from what type of athletic equipment is not only necessary but appropriate, to who can play when, where, and how. This last standard is the one that is being challenged the most; can men play not only on women’s teams, but can they also participate in female dominated sports without being taunted? The same goes for women, can females, without fear, really participate in traditionally male dominated sports? Although the social costs to the individual participating in the non-traditional sport are many, the benefits, if played well and correctly, can be and are quite plentiful as well.

For men, this desire to participate in traditionally female dominated sports is not quite as great as it is for females. This is because, honestly, men have a wealth of opportunities for athletics, whether it be professional or not, for every one chance women have. But, in the case that a male does want to participate in a female dominated sport, he will have a hard time being accepted, not necessarily by his female teammates, but by the society watching the sport. Traditionally, male athletes are supposed to be in rough and tumble sports. They are supposed to be hard bodied, passionate about the game, and willing to play no matter what the circumstances. Most female sports, even the female counterpart of a male sport, is less rough and tumble and less aggressive than male sports. For a man to participate in one of these sports he is likely to get laughed off the field, taunted with jeers of “homo” and suggestions that he is “not man enough” to play with the “real men” in traditionally male dominated sports. This can not only be damaging to the male playing, but it can also be damaging to the women playing. The jeers could become aimed at the women on the field or the ice and they could hint that women are not only incapable to play, but that since they need a man to join their team to help them, they obviously do not belong anywhere but on the sidelines.

This previous example is probably a little extreme, but the ideas behind it are quite real. Imagine a man walking onto the deck of a swimming pool, ready to compete in synchronized swimming. The expected first impression would be, “what the…?” because men are not supposed to be synchronized swimmers. There may not be jeers taunted at him, and he may not get made fun of, but he is not looked upon favorably by those watching the event. If, however, he is looked upon favorably, in whatever female dominated sport he is participating, the benefits could be plenty. Imagine the publicity the team would get, not to mention the only man on the team! The endorsements for athletic equipment, shoes, and many other things could support him for the rest of his life after just one year of playing. Being the only man on a professional or Olympic level team could potentially lead to more opportunities for endorsements and such than being just another member of a men’s team. This may seem well and good, but when a man “makes it big” playing for a women’s team, there is always the question and suggestion that he should then go play with the big boys. With this in mind, it is easy to see that a male’s opportunity for continual benefits from playing on a women’s team are slim. Again, this is something that is not very common for men at the professional level, or even at an amateur level because of the fact that men have more opportunities to play than women.

Women, on the other hand, often want to participate in, not only traditionally male dominated sports because, at least now there are female counterparts for them, but they want to “play with the big boys” as well. For a female to “break into” a male sport is probably one of the most difficult parts of actually being an athlete. The main argument that is used almost regardless of the sport for women participating in traditionally male dominated sports is that the female body is not made to correctly function while participating. Also, the idea that the women will lose their femininity if they play with men is another reason to keep them off the field and out of the ring. For women to be taken seriously in a male dominated sport they have to not only be the best female in the ring, gym, or wherever, they also have to be the best overall athlete.

Traditionally, women are thought of as more fragile, and less aggressive than men. With this in mind, it is clear the reasons why it is so difficult for women to participate in male dominated sports. The costs to a woman playing with a man in the ring or on the field are more numerous than simply getting laughed at and called names. Usually, to really see the extent to which women can take playing with the boys, the men will usually play their hardest, if not harder in an attempt to push the women to their limits and eventually make them quit. Also, since the woman is in a male dominated sport, the chances that there are other females out there helping “the cause” are very small which makes it even harder for her to be taken seriously.

The benefits for a woman in a man’s sport however are probably some of the greatest out there. She will not only most likely be the star and the sweetheart of the team, but she will also most likely get the most attention both in and out of the game. Also, the endorsements for a woman playing with men are unimaginable, especially with all the feminists behind her and supporting her, she will most likely never have to worry about money again. The one problem with all of this though, is that she will probably have to be defending her sexuality constantly from those that think all female athletes are gay. However, if any woman can get through the taunting, and succeed in a male dominated sport, then she truly will have “made it” in the world of athletics.

