A couple of weeks ago my history teacher posted the sign-up for freshmen football outside of his classroom. I asked him for a pencil so I could sign up, I was just kidding, because my parents would never let me play football. He responded with “girls can’t play football.” I yelled back that girls can do whatever they set their mind to. He told me that he agrees, but he thinks that girls shouldn’t play football.
I now realize he only said that, because he doesn’t want girls to get hurt playing football. I still believe that a girl can play football if she wants to!!
34 comments
gretchen
Amanda – you are right that girls can play football if they want to play. The problem here is that there aren’t any girls football teams in high schools, but it seems as if more and more girls are wanting to play. It used to be this way in basketball. For me, in the 6th grade, I had to join the boys team in order to play basketball. I think if enough girls start joining the boys teams, we might start seeing girls football as a high school sport just like we now have girls basketball, girls golf teams and girls soccer. Find some friends who are willing to play and see what you can get started. Your efforts may not succeed on the first round, but I guarantee you can get the ball rolling. :)>-
Ayesha
There needs to be a female football team at middle schools, high schools, jr high schools, girl are equal to all men and we just ask to be part of this Union. Its a free country, isnt it.
YOU HAVE MY VOTE FOR GIRLS FOOTBALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Zella
Honestly I wish i could play football to i asked my parents and they said gurls arent allowed to play foot ball and i said its called diversity and they pushed the idea awayo
The truth
honestly the point of this website is stupid and the truth is GIRLS CAN”T PLAY FOOTBALL!!! I don’t mean to be mean but the truth just hurts. Girls aren’t strong enough and they’ll just start crying like a baby if they get knocked down. Girls overreact to everything… Girls can play football but just not with boys. Im a boy and I know that for a fact. Go play in ur own leage girls. You don’t belong with the boys football.
Scott
Fact of the matter is, most girl’s CAN’T play football…at least, not at the level boys can. It’s simple genetics. Girls, on the average, are smaller and lighter than boys. That’s not to say all are…I played high school ball with a girl that was one of our better players. She played receiver and also kicked our field goals and extra points. She, however, is the exception to the rule. I am not trying to be sexist or anything like that. I am all for girls playing football on a girls team. But girls on a boys team? I don’t believe in that, any more than I think the boy who sued (and won) for the right to play field hockey a few years back was right.
Amy Sisson
I’m sorry, but you are misinformed. Girls can play football just as well as boys, because football is not all about how heavy and strong you are. Girls are typically able to memorize plays and work better with strategy than boys. I personally don’t play on a boys team, because the boys make me feel uncomfortable, but if a girl wants to, she should by all means do it!
braxton
you need to shut tf up watch the LFL and tell me what u think alot of girls can play football,it takes practice not all of us we gifted and born saying”imma play football” NO everyone can play at different levels and it takes practice alot of practice
kathleen
there are some boys who are lighter then girls, but I think if girls hit the gym and really got tone they can beat some of the boys butts hmmm how come girls can play other specific things that can involve in injuries that happens in football too like soccer or field hockey and there will always be someone stronger than another but girl and boy…… no difference.
Ivy Heidenreich
Alright, well I’ll tell you my story. I’m a freshman in highschool, and I played on the ‘boys’ football team at my highschool in Duluth, MN.
I was told by my gym teacher, who was also the head coach for the highschool, that I couldn’t. So you wanna know what I did? I went right on and signed up, and guess what?
I made the team, and started in special teams and played defensive and offensive tackle.
I was the first girl ever at my school to play, and I know I’ll play for three more great seasons of the best sport ever made.
Girls CAN do it, they just have to prove themselves.
Ruby Clark
Okay I relate to you. I haven’t really played football but I do watch it. Friends have asked “don’t you worry about getting crushed by a man 2 times your size?” Well I’m not an average sized woman, I’m a big girl. In other words, I’m a muscular girl. Anyways, this year I’m a freshman in Palmer Alaska High School and I’m still deciding on weather or not I should join. I mean, what if the guys make fun of me just because I’m a girl trying out for football? And the worst part is I’m only a beginner. A girl hasn’t played on the football team and I’m kinda nervous… I really do want to be a game changer. I just need the practice and maybe just MAYBE I can do it.
Jasmine
I think you should give it a try girls can do anything they set their mind too.
