Today in class we watched the film “Kick like a Girl”. After the film, the class discussed youth sports and our feelings about the film and the integration of gender in youth sports. It was surprising to me to see that some of the parents in the film were skeptical about a girls youth soccer team playing against boys on youth soccer teams. It was also strange for me to hear some fellow students comment that the integration of gender in youth sports should happen. I did not believe that the integration of gender in youth sports was even an issue. In my hometown most, if not all, of the youth sports are considered at least semi-Coed. Even when I was growing up and playing youth sports in my hometown, youth sports were organized. These organized youth sports could all be classified as Coed. Youth baseball and youth football were still considered boy sports, but girls could sign up to participate and were both allowed to and very able to play and compete with the boys. Growing up with that image of equality in sports makes it very difficult for me to comprehend that some organized youth sports separate gender still.
We have come a long way in sports since the passing of Title IX in 1972. However, the video today and some of the comments in the film and in our class discussion show me that there is still a long way to go to achieve equality in both youth sports and sports in general. I believe that the revolution of sport started in the 1970s has stalled; and that there needs to be a push for equality in sports before the role of gender in sports is perceived by society the way it was before the passing of Title IX.
Nick M.
KIN 338I Sec. 1
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"Kick Like A Girl" was a very fun and entertaining video to watch. The skill level of these young ladies is truly remarkable. They are very competitive and show great ambition toward the sport of soccer and willingness to improve their skills as a team. I too have noticed that most little league baseball, soccer, basketball, football and all other youth sport teams are in fact coed, but this is rarely the case. Today most teams are made up of either all boys or girls, and this “coed team” is nonexistent. I feel this is a direct cause of competition and major influence from parents. If we can influence the younger generation to play coed sports up until high school and even at the college level our sporting culture will begin to change, hopefully for the better. With more integration in coed sports, women in sport would gain more recognition and begin to change our cultural views within the sports world.
Nick H.
KIN 338I Sec. 1
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