The answer to that question is: yes and no. The answer would be yes due to the fact that in earlier years of growing up there are less distinguishable traits between boys and girls compared to when they are older. In the early stages of growing up, they tend to grow realativly at the same rate, and that is what makes it competitive on the playing surface. Another factor that can go into girls competing at a younger age is that they go through puberty at a younger age than boys do. That fact can show us why some girls can dominate boys in certain sports at a younger age. I believe that we can use that fact to comprehend what that girl in Utah is doing in football at the age of 10. Her physical body has matured more than the boys that she is playing against and gives her an advantage.
Now for the reason not to, the boys will catch up and most likely pass the girls in terms of maturity with a few after that. In high school and beyond most boys finally grow into their bodies, and continue to get stronger through weight lifting and other techniques. There are some girls that can play with the boys when we get higher up in skill level, but the percentages are low. The main reason why girls should not play with the boys later on in their development is due to the fact of how boys mature later and structurally their bodies are built more for the sports than are girls bodies.
But, if I had a daughter, I would support whatever decision she would choose. But, I would explain what is possible if they do choose to play more violent sports or with the boys. As a father, I would feel as though that is one of my jobs to support my kids in whatever they would do.
Hi Tyler,
ReplyDeleteI really appreciate your reasoned approach to this topic. But most of all I liked what you wrote at the end: "But, if I had a daughter, I would support whatever decision she would choose. But, I would explain what is possible if they do choose to play more violent sports or with the boys. As a father, I would feel as though that is one of my jobs to support my kids in whatever they would do."
Amen to that!!
Dr. Spencer
Jeremy Shay
ReplyDeleteI agree with you and I think that it is okay for boys and girls to play with each other up to a certain age though. I think that they have pretty even playing abilities when they are younger and therefore should be able to play with each other if that is what they or their parents want. But they should also have the chance to play with their own gender if that what they want too. For younger age kids they should have both co-ed and have leagues with just boys or just girls. I think that it all depends on the sport that you are playing should depend on how long you can play with both boys and girls. Some sports I would say you could go till the ages 12, 13, or 14, but other sports might only be like 10, 11 or 12. There might be some cases with a girl that she might be able to complete with the guys when they are older than that but once you get to those ages, the guys start to fit to their bodies like you said and that is when you can really see the differences in the abilities.
Tyler,
ReplyDeleteI would have to agree with you on if girls should play sports with boys. I think when we are growing up we should be able to play sports with each because our skills and abilities are fully what they could be at a younger age. When I was growing up I was on an all guy’s soccer team around the age of 8 or 9 it was something to get used to at first but since the skill level wasn’t there yet for all of us it wasn’t so bad. Today, if I would have been asked to play on an all guy’s team for soccer if I still played I would say no because sometimes guys develop more quick in skill than girls do. Now, when it comes to saying no about girls playing sports with guys is that in today’s society guys aren’t really exceptive enough to allow girls to play with them. Those guys tend to make fun of the girls and 9 times out of 10 the girls don’t get much playing time as they would like when playing on an all guys team. I have experienced it when I was in high school when there was a girl who went out for the football team and she barely received any playing time due to her level of skill not fully being there like it would be with a guy playing
Lindsey Landversicht