Amy Sisson
DO IT I BELIEVE IN YOU
Corey Renee
Girls playing football on an all girls team is like guys cheering on an all guys team.
Isn’t cheering suppose to be a girl thing, well if guys can cheer then us girls should be able
to play football.
Scott
Corey Renee, you’re way off base. Cheering and football have so little in common, physicality-wise, it’s not even amusing. And also, cheerleading is NOT meant for just girls, despite the stereotype. It is in fact a co-ed sport.
While I don’t discount the athleticism needed for cheering (my wife was a cheerer in high school and in college, and she’s just as athletic as I am, and perhaps even more so as far as cardio goes), it’s just not the same thing. In cheering, yes, you can be injured. But not by someone hitting you and smashing you to the ground every 40 seconds or so for three hours.
As I said back in March, it’s simple genetics. Let me put it this way. Girls, are on average, smaller and lighter than boys. Not opinion, fact. Now, picture an average sized girl getting hit by an average sized boy in a football game, over and over and over. Females are tough, I am not saying they aren’t – I mean, come on, you females give birth for crying out loud :D – but you just aren’t built, on average, to stand the brutality that is football. Not at a co-ed level, anyway. And as I said in March, I am all for all-girls football teams. Just like I’m fine with my daughter, now age 11, playing ice hockey on an all-girls team. I would be a million times more nervous about her safety on an all-boys team.
Amy
I commented on one of ur things already, but, dude, back off
aly
Oh my gosh!!! This is terrible!!!! Once a couch from the high school above my school came to us to talk about upcoming sports. When he started talking about football I asked him “Well can i sign up?” Then he said “No. Girls can’t and aren’t aloud to play football.” I think this ridiculous because boys can play girl sports such as volleyball and cheerleading but yet girls can’t play football. Obviously this is a disadvantage that girls can’t play football and at some schools; girls can’t play wrestling. WOW REALLY REALLY WOW. And I still want to play football, but yet, NO.
Swag9376
You do realize that guys can’t play any woman sports. Like it’s illegal… Girls on the other hand can play no matter what
Amy
There aren’t really ‘boys’ teams when you are under 18. They are co-ed. Girls teams are made for smaller girls, or girls who feel uncomfortable around the boys.
Gary
Hey all,
I started looking into this subject because my 10 year old daughter has stated that she wants to play football. My first reaction was to smile and figure she’d drop it. Nope. 4 weeks later and she is still talkin’ Gridiron Girl. As a former All-Conference HS football player and coach I can tell you that she could do it. It started with her wanting to watch her classmates play PeeWee football. Then we were playing in the hallway, with me trying to push her and she trying to push me. Guess who lost. Me! All 220 lbs of former football playing man got shoved back by a ten year old girl. (She is the biggest kid in her grade school) And, she gave no ground. Tomorrow she is wearing my old (and I mean really old) High School jersey to watch a game. I am not sure I like the idea of my sweat pea getting shoved and hit on a football field, but if she doesn’t give up the dream, I will have to deal with it. Lets face it, some boys cannot play football and some girls cannot. Our physical make up gives us advantages and disadvantages, both boys and girls. Boys would have an advantage of the testosterone factor when puberty kicks in, but speed, smarts, toughness and flexibility are also a factor. Safety is number one. If a kid is in good shape and can keep their neck protected and can endure the violence of the game, let them play, (boys and girls). I coached plenty of big guys who we wouldn’t let play because they would get creamed or couldn’t deal or take hits. As for the arguement, “if girls can play on a boys team, then boys can play on a girls team” does not float. Girls would have to play on a boys football team because there just are not any girls football teams. We as adults must be very calm and understand we are talking about long standing stereotypes and especially the feelings of a child. Careful thought must be a prerequisite and a little patience dealing with the few “meatheads” that can sometimes accompany the game of football. I know, I coached with a few. If you can play and be safe, you should play. Believe me, if the game is not for a particular girl, she would know in just a few practices. Killing the dreams of a kid is a moral crime. And Oh By The Way, if you doubt that girls can play, check out this article that just appeared on YAHOO…
http://rivals.yahoo.com/highschool/blog/prep_rally/post/Female-cornerback-breaks-Florida-6A-football-gla?urn=highschool-272241 .
