Title IX is More than a Token Gesture

As the father of a soccer playing daughter, equal playing opportunities for girls has a personal importance for me.

While Title IX ensures that in principal, I think there are indeed some differences between a club having a program that invites both girls and boys to play and a club that actively takes developmental differences of boys and girls in account to provide the best programs for each.

There are of course exceptions as there are some girls that don't mind playing with boys, but anyone who has coached both boys and girls at the younger age groups has spotted some of the differences.  Girls develop teamwork and tactical skills earlier than boys, generally speaking, while boys seem to have the early edge on aggressive physical play and individual skill.

For this reason, an interesting thing happens when you take your 8 or 9 year old daughter out to a co-ed event such as a camp, clinic or scrimmage.   With a few noted exceptions, from my experience most girls prefer not to play with a rowdy group of boys at that age, most certainly not if they are the only girl in the group.

Play With the Boys or Don't Play - Is Separate Really not Equal?

Recently, I was elected to my local youth soccer club's board of directors and one of my primary goals has been to improve the club's offerings for girls.

A few seasons ago, the club added to it's offerings an off season scrimmage.  It has been a huge plus conceptually and I the club puts a lot of emphasis on the context of these scrimmages to be a 'show up and play' format with a low degree of adult interaction.  

As one of my first actions as a board member, I set out to attend a few of these scrimmages and brought my daughter and some of her team mates to get a girl's perspective.

FC Gold Pride Matters to 9 year old Soccer Monkey

There is no sense in me trying to improve upon what my daughter had to say about the possibility of 'her team' FC Gold Pride folding this November 15. Her words say it all:

Why FC Gold Pride is Important to Me.

FC Gold Pride is important to me because it is fun and because I spend time with my dad. We go to the games together.

STOP the Demise of WPS Team FC Gold Pride

Yesterday, the U9 Soccer Monkeys had a guest coach, Kim Yokers, midfielder for FC Gold Pride, our Bay Area Women's Pro Soccer team. I'm sure they have fun when their regular coach (me) is conducting practice but this session was something completely different. I know they enjoyed it as their smiles were not fake, but I also know they have no idea how special it was.

I arranged for the midfielder to come conduct a practice session because I wanted all of the other team members and their parents to experience the inspiration my daughter has gained from WPS. I had no idea the timing would be so critical.

No Flat Feet! or how to be Champions just like FC Gold Pride

It's official. FC Gold Pride have earned the title of WPS Champions. After a memorable regular season campaign with a 16-3-5 record, they sealed the deal against the Philly Cheesesteaks at Pioneer Stadium on September 26.

With a near sell out crowd on hand (I think they sold all but 175 seats or so), fans witnessed some great possession soccer, quality footwork and some great finishing.

WPS, Our Turn to Thank You on Sep 26!

As FC Gold Pride played it's last regular game for the 2010 season, I have never felt so appreciated as a fan. I've been to numerous so called fan appreciation events and this wasn't even billed as such.

In years of following Major League Baseball as a child, I've never once caught a foul ball, never once met a player or secured an autograph, never once felt half as important as a fan as I do now for FC Gold Pride.

Perhaps I feel appreciated because I've actually had the players thank me for supporting the team. Perhaps it's because they stretched out a huge banner to thank the fans for coming out. No the real reason lies in what these professional women have done to inspire my daughter.

FC Gold Pride Plays Best Game Ever (according to my daughter).

I grew up attending San Francisco Giants baseball and spent most games toting my mitt in anticipation of that random foul ball. Baseball was cool like that. When the ball went into the stands it was yours to keep. Never mind that at 8 years old you were more likely to duck for cover when the line drive came soaring your way. Soccer is typically different in that there is an unwritten etiquette of returning any balls that are kicked into the stands back on to the field. I suppose this is one of the small elements that keeps the on field action flowing (little or no time spent looking for another game ball). WPS manages to deliver the best of both worlds.