For men and women to participate in sports not traditionally dominated by their sex is probably a lot more difficult at first than would seem worth it, but in the end it could be a major stepping stone into the world of athletics as well as the rest of society. The costs to both seem, at first, almost insurmountable, but once they have become versed in the ways of the sport, the benefits out rule it all.

 

Continuing conversation
(to contribute your own observations/thoughts, post a comment below)

08/01/2005, from a Reader on the Web

I am an african american FEMALE, who plays football. I started at the age of 5 when i played on a 6 yr old BOY TEAM. when i first started yea, it was harsh but as i got older boys became scared of me and girls didnt even look at me unless they were my friends because they knew who i was!!!! I was the best player on the team amd recieved a lot of MVP's. people shouldn't discriminate agaist girl(women) because girls "some" girls r as tough as boys. sure i had lil boyfriends and i still did girl thing but dont juge a girl by what they look like, because i could be the prettiest girl but also the "one who knows how to take care of business! till' this day noone messes with me or even THINKS about "tryin'" to pick on me even though i may not look like a football player i AM one! Sincxe i am omly 13 i still have lots to accomplish and i say yeah to ALL the girls who think they can handle the sport!!!!!!!!!!!!1 P.S- on my team after the games boys couldn't even tell i was a girl until' i took my helment off becouse i was that good, i am not afraid to brake a nail and i am not preppy i am "a football playin' female repin' all da guhs!!!!!GET THAT?!?!?!?!?


01/05/2006, from a Reader on the Web

I am 14 years old and so into football... many people see its as strange (mostly females) but many other people (mostly males) think its cool. Its not that i wanna play with the "big boys" as your article states. I just like to play football. I am not trying to prove myself in anyway.. i just wanna play. What i'm trying to say is i disagree with the argument why females play male teams.

 

Additional comments made prior to 2007
i have been a very athletic girl since i was about 5 and i have always wanted to play football with the boys. yet its hard b.c of the trouble u get with ppl saying names and stuff . i believe girls should have the right considering its against the law to judge ppl of their sex. if they are just as good as the boys or better and can keep up with the competiotion then heck yess they should play with them and show girls are jsut as equal as boys!!! ... Reader on the web, 3 April 2006

 

 

there is no way that a girl can play football especially in the Texas 5A district I mean they would get killed. Plus I have played football with a girl and its weird it feels like u have to go easy on them or something.their also very dramatic and they might hurt themselfs ... Brennan Deuel, 15 May 2006

 

 

I love Football I have loved it forever! But I can't play on the team. I am in 8th grade and I am 14 I think that I can make up my mind if I want to play!! But the school sead that they don't want me to get hert! Give me a break I love football I can thow better then all the boys in my gym class. The boys think that I am not good enoph but give me a team and a football and I will show you what I can do! Even my dad sead that I am really good at home I have my own football and half the boys at school don't. So why can't I play?!?!?! ... Stephanie Garnett, 18 October 2006

 

 

i am 13 years old and i love to play football but my school wont let firls try out for football. i am really disappointed that i cant try out. i have also been told a number of times that i am a great thrower and sometimes a good chatcher. i would love to start playing football ... Falysha Raymond, 19 October 2006

 

 

WOW, what a great artical, congrats! all of it is so true...personally i think boys and girls should be able to participate in whichever sport, whenever and with who! it would be fantastic to see one day, during prime time, on a prime television station, a male dominated sport being played by females and gettin gthe same amount of surport as male sports do today ... Brooke, 9 November 2006

 

 

i am a 16 yr old girl that plays rugby and wrestles, because im interested in it and enjoy contact sports, Iv only been playin for two years and was introduced to it through my highschool. I wasn't treated differently by my friends and have continuously practised with the boys rugby team and wrestled with guy in practise. Im not particulary gifed in athletics, but just do it for fun and to stay in shape, and society has changed to accept females in contact sports ... Reader on the web, 5 December 2006

 

 

hey ya i think its so ture what the girls wrote we should be aloud to play football caus im a female and i love to play football iv been playing since i was 5 im 16 now and i still play. no girls think about messing me with and well u get know know alot of guys and they are cool about me playing with them they love it one year i didnt play cuz i broke a arm and they missed me ... Lee-Anna, 6 February 2007

