Female football player?

So she just showed up....or did you not realize all this time she was a girl?

As a female, here's my take on the situation. Chances are if she is showing up this late, she will not last long, however, treat her like any of the boys. It is generally a bigger issue for adults. I would recommend addressing everyone early on with the focus being on team and respect for one another. If you do not tolerate rude comments you hear about other boys, don't tolerate it about the girl. But don't be ultra sensitive about comments just because she is a girl....kids will work that out.

With the locker room issue, that can easily be worked out. Practices should not be an issue as long as you address the team as much as possible in common areas. You may have to change pre game/halftime procedures a bit as to not exclude her. Enlist the help of a girl's coach, the athletic trainer or a female administrator if need be at games.

Accept the girl on the team as you would any other boy and model respectable behavior. The kids will know if you are authentic or not. I don't see a need to treat her differently just because she is a girl. She is choosing to play football, so treat her like a football player.

herky is wise

Look at it from a selfish perspective, namely can THIS player help the team? Sounds like you might be at a small school (so am I) and just about any extra players is a good thing. 5 years ago we had a girl come out - I could tell right away that it was a novelty (from her attitude) but we just coached her the same way as we did the other players. We did our very best to make her a good football player. She ended up quitting after 3 weeks when it became clear that WE weren't going to "kick her off". 2 years ago we had another girl, heck of an athlete, come out and become our kicker. Was outstanding as a PAT (35 out of 37 for the season) and kickoff - even made 2 tackles! Treat them all like football players! Coach em' Up!

Several years ago I had a three year run where I had at least one female player on my freshman team. I told them up front you'lll get treated no differently then the guys and we'll hold you to the same standard we hold them to- If you choose to enter what is essentially a male dominated environment then whatever adjusting must take place falls upon you and not the other players the team or the program. None ever had a problem with that, all completed the season and one actually played all 4 years in high school. You make the obivious accomidations like a seperate changing area but beyond that treat them like everyone else.

A player is a player. We had a female player in the 7th and 8th grade. Hit her hard and knock her over and she cried, just like 2/3 of the boys...

I had a couple of girls on my JV team a few years ago. I ignored that they were girls, as much as I could. I treated them just like I would a boy of equal committment and ability. One quit, one stuck it out the whole season, but only got in late in the game, at deep safety, when we had a big lead. Neither came out again.

If you treat them like one of the guys it clarifies a lot of issues.

Ummm, Discovered? After 3 weeks of S&C? Is that a story in of itself?

Just don't put her at center or at QB and you'll be fine. I coached a girl, thought it was a big deal, and it really wasn't.

I was the original on this post and my situation was different because we where Middle School and it sounds like you are talking about high school.

So EVERYONE was dressed on the bus for away games. I cant help with that or cant help with a trainer because we did not have one.

The story of this girl was she made it through 2 a days and then got injured. I think you have to be careful because she was injured a while before she told us, but wanted to show she could do it. I would assume that if a girl is out then she will do whatever it takes to stay in the game.

She did quit and became our MGR and we had more problems wiht her being a MGR. Now this past year I moved up to frosh level and I asked if she wanted to play, she said no, but she was a MGR again and withen in the first week more problems.

I guess what I am saying is it seems the whole Harassment thing is there more when you have girls as MGRS. at least in my ONE case.

Over 20 years ago I had a girl play for our 8th and 9th grade J.H. teams. Her dad said he tried his best to talk her out of it. She was dead set on playing tackle football.

Once we got through the locker room situation with her, we got to work.

In two seasons, she missed one practice. We sent her home because she was burning up with a fever. She practiced with pain and she usually came to school in a skirt. She was able to play on two undefeated teams so she got plenty of mop up time.

When boys thought about quiting I'd always point out that "Amber sticks with it and she's getting her butt kicked everyday." "You may want to think it over before you turn in your gear." For two years nobody quit our teams.

I've had three other girls play for me at the H.S. level and all earned their teammates respect because they were dedicated. Most recently I had a senior girl come out for my team this past fall. She picked to play on the line and never missed offseason weight/conditioning, spring ball, camp or practice. Her little brother played and she wanted to do this with him. She also wanted to test her own toughness because she's interested in a career in the military and said she's never tested herself physically before.

She earned our respect and admiration.

Don't look at the gender, look at the person.