How fair is it for the girls? Are they doomed to be overlooked for the travel teams? Are they destined to play on a third line or on defense, even though they are excellent forwards?
A study conducted by USA Hockey in 2005 shows a steady increase in girls signing up to play hockey, this trend is still growing. However new registrations for boys are on the decline.
So why do girls get treated differently once they decide they want to play with the boys? Why are they being told that they weren't selected for a travel team simply because the coaches felt they were afraid the girls would be "head hunted", that they would be targeted by the boys, that it stops the team from bonding.
Whatever happened to treating the girl as a player? Period! If she doesn't play well, she doesn't get on the travel team, if she can't skate or stick handle like the others, she misses out on the spot.
In the study girls rated hockey very high across all the age groups, the fun the coach brings to the game declined in later age groups, the older girls also felt more pressures from their parents. The amount of playing time girls felt they got declined as they got older. They also stated that they did not feel as much a part of the team as they advanced in age.
The study concluded that most girls seem to enjoy playing hockey with the girls. However, this was a very slim margin. It seems the girls preferred the girls teams because they were accepted and received equal playing time. A general consensus across the hockey world is still that girls will be better served to play with the boys as long as possible. There is just no comparison, in general, to the level of competition, speed and availability of good programs. So, if that is the USA Hockey point of view, why are we as parents of girls wanting to play with the boys running into huge walls? Does the pony tail really make her less of a player? I agree that once checking becomes part of the game, girls will have to make a tough decision. Most boys are stronger than the girls and lots of girls will recognize that their time on the boys teams might have to come to an end, but it should be their decision, if they can handle the physicality of checking and want to proceed, why wouldn't they be allowed to do so?
So, what does that mean for the Bellas, Rachels and Julias of the sport that choose to play with the boys?
A lot of hard work, support and lots of education of coaches and parents alike. It means that our daughters will have to skate faster, stickhandle better and play more aggressively than the boys. It means that they have to show the people that just want them to go away that they are here to stay.
A study conducted by USA Hockey in 2005 shows a steady increase in girls signing up to play hockey, this trend is still growing. However new registrations for boys are on the decline.
So why do girls get treated differently once they decide they want to play with the boys? Why are they being told that they weren't selected for a travel team simply because the coaches felt they were afraid the girls would be "head hunted", that they would be targeted by the boys, that it stops the team from bonding.
Whatever happened to treating the girl as a player? Period! If she doesn't play well, she doesn't get on the travel team, if she can't skate or stick handle like the others, she misses out on the spot.
In the study girls rated hockey very high across all the age groups, the fun the coach brings to the game declined in later age groups, the older girls also felt more pressures from their parents. The amount of playing time girls felt they got declined as they got older. They also stated that they did not feel as much a part of the team as they advanced in age.
The study concluded that most girls seem to enjoy playing hockey with the girls. However, this was a very slim margin. It seems the girls preferred the girls teams because they were accepted and received equal playing time. A general consensus across the hockey world is still that girls will be better served to play with the boys as long as possible. There is just no comparison, in general, to the level of competition, speed and availability of good programs. So, if that is the USA Hockey point of view, why are we as parents of girls wanting to play with the boys running into huge walls? Does the pony tail really make her less of a player? I agree that once checking becomes part of the game, girls will have to make a tough decision. Most boys are stronger than the girls and lots of girls will recognize that their time on the boys teams might have to come to an end, but it should be their decision, if they can handle the physicality of checking and want to proceed, why wouldn't they be allowed to do so?
So, what does that mean for the Bellas, Rachels and Julias of the sport that choose to play with the boys?
A lot of hard work, support and lots of education of coaches and parents alike. It means that our daughters will have to skate faster, stickhandle better and play more aggressively than the boys. It means that they have to show the people that just want them to go away that they are here to stay.
1 comment:
I like to add what my friend Mary-Beth commented to me on FB.
"Can't wait for the day when "play like a girl" isn't something negative." Well said.
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