 

 

I agree with the first person because most girls are tough like boys! I want to play football but the coaches are against it! I also love wrestling to but thier is no teams and of course the coaches won't let me try out! Any ways I soooooo agree with u! P.S girls are just as tough as boys! ... Elizabeth, 10 April 2007

 

 

Hi i am a female,some people think tht football is a game for boys only but is not,i am an african i love playing football but here in Cameroon most dont play i often play with the boys so i get stronger ,y dad supports me but my mom dont even think of it so i am pleading with any one who reads this which can help in any way to jon my fellow girls play should just mail me please ... Taka gina lor, 21 July 2007

 

 

I am 18 years old, and am currently coaching an all boys hockey team. I have been playing hockey from the time i was 5 and couldn't be happier. Yes i was playing on a all boys team for 12 years, but i think that it made me better at the sport becasue, i was challenged. I loved playing the sport and made some amazing friend threw it. I tried playing for a girls team but i missed my "boys". yes they do get pissed when they realize a girl just knocked them on thier butt but on the other hand it gave me more confidence as a girl playing a boy sport! MUCH LOVE! ... Stephanie, 12 November 2007

 

 

Im 14 years old and love to wrestle!! when i say i want to wrestle with the school!! they told me no cause i was a girl!! theres a couple of wrestling teams in the town that i live in!! but my parents say the only way i can is if i wrestle with the sschool team!! if there are other schools that r like mine i think its bull that they wont let u!! im already one of the girls that most people look at like o dont mess wit her!! ive wrestled before but now that im older i cant wrestle wit the clubs! but i hope i have a chance wit sumthing!! ... Page Slater, 13 November 2007

 

 

I have played soccer fo rthe last 8 years of my life and girls have been on my teams for my whole soccer "career" i dont see the problem with girls on my team i also wrestle and do cross country on my cross country team my best friend is tougher than i am when it comes to a pace and this is my first year wrestling and last year there was a girl on our team that lost only one of her matches and i have lost all of mine so anyone has no right to say that girls arent as tought as the men. i'm only 12 years old and i have many friends that play way harder in many sports that i play i think girls can play any sport they want to ... Austin, 6 December 2007

Comments

Serendip Visitor's picture

but then again tittle IV

but then again tittle IV states that we can. And I did and beat half the guys.its not about how fast you can run or how far you can throw a football it's about how much heart you have for the sport.

Submitted by Girls Kick Ass At Football's picture

Yes this S*** Again

I am 13 years old and going to play football i've been wanting to play football for a long time and i don't think that you should be talking shit about girls playing football. I am going to be playing all through highschool no matter what. I am one of the girls that people know not to mess with. I am very athletic and am a lot better at sports than most of the guys in my grade. My future is going to be at University of Iowa and I will do anything to play college football then hopefully go professional. When i told my friends about playing football they said and i am quoting, "KICK SOME ASS !!!!" I'm guessing that all the guys in my grade would think it's pretty awesome too. I hope you come to your senses soon but i'm not really counting on it. Just don't judge girls because we can do a LOT more than you think.

Serendip Visitor's picture

well ya know

The NCAA dose not let girls play colledge football

Serendip Visitor's picture

I Agree

But......I do play for our own league.......Check me out on youtube: I'm # 77----the Nose:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IceeGeH84U

Serendip Visitor's picture

Replying to "Not this s*** again's comment

I have to agree, and disagree with you on this. Boys/ men do have testosterone, and alot of it. But do not use this as an excuse.
Yes, Boys have more muscle than girls and in some cases are stronger too. But if a girl can keep up with everyone else, and is doing a ok to good job. Then let her play!!! Don't hinder a girl just because she has boobs! No matter what level of football. If a girl can do everything a football playing boy can do; let her play.

I don't care who anyone thinks they can, tell a girl she can't play just because she appears less muscular.
Drop her off because she has bad grades, or whatever . Now that doesn't mean give the girls any sympathy.

If ANY girl whatever age does football, no- contact or contact, should know what she is getting into.

I know a girl who is in high school football. She plays the position that protects the quarter back (not sure of technical name)
And she is pretty danm good at it! She is 5'7' ; 130 lbs.

