Adsactly Sports - Should girls be allowed to play on boy’s teams?
Adsactly Sports: Should girls be allowed to play on boy's teams?
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Every athlete's dream is to play at the highest level and with the best players. Young players are always being scouted and moved up the ranks as they start to show the skills necessary to play at more elite levels. This allows these players to continue their development in leagues that are more competitive and against players that will challenge them to be better. What happens when this player who is showing skill beyond that of their peers is a girl? More and more we are seeing young girls and women demonstrating elite level skills and strength. These talented athletes want to play with the best and develop at higher levels. Should these female athletes be able to play on teams and in leagues with male athletes?
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Over the past several years in our school district, there have been a few situations that have created a great deal of controversy among some people. Educator, parents and administrators have been faced with some tough decisions and have engaged in some very heated discussion.
Back in 2010 in our school district, we had a young girl in grade 5 who was an exceptional basketball player. She was so good that she was better than the boys at her school. She wanted to play on the boy's basketball team and her parents requested that this happen. This became a controversial topic that had o be discussed all the way up to the upper levels of the school board. There were some people who were ok with this happening because she was clearly good enough to play at that level. However, there were a significant number of people who had concerns about her playing for the boy's team and the concerns were made quite vocally. The debate even made it into the mainstream media.
Eve Uwayesu who is a gifted basketball player in Grade 5 had her request to play for the junior boys team at her Ottawa school denied by the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board.
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Her ability to compete with the boys was never really an issue, it was clear that she was better than them in most cases. There were many other issues that people had concerns with. This was completely uncharted waters for our school district and there was no precedent for how to deal with a situation like this. From coaches to parents to students and administrators, there were lots of opinions and people were not afraid to share them.
First of all, there were the flat-out opinions that boys should play with boys and girls should play with girls. The ability and skill level of the players should not matter. If you are a girl then you should play on the girl's team. It has always been that way and there is no reason that there should be an exception made for one athlete. If you let this one girl play on the boy's team, even if she is as good as them, then you potentially open the door for other girls to want to play on the boy's team.
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This argument is fair enough but does it give consideration to the reasons why the girl is asking to play on the boy's team? I get that traditionally boys play with boys and girls with girls but I feel like you must consider each case for its own merits. There might be some legitimate arguments against letting her play but the * just girls should play with girls* argument is not a strong enough on its own.
There were people who were critical of letting her play on the boy's team because she not physically as strong as the boys and they claimed that there was a strong chance of her getting hurt. This point is one that has merit and should be discussed. The physical differences between men and women can be significant, especially for adults.
The physiological differences between men and women are so great that elite male and female athletes rarely compete with each other. These differences generally give men a competitive edge in sports that reward absolute strength, acceleration and speed.
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There are some exceptions to this and in cases where women are physically more dominant than men but for the most part, due to genetic make up, men will have some advantages physically. Is this a strong enough reason for a woman to not compete with men? There is also the sport that must be part of the determination. If the sport is a contact sport like Hockey of Football then it could potentially be dangerous for women to play at a competitive level with men. There are several examples of women playing goalie in hockey at some pretty high levels but never a skater who would be subject to the repeated physical contact.
In 1992, Rheaume became the first woman to play in an NHL game when she played in goal for the Tampa Bay Lightning against the St. Louis Blues in an exhibition contest. She allowed two goals on nine shots. She played one more exhibition game, against the Boston Bruins in 1993. Since then, no woman has played in an NHL game of any kind.
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The physicality of the game might be an issue at older ages but is it an issue during childhood or adolescent years? This is where things might get tricky because the rate at which children develop and grow can be vastly different from one child to another. There can easily be situations during these years where boys and girls are on an equal playing field when it comes to size and strength. There is a lot to think about and consider when looking at the possibility for a female athlete to play with a boys team. It is not as simple as sticking her on the team and moving on.
When weighing up the situation, there can be no “one size fits all” solution. Age and gender are not always the best indicators of ability. Each case needs to be considered on its merits. In deliberating whether a girl should play in a boys’ team, parents, administrators and coaches all need to assess a number of factors.
Parents need to weigh up not only their child’s physiological capabilities, but her motivation for playing, skill level, competitiveness, and whether there is support from within the club. They also need to know how to support their child’s confidence and resilience in the face of any direct or indirect criticism.
