Big Day...

A Washington, DC high school (Coolidge High School) just appointed a woman to be the head coach of their football team. On Friday, Natalie Randolph will be announced as the first female to head a boys varsity football team in the country.

For those of you who don't know, before working as an athletic trainer at Madeira, I spent most of my college years working in men's athletics (high school boys football and lacrosse, College basketball, pro soccer). I have a pretty good understanding of what its like to be a fly-on-the-wall in the "Old Boy's Club". Football is an especially unfriendly sport to the presence of women. I know female athletic trainers who have been left outside in the hall on trips to the Washington Redskins facilities. As of a few years ago (i don't know the current #), there was only ONE female athletic trainer in the NFL. She is an assistant working for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

I don't post this to advocate for a women's lib movement and the break down of all gender walls in all circumstances. There are professional situations where I prefer a woman, as opposed to a man (mostly medical ones). I do, however believe that there are situations where women are just as capable, if not more (depending on the woman) to take on the same roles. I believe that Title IX provided women (like myself) with the opportunity to play sports through college. But I recognize that Title IX has done damage to men's athletic programs across the country (Thanks, football budgets). Therefore, for me, this issue is not Black & White.

Here's the whole WaPo article: Here

Check out the film A Hero For Daisy to find out more about Title IX and Women's Rowing

Also, this makes me think of the 30 Rock episode when Liz flashes back to her high school glory days as a football kicker.