Don't judge a woman on her apearence, but who she is as a Person in the world.

Cassie and Elise's picture

girls can do anything boys can do

Were 2 girls who r joining the football team for 8th graders.We either have just as much muscle as the boys or they have less than us without steroids. Even if they are bigger than us we still can stick it out to play. Boys constantly tell us we cant take hits when we can basically tackle them to the ground.

TyVaughn's picture

Football

Omg not this again yes some girls can play football thats true but most of the girls complaining wont even tryout they know its true boys are tougher than girls well at least some boys what they should do is have a boys football team and a girls football team to solve this because if they dont girls are just goin to keep complaining and some girls can tackle the boys but some cant,some can throw some cant.im done

Serendip Visitor's picture

I'm trying out for a Men's Football Team!

Well, here goes! I am a true believer that we should play with our own BUT I am going out the box to see if I can hang with the GUYS! Keep this in mind.....I know I might not make the cut BUT at least I can say I tried. Yes, I am older....35 and physcially fit for the pounding, I'm ready. I hope this learning experience prepares for next season! This can make or break me and I'm here to play like it's my last! It's on!!

Brie's picture

Dumb

This is ridiculous to even make a big deal about girls playing "guy" sports. There shouldn't even be such thing as "guy" sports and "girl" sports. No, sports are sports. Anyone should be allowed to be athletic. ANYONE could suffer injuries. Just because you're a girl that doesn't mean you could take any less then a boy. If you are a female trying out for a football then you obviously know what you are getting yourself into. Sure, there are guys a thousand times stronger than me, but there is also many weaker than me. When I was in seventh grade I'd play flag football with the kids, but I'd always get yelled at for slamming some girl, or some boy into the wall or trash cans. I was actually told by a new kid in my class that the first time he saw me play football he was like "DANG!" I honestly think if a girl wants to play, let her play. If she gets hurt, she gets hurt. I know guys that play volleyball but you don't see girls or coaches complaining about a boy skinning his knees and whatnot. Your gender has nothing to do with how good you are. So if I get a sex change, I can play? because I'll be a boy, so now there's no reason I can't play. But what does that change? That wouldn't make me any better or worse at football. Gender DOES NOT matter. Get over yourselves. There are the boys that are tough enough for football, then there are the boys that aren't. Well the same goes for girls. There ARE girls tough enough for football and any other kind of "tough" sport, and there are the girls that aren't. What's between your legs doesn't define your level of toughness.

Serendip Visitor's picture

I totally agree with you!

I totally agree with you!You're right,gender does not matter.People are just trying to cause division among the genders among sports.To me,if anybody wants to try out for anything, then by all means go ahead.I am a 16 year old boy who likes to sprint and is considered "fast" at my school.The truth is that I'm not that fast and that I met a girl who matched my speed.So girls,don't listen to guys who think that they are better than you in sports and guys,don't listen to girls who think that they are better than you in sports.We have far more greater problems in the world then just to cause strife among teenage gender in sports.I personally hope that you succeed in what ever you set you're mind to.God bless you and take care!

Keeley Garza's picture

Co ed sports teams

I see this issue both ways. Yes girls may get hurt during a male dominated sport, but the thing is there is not that many of them. How many sports can you think of that just has a guys team and not a girls team? THe only two i can think of are football and hockey, and there are quite a few girls who play both of them and they are thought to be an advantage on the team. Though some girls are not built to be tackled and hit left and right. As for men playing on female dominated sports teams, i think that would be good as well. the only problem i see in it is that the guys will be tormented for trying out for volleyball or softball. There are not many sports made just for girls or just for guys, and niether girls nor guys should be turned away from ANY sport wheather it be football, softball, hockey, or volleyball.

