Level Playing Field: College Soccer
Although the physical size of a woman is not conducive to such sports as football, ice hockey, rugby, etc., this in no way minimizes the athleticism of the female gender. This assertion is based on the popularity of women’s sports such as the WNBA, LPGA, etc. These sport’s activities are very demanding and require a high level of athletic ability and stamina. In addition, another sport that is popular and fully utilizes the athletic prowess of females is soccer.
Specifically, the popularity of women’s college soccer has escalated. This is due to a number of reasons that have caused women’s and men’s sports to participate on a more level playing field. Some of those reasons that have worked towards leveling the playing field include the encouragement by role models, organized leagues and available funding.
Encouragement By Role Models
One of the key factors that have contributed to the popularity of women’s college soccer is the involvement of young girls in sports activities. This early age involvement can be attributed to the parents or guardians of these young girls.
In previous years, often the parents encouraged the boys in the family to participate in sporting events such as Little League, football, soccer, etc. However, parents began to see the value of having the girls in the family participating in sporting activities. Some of those advantage included physical development, teambuilding skills, having fun, a broad range of experience for the child, etc.
Of course, as it is for all children, not all girls continued their participation in sports activities. However, the law of averages came into play and the popularity of women’s involvement in sports activities increased accordingly. This eventually gave rise to the popularity of women’s college soccer.
Organized Leagues
Another added dimension that increased the popularity of women’s college soccer was the increase of women’s sporting leagues. This increase in women’s leagues was due to the fact that the there was an increase of young women who wished to continue their involvement in sporting activities.
Obviously, there are physical differences between a man and a woman. One of the major differences, in the sports realm, mainly surrounds the area of physical strength. Therefore, to level the playing field separate sporting leagues were established that allowed for women to compete against women and not women against men.
Available Funding
On additional important element that has attributed to the level playing field of women’s college soccer is money. Before the passage of Title IX, money that sponsored male sporting activities and educational opportunities were greater than what was given to the opposite sex.
The passage of this amendment in 1972 banned discrimination in both academic and participation in sports. In essence the amendment required that government money be spent equally in both areas for male and female students. In addition, Title IX contributed to the rise of involvement in women’s soccer as the legislation required equal participation as well.
