Girls vs Boys in Sport – Lose lose situation
On Friday July 17 2009 I read an article in the Herald Sun (page 3, ‘Boys will be boys, not girls), which alerted me to a side of sexism that once again rears its ugly head.
The source of a huge dilemma
The story tells of the Sandringham City vs Pascoe Vale under 12 girls soccer match played on Sunday June 28 2009. Where three boys took the field for the Pascoe Vale team and according to supporters of the Matildas (Sandringham City) helped win the match 2-1. During the match the referee was approached about the boys on the field and said he could do nothing as there was a loophole allowing boys to play in the girls competition. One thing led to another and it hit the papers a few weeks later.
In the article, an un-named supporter/parent was quoted as saying one of the boys won the match with an “unbelievably super hard kick”. This kind of comment is not only poor English, but shows the level of concern the parents had for the boys being on the field. It was the fact the boys had a part in winning, not playing that was the problem. If the boys had been a minor blip on the soccer game radar and the Matildas went on to win, then there would have been a celebration of girls triumphant over boys. With no recourse to be discussed afterwards, because it they didn’t change the result, then who cares. Coach Gary Robers, who has a daughter in the losing side, talked of a girl who was tackled roughly by one of the boys. Let’s remember soccer is a non contact sport, with even tighter rules in junior competitions. So if that opinion was shared by the referee, then the player would have been sent off for rough/un-conduct play, which he wasn’t. What if a girl made an equally ‘rough’ play on one of his players, then would that be grounds to complain? Or is it common knowledge in the soccer fraternity that only boys can hurt girls?
They are calling for the Pascoe Vale team to have its premiership points for that match removed officially. For what reason I must ask? They have not committed an offence under the rules of the game. If there is a loophole allowing boys to play then who allowed it to be there in the first place? Its a girls competition, so loopholes for the opposite sex should be non-existent. But there is one there, and it was used by the Pascoe Vale team to field a mixed side. This is probably a crime of morals and decency, of which is un-punishable under league rules. So learn the lesson and close the loophole.
There is a point in child development where boys outplay girls in the areas of body size, strength, agility and all the rest. This age is no doubt going to decrease in age, from the current belief in some sports of 12 years to maybe eight years old. How about we stop all mixed competitions unless the participants are of a mature age, to all willingly agree to a varied field. So stop these local junior football and soccer competitions where mixed is common until puberty ages. This mixed scheme is not in play for the situation mentioned above, but does highlight the importance of separating the two sexes.
I remember playing junior football against girls, and knowing that we were not really allowed to tackle them as we would the other boys on the field. Because if we hurt them during the tackle, the parents and supporters would be on our backs about it. Even though the girls should be aware of the fact they are playing with boys and should expect equal treatment, if they don’t like that idea, then go play girls football.
I’m reminded of a landmark case in England of an 11 year old girl who was granted a reprieve on a rule stating she would have to leave the boys competition to play in a girls league. She stated it was a win for girls everywhere in a time of childhood obesity. Childhood obesity? The kids with that condition are not fat because they cannot play with boys, their fat because they eat. There are ample girls competitions for them to play in if they chose to, but they don’t. The FA who governs rules for the junior competitions that this young girl plays in, agreed to giving her another year in the league. This case would never be allowed to go the other way, could you see a boy being allowed to play in the girls competition. Never they would cry. Boys are too tough and fast and better players than than girls. However it is ok to modify a boys competition so that a girl can play, therefore forcing all the boys to restrict their skills, as they cannot play on the girl as though she was a boy. Imagine is she was tackled and fell to the ground to break a leg and the outcry that would follow would condemn the ‘tough, rugged and overpowering’ boy who committed the ‘crime’.
Lets stick to the facts, boys are bigger, faster and tougher than girls (generally). Therefore there should be separate competitions from the start. This will enable a fair and uncompromising competition for everyone.