Serendip Visitor's picture

football

everyone on here dissing on the girls who have played, have you ever played? I remember wheni did and my coach use to put me up against the biggest boys to get me to leave. Do you understand how it is going home everyday crying to your mom because your coach said something sexual to you, or one of the guys decided to get a little touchy at practice? I was sexually abused during jr high football and went through shit no man or boy will ever go through playing. So you may sit here and say a girl has no right to play, but that's probly because you have never been that girl trying to play. Any girl who can put up with shit deserves to play, no matter what size. Ya the boys balls haven't dropped yet, but you know what, I would do it all over in high school. Your just haters. Everyone dissing on us can go, we have made it farther than most will. I AM PROUD TO SAY I PLAYED FOOTBALL ON AN ALL GUYS TEAM, and beat the pussies who dissed.

dman's picture

no way

I agree that some women might be good at sports that are male dominated but, they are male dominated for a reason. As soon as you hit the senior years of high school every women should know that the guys who are going to move on and play in university or college would destroy them. If you girls want to keep on talking football then listen to this; My father has a business partner who has an employee that once played football for waterloo. He's over 325 pounds and you can almost see his abs. Try taking him down. It might not be fair but it's called genetics.

Serendip Visitor's picture

girls in lacrossse

i was playing a lacrosse game and i am on defense and i use a long pole and i had to cover another player on the team. so the player ran up tried to juke and dangle me it didnt work i ran and i hit the player. the player didnt get up turned over and started coughing very hard and got take off the field. and took off the helmet and i found out it was a girl. i was later sat for the whole game. they reviewed the play and it was a clean hit i just hit her extremely hard. if your a girl and playing a contact sport, expect to be hit. and dont call me a "asshole" for hitting you. and her parents shouldnt try to get me taken off my team... thanks

Serendip Visitor's picture

omg, issues ppl, 21st century!!

im a girl. i play football. im the only girl on my team, and the guys not only on my team in practice, but also the teams we play against go harder on me thinking im just a girl so either ill jump out of the way or it will be easy to push me down. they're always wrong. ive gotten hit harder than most boys on my team becuz of that, and yet i recover quicker than them. and also im just as strong as the boys on my team, in fact alot of them weigh more than me but i can tackle them easily, WITH THEM TRYING BY THE WAY. thats it, just wanted to clearify...

Serendip Visitor's picture

haha

how do u know there trying

...'s picture

my personal opinion...

Cuts should be based on skill. Women aren't fragile, we can play rough, kay? We can get hit just as much as guys. I mean, there are STUDIES that show women handle pain better than men. I'm not saying we're better. In fact, I'd encourage men playing women-based sports, I think it'd be a nice change for them. Fact is, women aren't weak or soft. Although men are physically built stronger, we can play rough. We can hit people. I think a lot of men embrace the fact that women are equal, but there's that handful of the world's men who believe they are superior to us. Please. I wish all tryouts were based on skill. Personally, I think we should all stop complaining cause I think about 99.99% of the world's women believe in themselves and their potential fully and are, in the heart, feminists. It's very interesting reading the mens' insight on this article, and I would have to agree with some of them: What about THEM? Haha, give the men a chance too! Lastly, I'd like to add that women's hockey is as intense as men's. Checking and everything. I don't understand why ice hockey players that are girls who are 12 and under can't check. I mean, SERIOUSLY? I thought this was their time to shine, BEFORE adolescence. Being approximately 12 and under, well, geez. The society was an equal environment. That was just my opinion, though, and I think I just poured out half my soul, haha. :)

Serendip Visitor's picture

it depends...

I'm a girl and I play a variety of sports such as tennis, field hockey, and ice hockey. And women can handle pain. In fact, some studies show we can handle pain BETTER than men. To get to my point, I think if a girl's dedicated to a sport, she doesn't get the same situation as a boy. Which is, to say, very discriminating. And, some men are better. Some are not. I must make a comment on the fact that some sports actually incorporate STRATEGIES in their games. I also believe that women are considered to be "fragile" and "soft", which we AREN'T. Some of us may be un-sporty (that's not a word, I know) but this certainly does NOT mean we are fragile. WE CAN HANDLE PAIN. I mean, who invented softball?! Honestly, the least women should be able to do is play baseball with their own gender! Same with boy's lacrosse. Although there have been arguments, I'm certain women's lacrosse is a strict no-contact sport. And at LEAST give the girls their own league of boy's lacrosse! I don't believe that women are superior over men, I don't like when women defend themselves as better. We are all equal. I also believe that cuts should be based on SKILL. No matter what gender, I don't think it should matter. So what if there's a girl on the team that's not the best, but not the worst? She should be played just as much as the others with the same skill level~! I say, GIRL & BOY POWER... :)