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Finally, there are those that outright feel that it is not fair for a girl to take a spot on a boys team even if she is good enough to play with the boys. The argument is that the girl would be taking a spot away from a boy when she already has the ability to play on a girls team. Comments included the controversy that would be created if they tried to do this the other way. What if the boy was trying to play on a girls team? Would that be considered fair? There is this great quest to find gender equality in sports when it comes to girls but if you switched it up the response might be just as big and resistance.
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In the end, the young grade 5 female player in question here in our district was not allowed to play for the boy's team. The board did make some compromises and allowed her to play at a higher girls level but some say it was not enough and that the experience was not the same. This also meant that she got to play for two different teams which brings up the question of fairness yet again.
the Grade 5 student's request to play for the boys basketball team at her Ottawa elementary school was denied by the board, even though her coach, and boys on the team, said she would have been their best player. Instead, she was allowed to play up a level against intermediate girls in Grades 6 to 8.
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There is no simple solution to this debate and by no means is it going away. More and more, young female athletes are fighting for their chance to compete with boys and play at an elite level. Shortly after the issue with the young basketball player in Ottawa, the Ontario association that governs high school sports ruled that a female player would be allowed to play with the boys if they were capable of making the team. This was a big step, although not followed by all provinces in Canada. It is not a full solution as there is still the issue of how these decisions are made and the fairness of them but it is progress. As for how Eve Uwayesu has done in her quest to basketball, she is currently playing Varsity basketball for the University of Windsor in Ontario with women.
What do you think about the idea of women playing sports in men's leagues? Should girls be able to play in these leagues or not? What would your opinion be if it were reversed and boys were trying to play in girl’s leagues? I look forward to reading your thoughts and opinions.
Authored by @broncofan99
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My heart says "Hell yes. If you can make the team, play." I don't think the physical differences are all that great until you get way up the ladder.
But reality is that girls should play girls and boys should play boys. Not because they are physically superior/inferior but because by moving her to a boys team you disrespect the girls. You might as well say " We are moving the most gifted girl to a boys team cause girls just suck." With that attitude you are right.
I really like that they let her 'play up'. I like that they acknowledged her obvious talent and hard work and let her express that in a more competitive way.
It's a tough question, and the truth is there is no single right answer. There are some wrong answers but no answer that is always right.
Nice post, my friend. You sure enough got people talking!
It is such a tough debate and I don’t think that there is an answer that fits every situation. Each situation needs to be addressed separately and on its own merits.
WOW! what a topic, I think it depends on which sport. But I do agree that boys need to be boys and enjoy being boys. Girls need to be girls and enjoy being girls. This world is becoming so crazy boys are getting so confused of what a male is and how to be a man. Same with girls. That's all I can say for now. Good post lol
The sport remains gendered as are the professions, functions or levels of responsibility. There is a kind of social consensus about which sports can be practiced by girls and those that can be practiced by boys, thus participating in the social construction of the masculine and the feminine.
For me i think its ok for girls to play on the same sports teams as boy because they are just as smart and talented.. A girl can play as rough and as strong as boy. She can play football and base ball yet the male population believe that females are to fragile and can not do it.
Children in elementary school is one thing but past that your exposing your daughters to the risk of injury from men. A few girls may be able to keep up with men at the high school level but I don't think its worth the risk. Men and women are just too different when it comes to our physique.
A fair and valid point for sure. Safety comes up often.
Exactly
HELL NO. I don't care what ANYONE say's. WOMEN AND MEN ARE NOT PHYSICALLY EQUAL.
I cannot BREAST FEED
Can some women be better or stronger? of course! That doesn't mean they should compete. I don't care about politically correct bullshit. I have a penis! So there!
There are lots of people who share the same opinion. I can’t say what is right but the debate is a strong one.
Girls should play in girls leagues for physical differences - I'm all for gender equality but since equality is more about having the same chances even though there are differences, I'm not for mixing up genders in sports, the differences are too big. What should change is the culture of rewarding, awarding, sponsoring, giving opportunities more to men instead of women.
