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Opportunities granted to girls should be extended to boys
By Bill Gates 5/31/06
Something around two, three years ago, two male students played for the Meade High School field hockey team.
Anne Arundel County was cool with it, but the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association told Meade the team could not compete in the regional playoffs with the two boys on the team.
Well, OK. A rule's a rule, after all.
Over the past few weeks, there's been a lot of attention given to the fact that, for the first time in Maryland, five girls qualified for their respective regional wrestling tournaments. Two girls, including Jade Hendricks of Western Tech in Baltimore County, achieved an even more impressive first by finishing fourth and reaching the state tournament.
That's pretty darn impressive, even though they're both going to get decked in their first-round matches. Most fourth-place regional finishers get decked in the first round of the state tournament, because the bracket has them opening against someone who won a region title. (For the record, Hendricks was pinned, Nicole Woody lost by a decision.)
So it's a grand achievement and a real milestone and no doubt will be trumpeted as another step forward for women's athletics, even as schools all over the state struggle to maintain field hockey, girls cross country and girls track programs in the face of declining participation.
Sorry, digressed a bit there and almost forgot that all the sensitive, open-minded sports columnists are preaching that this is a great thing. (One columnist pointed out that observers said Woody was technically superior to her state opponent, but lost because he was stronger. Now, there's a news flash: A girl couldn't compete with a boy on a physical level. Hasn't that been the whole argument against girls playing on boys teams?)
And it is. Really. Heck, I wrote last year that if girls wanted to wrestle with the guys, let them. If I wasn't tough enough to run indoor track and my only other alternative was basketball, I'd wrestle, too.
But, well, there were those two guys who played field hockey for Meade. Remember them? Does anyone know why girls can compete in the postseason in a traditionally boys sport, but boys can't compete in the playoffs of a traditionally girls sport?
At best, it's unfair; at worst, I have to wonder how it's legal. After all, men's field hockey is an Olympic sport. If there isn't an option for boys, I don't see how the state can legally prevent them from playing on a girls team in the postseason.
Volleyball is also a men's Olympic sport, but there are no boys teams in the MPSSAA. Yet, don't try to join the girls squad.
It annoys me to be the one pointing this out. At every paper where I've worked since entering this field in 1983, I've made sure women's athletics were covered on an equal footing with men's. I've also learned that, no matter how much you boost women's athletics, there's a dullard out there ready to scream “sexist!” if you stray from the manifesto.
But I'm not arguing for a restriction on opportunities for girl athletes. I'm saying you can't deny boys those same opportunities. There aren't any subtleties to grasp here. Equal protection under the law, remember?
Many will say that allowing boys to play field hockey and volleyball will result in boys dominating those two sports, which, of course, is wrong.
Where's a boy's advantage in field hockey (I figure the kilts alone will restrict the number of boys playing)? Contact is illegal. Hitting a ball too high and too hard is illegal. Being shorter is actually an advantage when it comes to stickwork.
In volleyball, the teams are on opposite sides of a net, and there are ways for a defense to negate size. The problem I see here is that, with the small size of the squads, boys could conceivably “take over” teams unless some kind of quota were used. Then again, if that becomes a problem, maybe the state should just sponsor boys volleyball.
Realistically, I don't see a rush by boys to join the field hockey and volleyball squads even if they have the option. But they should have that option.
Otherwise, isn't everyone just participating in an unspoken agreement that girls can't compete with boys, and only the rare girl who's competitive against underclassmen should get the opportunity?
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IndyStar.com 5/31/06
Wrestling: The United States finished third in the Women's World Cup at Nagoya, Japan. Katie Downing, Pendleton, 147 pounds, scored the Americans' only victory in a 6-1 loss to Japan.
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Soldier Earns Berth in World Wrestling Championships
Army News Service | Tim Hipps | June 01, 2006
The U.S. World Team Trials for women are scheduled June 29 and 30 at Colorado Springs Christian School in Colorado Springs. Reigning 158.5-pound freestyle world champion Sgt. Iris Smith and Sgt. Tina George, a two-time world silver medalist at 121 pounds, are expected to compete. Both are Soldiers in the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program.
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USA Wrestling seeks Manager of Grass Roots Development
Mark Scott USA Wrestling
06/01/2006
USA Wrestling Job Opportunity
Position Title:Manager of Grass-Roots Development
Division/Department:Department of State Services
Position:Full-time
Job Responsibility: USA Wrestling is seeking a self-motivated, highly energetic, qualified individual who seeks to make a difference in youth wrestling, and is committed to develop, promote and implement strategies that will enhance USA Wrestling programs at the Grass-Roots level. The qualified individual will be responsible to assist with increasing membership opportunities with a focus on folkstyle wrestling, inner city programs, leagues, international exchanges, and club programming at the junior high, high school, and colleges levels. In addition, the individual shall institute marketing strategies in order to encourage non-USA Wrestling affiliated organizations and event promoters to sanction their activities with USA Wrestling. The qualified individual shall also manage and assist with various volunteer training and recognition programs, training and resource materials for club leaders and state leadership positions. The successful applicant will also assist with various regional and National event duties as determined by USA Wrestling’s Director of National Events. This dynamic individual must also demonstrate the ability to work with diverse groups of individuals, volunteers and business professionals, and exhibit the ability to work as a team player, communicate effectively and interject new ideas and concepts.
Minimum Requirements/Qualifications: Minimum of two years experience working within USAW’s grass-roots structure. A bachelor's degree in sports management, marketing, or related fields. Ability to travel is required. Computer skills are required. Event management experience is required. Graphic design, desktop publishing, database development and management skills preferred. Must be able to lift a minimum of 50lbs. Must be self-motivated and be willing to develop and present creative and innovative ideas related to grass-roots membership development. Must have organizational skills and be able to maintain clear concise files and records. Competitive salary and comprehensive benefit program. USA Wrestling is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Application Process: Interested candidates should send a cover letter, resume and three references to: Mark A. Scott, Director of State Services, USA Wrestling, 6155 Lehman Drive, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80918. Review of applications will begin immediately. Applications will be accepted until position is filled.