girlgoalie's picture

hockey club

this year i started at highschool. I go to a small private highschool where soccer is the thing for girls, however, i dont play soccer, but hockey. Since my school is not big enough for a girls team, i decided to join a thing called hockey club. On the signup sheet it said that anyone could join. So i went and asked the teacher in charge if i could join. He looked at me like i was a martian and then asked in suprise "you play hockey?" I said yes. He said that i wasn't allowed to sign up because i was a girl. then he told me that i could make a girls hockey club. I dont want a girls hockey club. I just want to be in the hockey club with all the good hockey players. I am one of two girls in my school who plays hockey. We will never have enough people to make a girls hockey club. Basically in my school, if it says "anybody can join" it means that men are the only people that matter.
so...
i'm pretty P.Oed
(why are men such sexist freaks when it comes to sports?)

karie's picture

football #2

okayy........soooo i have been told that guys go harder on girls because they want to prove themselfs or something and then i got told that guys think it's cool to have chicks on a football team cuz they get to touch their tits....but i dont care i think it's just a game if u punch me in the face imma kick you in ur nuts but if you just play the game and get over that girls can play football dont be afraid that we might win....haha...but like for reals i dont care if u just play football and get over the thing about co-ed the the game will be funn:D :)

lola's picture

football

i like it

Serendip Visitor's picture

i played football

i am now 18 years old and a senior in high school. i played football in 8th and 9th grade. i loved it. i changed school districts and decided i didnt want to play anymore. but the 2 years of football helped me with my career path of becoming a female fire fighter. if every female could just play once it would change their eyes forever.

Serendip Visitor's picture

boys and girls sports

Well this problem can be easily solved. Whoever is good enough should be allowed to play. If there is a girl or a few girls or alot of girls who can play well enough, and who can keep up, and who could contribute to their team, why the hell shouldn't they play? Same goes for boys. If the boy would be a good tema member, a good player, and a person who could keep up, he should play. It's not the matter of gender, it's the matter of skill. Skill should be the only contributing factor.

Mark Converse's picture

female sports

I'm a guy, and just so all you girls know, it's not "cool" if you are a girl and play guy sports. Nobody really thinks that, and your only kidding yourself. Females wrestling other guys should be outlawed (It sucks for the guy wrestling the girl). Females playing football is a little different of a situation. I guess if a girl wants to play some football, so be it. But why would you ever want to? Seems ridiculous. Females have their own sports, and for GOOD reasons.

Serendip Visitor's picture

I don't like "female sports"

Look I know that synchronized swimming, Field hockey and volleyball are fun for a lot of girls but not me! I like football, fencing, wrestling, basketball and track Now I get where your going with the wrestling and what position that can put a guy in but thing is its his fault. Either he fights forfeits or doesn't play at all same goes for the girl. Now as for football I wanna play it for the same reason you guys do. Cuz it's fun. I don't think our "own sports" are fun. I don't like them so I don't play them. I like football so I play it,
I like wrestling so I play it. It also goes the other way around than do be it! Let the boy do the "girl sports" there's nothing wrong with it.

Joey's picture

female sports

Im a guy too and it just sounds like to me that your afraid of a little competition by saying girls cant play guys sports. I honestly think that most guys are better than girls at sports because naturally they are. But if a girl wants to play a sport, who cares let her play, she should be given the same oppertunity as any guy and if shes just as good as the guys or better then let her play, but if shes bad, cut her like you'd cut a guy if he was bad. I play football, basketball, baseball, and i wrestle and in every one of those sports i have played either against girls or with girls and i never cared that they were playing, i just played my game like i always do and in most of the games the girls were bad like at football, baseball, and wrestling but this girl on my summer league basketball team was nasty and guys on the other teams would underestimate her because she was a girl and she would drop like 25-30 a game. I say as long as a girl can keep up, let her play because i will gladly take a girl thats better than a guy any day because i want to win.

