Girls sports vs. Boys sports

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It is unfortunate especially when the softball team had a better record than the football team, yes they have more games than football but they were 7 games over 500 and the football team was 500, The softball team was the best record sport at the school but when you have a AD that was a former football coach it,s all about football, and it does bring in the most money for the school by far . At least where you are at when you work out you they have it to themselves. Also i don't think i had ever seen our AD at a softball game to bad he missed some good stuff maybe he was jealous:lmao::yahoo::cap:.

 

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As I stated above, I am all in for Title IX and "equality" but, with that being said, I am going to play devil's advocate for a minute here. Most everyone attributes it to football bringing in more money, but is it really only about that or do we need to acknowledge that high school football is "king" in Ohio. More people enjoy and follow the sport, local media follows it more closely, and many schools identities are "defined" by their football program. Football is a boys' sport and participation is generally a lot higher, so most of the other sports take a second seat. Boys' basketball is generally a strong #2. Is it because the schools make money on these sports, or just that those sports are bigger in Ohio and alumni, parents and the community demand more? Again, I'm not saying it makes anything right, but I do think it is a factor.

 

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As I stated above, I am all in for Title IX and "equality" but, with that being said, I am going to play devil's advocate for a minute here. Most everyone attributes it to football bringing in more money, but is it really only about that or do we need to acknowledge that high school football is "king" in Ohio. More people enjoy and follow the sport, local media follows it more closely, and many schools identities are "defined" by their football program. Football is a boys' sport and participation is generally a lot higher, so most of the other sports take a second seat. Boys' basketball is generally a strong #2. Is it because the schools make money on these sports, or just that those sports are bigger in Ohio and alumni, parents and the community demand more? Again, I'm not saying it makes anything right, but I do think it is a factor.

Football is the king.

Having said that, it's up to the coach to pursue equal time for gym and workout times. My younger daughters team in college practice on Sundays at 6:30pm because of taking a back seat to other sports. My older daughter has better practice schedule because I believe coach demands it.
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I can't believe that in 2013 we are having this conversation.

Title IX is the law of the land and must be applied to all programs at a public high school.
The facilities that baseball has access to and when they have access to them should be the same as for softball, period.
When facilities must be shared then a schedule must be worked out that allows both teams access to prime times in some kind of equitable sharing.

If that doesn't happen; don't bother the coach or the AD they either have no power or are the problem. Check with other women's sports and you'll likely see that the discrimination goes much deeper than just softball. Go to the Principle of the school and layout your case. Make sure you say Title IX a few times during this meeting. When that doesn't work go to the school board and advocate simple equivalency. If nothing happens rather quickly then look at bringing suit under Title IX. No District wants such a suit and should try very hard to settle it before it gets to a judge, if only to void the legal fees. There are national organizations that could assist you in bringing a suit to correct such gross inequality.

(PS: I am a school board president and I can tell you that although football has the largest community support as witnessed by the gate it is far from the money maker that it is made out to be. Our gate for 5 home games doesn't pay for the required helmet reconditioning, let alone the field maintenance, security and officiating. Furthermore, since the NFL has admitted that football and concussions are related and that concussions are dangerous especially to young players how much longer will our communities support the sport without substantial changes?)

 

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Easy fairman, we're on your side here. The difference is the attitude because some of us have faught the fight for so long that getting use of a middle school gym for softball is many steps better than we had 5-10 years ago. I don't want to reveal my age so let's keep this debate recent cause you don't want to know what we faced even with Title IX when it came into effect.

We live in Ohio where the general population cherishes their football. Maybe not to the extent of Texas or Alabama but you have to admit it's ranks right up there. Okay, your high school doesn't collect enough gate fees for everything needed for the football program. My reference to Klump's statement refered to his mention of Kent St., a well-known college in Ohio. Most all colleges regardless of their size are the primary revenue-earning sport and return the most money to the till. In many cases, it may be the only sport outside of boys basketball that returns more than it uses. At the high school level it only makes sense the revenue-earning or return be realitive to the size, success, and overall school support of the programs for your area. I know you get this because you've been on here a while and we can sense how intelligent you are. I mean this wholeheartedly.

