To those who are strong believers in gender equality, the fight to even the playing field is ongoing. And we need look no further than co-ed recreational intramural sports to realize that by default, women are still presumed unequal to men in their skill level and experience.
Let’s take it back to the beginning of September when classes were getting back into swing, and with that, intramurals. Our first game of the season, I was the only girl from our team to show (given there are only two of us) and right off the bat I was told I must play the full forty-minute game or the team would have to forfeit.
“There must be one female on the court at all times” is one rule that will never sit right with me. What exactly is the point of this? By instilling this rule we are already setting ourselves up with gender inequality. As a female co-ed intramural team player, it is rather insulting to have my skills belittled when in reality, I match up better against most guys on the opposing team, rather than the one other girl on the court. If actually given the chance, I and a number of other female players I’ve matched up against could definitely take on a guy inside the key.
Which leads me to my next point. The number of times I’ve been on the court, wide open along the baseline, and the ball is swung around to every other player except myself, leaves me incredibly frustrated as a minority out there as I am continually overlooked.
Now, I’ve got a few teammates who are great team players and without being cocky, when the ball is passed to me, I believe I show results. With that being said, there’s nothing wrong with driving to the net, but there is definitely a time and place to do it, and it certainly isn’t every offensive run the team gets.
If your one female player on the court has a strong finish under the basket—or a high percentage three-point shot—and if that player is good at the game, then gender is irrelevant.
My greatest frustration as a female athlete on a co-ed team is trying to prove myself. Hey dudes, if you never pass me the ball, how am I supposed to sink that three-point baseline shot? Pass me the ball every now and again, and I promise I’ll give you results.