MMA Forum's picture

I agree with you Joey but

I agree with you Joey but there are certain other factors like girls are naturally not strong as boys they have less stamina so they can't compete properly i think.

karie's picture

football

well, im a girl and i really want to play football but all the guys at my school are being douches and saying that girls can't play football because i will get crushed but i have to older brothers and i dont cry like a baby when i get hurt i just fight back.....should i still join?????

Bree's picture

Karie, if you wanna play

Karie,
if you wanna play football, do it. The only one holding you back is yourself. I believe any girl with enough drive and determination can and will show up any boy. Just know that it won't be a walk in the park. Injuries may occur and all those douches will stay douches untill you can " prove" yourself. It's dumb I know, but it will be hard and there will be times that you wanna quit. But just keep pushing, and I know that you can accomplish this goal. (: best of wishes to you
-Bree

Brandy Smith's picture

Girls playing football

Hello, I am not sure of your age but the older you start playing the harder it will be. My Daughter is 9 years old and is playing YFL football with 3rd/4th grade. We are in our 3rd week of practice. The very first week was just drills. She runs the fastest in the top 10 runners out of 37. She is small 60 pounds and has been a girly girl up until last year. She has always just been good at everything she has done but never great. She asked us to play flag football last fall and was pretty good. She decided to give up dance and gymnastics to play Real football this fall. After the first week of practice the coaches seem to have already picked thier start up offense and defense teams.... based on the ones that played last year and you know what else. She was not chosen and Sat with 3 others for 1 whole hour or practice the first night. I spoke to the coach and they did not indicate she was doing something wrong to have caused this, acutally said she was doing a great job. Next day was a little better but the chosen ones seemed to be getting more practice and instructional. She has been getting bored and we(parents) are getting very frustrated. By the end of the week they started hitting with pads, My daughter started to show what she is capable of. They are starting to see that she is wanting to play. One coach even told her to stand somewhere and look pretty, other boys ask the coach if they are to hit her really, and one even told the other players to take it easy on her because he thinks she is pretty and likes her. I knew beginning this journey would not be easy. She wants to cut her pretty hair so the others treat her the same.. she thinks they are going to treat her easy like the team during practice but from what i have read she will be a target during the games. She just loves to play and wants the same opportunity as the others. She has danced since she was 2, she currenlty holds local beauty pageant titles, and is very smart child and has done competioin cheerleading. She is scared to death of storms and roller coasters. She is a child that has dreams and ideas and the biggest part in all of this is getting support from others. Parents or a friend..You will need someone to back you up. Be ready to hear the comments, Alot more from the girls than the boys. Make sure you know alot about the positons and what each ones job is. This will help alot. I do not watch football much less play, and not having a clue about what is going on is hard for me and her. She has to ask alot more questions that the boys do since most have already played. Good Luck.

Slug Master's picture

Sports should be played by anyone

Hey i have done that experiance i have been made fun of and teased for playing sports so girls should not be dancing all the time like that is the only thing that we should do in our as a girls life that we should be able to do sports the same as the boys do...Also when umm boys play sport girls should have the right to toughen up and beat the boys because that is what we should try especially when we should use our talents because we need to show how good we are towards those boys and show what we are capable of doing regarding sports. ESPECIALLY WHEN WE MUST SERVE THE RIGHT TO BEAT THEM UP ...but maybe in a nicer why possibly i guess... Anyways i bet we can do it safer but we must have the right to do what we can especially when it is our talent to do something... LETS SHOW THOSE BOYS WHAT WE GOT!!!!!

Selena Vitale's picture

LOL!

Omg! like why area pple saying i'm 13 andd blah blah blah stuff jusss saying that girls are human and not aliens and diserve to be treated like humans for reall like that saying men can't read! what the heck girls can play anythingt hey are interested in! It's simple !

Serendip Visitor's picture

I want to play football

I'm 16 and I want to try out for varsity football, my school is a big school D1 the coach doesn't make any cuts. I have no prior experience playing football on a team other then a bunch of friends in the park, although i know a lot about the sport and its not just enough to watch it, i love playing it. I'm a very fast runner and im strong and a very good catcher but im light and only 5'3" i'm afraid to talk to the coach. Any POSITIVE tips

Serendip Visitor's picture

You are a confident person.