Oh well. Arguement over. Aim high! The two most motivating words in the English language are , “you can’t”. Doubt is the starting point of most great stories.
Amy
THANK YOU
gretchen
Thanks Gary – that was very encouraging. :)
Gary
You’re welcome.
Remember, glass ceilings are meant to be broken. That’s why they’re made of glass!
divya
hgirls r superior 2 boys…ohh srry srry girls r d best..they can play as gud as boys..u can take a competition….k any ways..all those who posted comments..nice guys…
Beva
im playing football and im the only grl.. the coach was nice they were all nice but the line coach didnt let me try practicing line with the way bigger guys:( i want to quit so much but i wnt to prove everyone that im a grl tha can do anything a strong guy can so im not gonna qiut!! :) wish me luck everyone plzz im gonna need it!:))
Brit
i played football for almost 4 year, i was good, started every practice. then when game time came around i never got to play a secound. i told the coach’s and they said they fix it but still game after game i was not put in at all. even when the guy in my position was hurt they put someone else in. it was so bad that it was either get a lawyer or quit. i decidede to quit, i didnt want to look like i was forcing them to play me. but now i miss it like crazy, i cant even watch it anymore,i dont know what to do it has been a year without it and i am dieing inside. i play softball but it isnt even close to football. can anyone help me i want to play again but i am in college, and to young to play the girls teams. i am thinking about playing for college but i am scared, i dont want to have to fight about it anymore but i cant live without it.
briyonna
my cousin plays football and shes a girl but i live in florida where u cant
Annie
I hate being a girl because I dont get to play Foootball
gretchen
You don’t need to hate being a girl. Hate the fact that there is stil a stereotype that girls can’t play football. And then go out and find a league that will let you play. ;)
tyler
i asked my dad three times can i play basesball he laughed. i asked my mom two times can i play football she said ” girls cant play football” i look up at my school webasite and it says BOYS football BOYS baseball. What should i do
gretchen
Just because it says boys, doesn’t mean you can’t play. I joined the “boys” basketball team in the 6th grade because there wasn’t a girls team at the time. If there isn’t a girls team, then you should be able to join the boys team. Check with your school administration. ;)
Sarah
In 5th grade, we had seperate P.E. classes. Boys gym, and Girls gym. I thought it was stupid as heck. I was friends with alot of the boys, so I would ask them what they do in Boys gym. They would always say they did something really fun and athletic. In girls gym we would always do something stupid, like dance, or stretch. I REFUSED to do most of it. On Fridays, both gyms would play dodge ball, which was very fun. Our Language arts teacher would always play dodge ball with the boys, but not the girls. Lots of girls would ask her why, and she’d say something like, “Boys can really play dodgeball.” or “Girls arent aggressive” I think Girls should be treated like boys, cause were both human.
Rebecca
Of COURSE they can play football. I myself have, and in fact dominated on the field (not being arrogant about it. simply confident and truthful).
I played QB on my 5th grade team, as well as other offense positions, and at times safety on defense. I absolutely loved the sport – that is, until I moved and the new school, though they allowed me to join, ruined the sport for me. Sexist, sexist, sexist.
However, I continued to strive, and do exceptionally well in gym class, enough to earn myself a name. What drives me nuts is when girls get the ball, and the moment someone is close, they just throw it into the air – now, come on. They make us all look bad. And while this can be interesting at times, as you’re just “the girl” and no one excepts you to pwn at the game, it’s still a huge set back in equality.
Just because the girls you see stand in the middle of the field twirling their hair and gossiping with their friends cant play, doesn’t mean there are those who aren’t good at it and don’t stand there looking stupid. :/
Tyler
Thank you Gretchen. I love this site by the way. Also Scott I don’t think you sound sexist or are but at least give the girls that deserve it a chance. Not all girls are tiny or small but you are right that the magority is. There are a few girls at my school including me that are no sticks but not fat. I just say give the ones that deserve it a chance but not the ones that will scream if the thing comes near them cuz that’s annoying
kira
I’m joining football this year I’m in 7th grade and am very excited to join I was told the same thing by the coach and when I asked why he said its an all-boys team no girls allowed. I went to the principal and found other girls who wanted to jin had also been rejected and we all went to see him and he said that if we could prove ourselves worthy that we could join.