We still strive for equality and fairness. After such a war I have to admit a team getting fair time even at the middle school sounds pretty good to me. Sorry.

Lastly, I feel it is a shame that others have fundraised for a specific program only to have the money used for another purpose. To go to the lengths to have a facility built and have it confiscated for another use is appalling. Building on school property gives you little leverage I'm sure. I can only assume something wasn't in order to protect the project from this outcome. Sounds like you were against the wall anyway. Perhaps building off of school grounds could have been an alternative. I've seen some extremely slick deals go down bwtween the community and the school district. You'd have to think some are criminal if looked in to. I have no advice except to get legal counsel before ever beginning.

 

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As a high school softball coach, I feel a lot of issues are the coaches fault. You have to communicate with your A.D and the people who schedule times. I know I am constantly pushing for everything for my team. From gym times to equipment to new uniforms.

Maybe we are just lucky to get support at our school. It has come mostly by asking and compromise.

 

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Absolutely our society has come a long way in providing equal opportunities for women but there is still plenty of ground to left to cover to get our girls an even break.

However we still tell our girls that they are second class in very subtle ways.

We practice in the elementary gym a half mile from the high school with a 10 minute walk and no transportation. We do not have access to the fitness center after practice and the weight room is only accessed through the boys locker room. We aren't allowed an outfield fence but the boys have a locked well maintained field completely fenced. Our one set of bleachers is placed in right field with no restrooms and no concession stand while the baseball field has bleachers, restrooms and concession. Another local school with golf has the boys practice and play at the country club while the girls are on the pubic course. Also the same country club doesn't let women play on Saturday mornings.......

You get the picture, and I am sure that all of you could tell simialr stories.

When will our outrage at this stupidity make this discussion mute?

( I was doing so well at calming down but we all have daughters that can't wait.)

 

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Thanks to all that have given an opinion. Part of my problem that got me so fired up over this is the Boys have the outfield fence and nice drainage, we have a cow pasture for the girls as one of the posters could attest to. My oldest DD plays Tennis and one of the Einstein's in our district had the Tennis court's redone starting just before the GIRLS Tennis season started, we now have nice courts but our girls didn't get to play on them when finished the season was over. We went up to work with some of the girls playing Winter ball and someone had been doing donuts on the Varsity softball field, because with no fence everyone has access to it.

 

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As a high school softball coach, I feel a lot of issues are the coaches fault. You have to communicate with your A.D and the people who schedule times. I know I am constantly pushing for everything for my team. From gym times to equipment to new uniforms.

Maybe we are just lucky to get support at our school. It has come mostly by asking and compromise.

We have decent communication between the various varsity and club coaches at our school as well. The AD does a good job of balancing field, gym and weight room time between the girls and boys sports.
All sports share and rotate various times some before school, some after school, some evenings between the gyms.

Like others have stated I would not care too much about "weight room time". In a lot of cases there is more risk than reward with a High School weight room especially if there is co-ed work outs...

While football is KING we get good community support for most of our sports. One thing I have noticed (and it mostlikely happens at most schools) is the representation at booster meetings from the girls sports is weak... Same with booster enrolment from the girls sports.

Our school offers additional booster benefits $$$ based on % of booster menbersfrom the various teams.
Boys sports have far more numbers but; reguarly have much greater % of booster involvement from the parents per sport.
This may or may not play a little into the equality issue...

On a Side Note....GO CARDS....

 

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Thanks everyone, I don't know what made the difference but we received word today that the girls will be using the new facilities at our High School.

 

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Awesome and good luck to you'r team this upcoming season.

 

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Thanks everyone, I don't know what made the difference but we received word today that the girls will be using the new facilities at our High School.

Someone must of whispered Title IX... In AD's ear.