When girls start to excel at traditionally 'boys' sports there should be a program that helps them nurture that talent. In the Netherlands you can have sports councilor at school/uni that helps you schedule school in combination with your sports education. The girl should have been given a chance like that, seems like her school was simply not able to provide a nurturing education on that level, so the solution should have been found elsewhere, she should have been given the chance to excel in a girls team.
No I know in some countries sports education is more tightly connected to 'school' - so I don't know if this would have worked for her. But a very talented musician would also go to a gifted piano teacher outside of school to nurture the talent, and so should this girls'.
That is one of the biggest hinge that push girls into bots teams. There are often situations where there is not a girls team that can foster the development of these elite female athletes. There needs to be programs in place for them.
In my opinion, if the girl is exceptionally better, why not? To me the ability of specific player matters the most regardless if it’s a boy or a girl when it comes to group games, not individual. Are the boys’s parents worried about their sons being beaten by a girl 😆? Are they afraid the game could turn into sexual harassment? I don’t believe so. If the girl is that good, the boys would respect her as a player and not as a sexual object. If anyone would think differently, I’m pretty sure, she would clearly explain to him how wrong he is and also most of the players would stand up for her. Actually my 16 year old niece plays lacrosse as a goalkeeper for boys’s team and everyone respects her as a great player. She is just better than any of the boys in that particular position. Would I like to see girl playing in boys’s team of American football game? As a kicker yes! But other than that, I don’t think it would be a great idea. Not that one, but there are plenty sport games where girl could get a chance to participate, if she were better qualified.
I have a niece who is an elite goalie for 12 years old. She plays on a boys tema and is very respected. She will eventually play on a girls team as she gets older and higher level girls programs are available.
Unfortunately we have a macho culture that is determined to put their physical conditions on women, even knowing that there are girls who are prepared every day to improve their physical condition and be at the same level of males, girls with a lot of potential in to perform in the discipline that practice, and it is unfortunate that they are not included in the leagues. I think that there should be a single league and eliminate the terms "male league" and "female leagues" the day that happens will mark the beginning of an inclusive era in which men and women will be important and pairs to take forward a determined team. Greetings from Venezuela!
The machismo attitude often makes it difficult for these situations to take place for sure.
We are in a world were girls and boys having equal rights has been a controversial issue and its a pity its eating into the heart of our future the kids. Equal rights for both gender is an illusion(my opinion). This is what i feel is best schools at each region should create an equal playing field for females , the female teams might be set up by picking outstanding students like the case of the girl that was in grade 5. Having them compete against other regions and giving turns at playing against the male teams. Once this starts i bet you it will raise eyebrows and international bodies will become involved and something will be done. Probably each and every sport will be open up for both genders..
Equity rights is an issue that has been fought forever and is obviously still an ongoing issue. I think he equality argument would be even bigger if the boys played on girls teams.
I'm a bit disappointed that I haven't seen anyone point out what I see as obvious. At just about any age group, introducing girls to a male dominated game changes the psychological dynamics.
What happens when a guy loses to a girl? He is roundly ridiculed for losing to a girl. What if he wins? No one cares, he beat someone who is stereotypically weaker. There is no win scenario for a guy facing a girl. Not to mention the "white knight" complex, where you have some guys going out of their way to help out the female player, even to the detriment of their overall team cohesion and strategy. Also, you have a natural inclination for guys to be less competitive against a girl, and if it's a contact sport they are less likely to be as rough as they would be towards another guy.
It's not a simple matter of strength or skill. A female player changes the entire psychological dynamic of the game, and that's not a small change in highly competitive scenarios.
You are so right. This is a much more complicated issue than I could even fully address in this one article. The psychological impact could be very big.
After 3-4 generations of mixed teams people wont be able to comprehend this concept anymore.
No one will be ridiculed for losing against the opposite gender, it will simply be ridicule for losing. (no gender issues in the equation)
I understand your opinion, and by all means you are free to hold it, but I simply don't believe such gender differences can be completely removed. Sure, the overt ridicule might be removed, but the underlying stigma of losing to a girl is not something that can be removed. Similar to how it's hard to remove the stigma of losing to a smaller opponent in a martial arts match, no matter how much rationale you throw at it. It's a "David vs. Goliath" mentality.