You are a confident person. Talk to the couch about it. The worst he can say is no, and if he says no, ask him/ her why.
Make them uncomfortable abuot the reason why? And if you EVER feel like the reason you're being denied is the fact of you're sex. Tell a freaking athority figure! Your parents, the Danm evening news if you have to.
Take no for a answer because of you not being phisically fit, or your grades.
NOT BY YOUR SEX!!!

sally's picture

football

i would love to play football with the guys but i dont wanna be considsered a freak or something. and what if i show up on the tryout field and the reject me or laugh at me.

Anastasia Putt's picture

football reply

honey, you don't need to be worried about what people think of you. your just wanting to have fun like anyone eles and no one can stop you from doing that. my advise, go out there and play football. let ther're laughs just be energy to make your self better, to show them what your made of and that your not to be messed with!!! GO AHEAD!!!!

Abinil's picture

football

Dont worry. Im signing up for football this saturday so if im not afraid to do it, you shouldnt be either! Girls are strong. Show the fighting spirit! If the laugh at you, walk up to them, punch them in the gut and say "Do you want me on your team now?!" :) ~:-)~
~ABINIL THE FOOTBALL PLAYIN' TOMBOY

unique's picture

football

i like football dont be scared if you wanna play football play it ima girl and i like to play football i play football all the time.dont b scared of what people say because when they see you play they gonna want you on the team if your good

brett's picture

football

thats how i feel

Stacy's picture

Cash Is King !

The reality is people will pay big money to watch male sports.

ali's picture

I dont think any one has

I dont think any one has mentioned this yet but there is some sort of law against not allowing people to participate because of gender, sexuality, race, or religion. something like that. Will hope i helped. I am a girl i love to play football , wrestle a little and play soccer. My friends say i need to act more like a girl but whatever i dont care either should any of you. Once they guys see that u can play they will except you. Dont let them push you around.

shaakira's picture

unfair to mothers and fathers

They want there children to be happy and there children want to play sports like:football,basketball,soccer,baseball,but the boys think that girls don't know how to play boy games and they think that they only play with doll and put on makeup

Danielle.t's picture

being a girl

something men need to understand is god created women unique, we have a diffrent strength than men. men have mustle strength, abs, and all that. but women have an inner strength that can be stronger. we have the option to be both a woman and wear makeup and wear high heels and be a tough athlete. its because were women.

MaKayla W's picture

football

I personally think that that girls should be able to play football because WE (the girls) choose to play football and WE choose to get hurt because WE LOVE FOOTBALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ana's picture

girls should not be alowed to play with the boys

Seriously now!!! I am a girl and I believe that girls shouldn't be alowed to play sports with boys. First of all there is a study out that states that girls are more likely to have injuries than boys. Bcause of higher levels of testosterone boys can add muscle and, even without much effort on their part, get stronger.

Serendip Visitor's picture

no it's not true there are

no it's not true there are some girls in this world that are better at sports then boys

Serendip Visitor's picture

really arent u worried on

really arent u worried on getting hurt

henderson's picture

I think that girls should be

I think that girls should be alowed to wrestle since we don't have a girls wrestling team or football team. They are going into the sport with every aspect of what's going to happen to them. I say to the boys show the girls what that sport football or wrestling is about. Some girls are just as strong as the boys or maybe even stronger, so why can't we play a guy sport. I think guys should be able to play any girl sport if we don't offer them a guy team.

Sara's picture

Video Project

I'm a college senior at NYU studying media and sports, I am also a member of the women's tennis team.
For my final class project I'm thinking about making a video on girls/women who are playing what are considered traditional "male" sports such as Football, Wrestling, Boxing on boys/mens teams, but I need a few people who would be interested in being interviewed off and on camera. If you are in the New York City area and are interested, please contact me
@ skj231@nyu.edu

Mariyum Anjum's picture

IM 13 AND PEOPL SAYS FOOTBALLS FOR BOYS!

I am a football addict. I started playing football when i first came to Lahore and over here no girls play football because they think it is a boyish game..Thats unfair..its not boyish its for both! AND IM VERY GOOD AT IT! I WANT TO JOIN A TEAM!!