Girls Playing "Boy" Sports

I have played Ice Hockey since I was four years old. Being a female in a male dominated sport has never been easy. When I started when I was four, I played in an initiation program with mostly boys. Then I played on "co-ed" teams until I was ten, but "co-ed" is not the right term. Usually, it was all boys and me. Sometimes there was one other girl on the team, but usually I had to try to fit in as "one of the guys".

When you're younger it doens't really matter. You're just kids, you don't think about it as much. But as you start to get older, there begins to be the stereotype of hockey being a "boy" sport. It's true that it is a very male-dominated sport but that doesn't mean that only boys are allowed to play it. Many times I have met boys who play hockey and when I tell them that I play hockey too, the say "But you're a girl." You don't know how much that bugs me. So what if I'm a girl? That doesn't make me any less able to play hockey.

When I turned ten, I decided that it was time for me to start playing on an all-girls team. Luckily, there was a program nearby with an all-girls team. Now if you think being an individual girl playing hockey gets you negative attention with boys, imagine having a whole TEAM full of hockey playing girls. Whenever we share ice with a boys' team during practices or something, they constantly emitt an attitude that they are better than we are. Sometimes we will scrimmage against a boys' team and they always come across as cocky and that they'll beat a team of "sissies" with ease. Then if a girl on my team knocks them down or beats them to the puck or scores on them then all the other boys will be like "HAHA you got beat by a girl!!!!" or something along those lines. As a girl, it makes you feel inadequate sometimes. Other times it makes you feel stronger, like you want to go out and show these boys exactly what you're made of, that you're strong and powerful.

But soon they'll see. Girls' hockey is growing at a rapid rate, and maybe in the future hockey will be as much of a "girl" sport as it is a "boy" sport. And boys, if you think girls can't play hockey, I have news for you: Yes, I'm a girl, and yes, I CAN and WILL kick your butt.

Girls who play sports in society are often looked down upon and are considered to not be as physically capable as boys. In past times, girls were not even allowed to play sports but now that they are allowed to play, girls sports are growing rapidly. So if you're a girl who plays sports and you feel like you're not being respected, stand up for yourself. You ARE strong.

Webster Youth Hockey Girl's Program (where I play):
http://webstergirlshockey.tripod.com/