Expectations vs Reality:
Should girls be able to play on boys athletic teams?
By Gabby Modzelewski
"On August 30, 2002, Taylor Davison, a ten year old girl is the only girl on her football team, left practice complaining of a headache and collapsed as she walked off the field with her coach. Three days later she died" (WomensSportsFoundation.org). Girls and boys on separate teams is fair, boosts confidence, and builds camaraderie.
Playing with female peers is important for some girls so they feel like they fit in. "They may have fewer self-esteem issues playing with their friends than boys who may tease them" (usahockey.com). Girls may be made fun of for not being as good as boys, so they should just play with other girls. This way, they can feel like they fit in and are as good as their teammates. "There are several reasons for this including the fact girls are social beings- they may play all-girls teams because they want to play with their friends or sisters or because the boys may intimidate them" (usahockey.com). Why would you want your children to be on boys' team if their just going to be unhappy, when they can play on an all-girls team with their friends, who can make them feel like part of a team?
Nowhere is it said that boys and girls have access to the same teams or sports the other sex does, only that they should have equal rights to athletics. If girls and boys are both getting the same privileges, there should be no problem. Girls and boys sports teams should be equivalent, in athletic opportunities, so there should be no reason for them to play together. "That means, girls and boys teams should be equivalent (to the extent the school population is), as should equipment, supplies, spending, travel, practice facilities, trainers, coaches, and publicity" (Parakevas). If girls really want to play a boys sport, like wresting, why don't they just set up their own sex team for that sport? Or they could change there ambition to a similar sport that require similar skills.
Having female coaches boost girl's confidence and very few boy's teams have female coaches. "In associations with all-girls teams, the women's game at the higher level will be visible to the younger female players and give them a clear sense of what they can achieve" (usahockey.com). Seeing all-female team's play, shows girls how successful they can be by continuing to play with other girls. "It can be very empowering for a young girl to see a 16U and 19U female player compete in practice or have former collegiate players assist in their development" (usahockey.com). Girls playing on boy's teams would mean girls won't get the opportunity to have female coaches help them. Which, can take away from them developing their skills.
Girls and boys are different in their athletic abilities after puberty which makes playing together unfair. "Due to the male hormone androgen, boys develop more muscle mass per unit volume than do girls" (WomensSportsFoundation.org). Boys have more mass than girls making it unfair and dangerous for them to play together. Being a girl playing football with boys, means that you would have to play with someone that potentially weighs more and is stronger. "But even if you have a boy and girl of the same height and weight, the boy will have more fat free mass (a greater percentage of his body will be muscle) than the girls" (WomensSportsFoundation.org). If your child is playing on a combined team, boys will still have the athletic advantages due to their physical traits.
Difference in boys and girls age and height.
Shows the differences in body and girls abilities.
Males always have greater athletic abilities then girls.
Critics argue that girls and boys playing on the same team allows the players different athletic opportunities than playing on same sex teams. Coed teams challenge girls to try their best and advance in their abilities. However, danger is a bigger risk for girls playing with boys who are stronger and faster than them.
Girls and boys playing on different athletic teams keeps the teams and game play fair, builds camaraderie, and boosts players' confidence levels. Don't let girls and boys play on the same athletic teams. Instead, make an individual team for that sport or try to have your child focus on a different sport that requires the same abilities. Allowing girls and boys to play together on the same team doesn't help the players. This decision could affect your child later on in life. If the teams are unfair, which is unsafe, a girl could wind up getting hurt because she isn't as strong. Why would you want your daughter playing on a boys' team, when it's not beneficial?