Girls playing with boys

[johnydep]

Rising soccer star Emma Checker takes on the boys - and dominates

Emma Checker, 17, will become the first ever women's soccer player to play in a Seniors Men's U18 competition at the West Torrens Birkalla Soccer Club. Picture: Keryn Stevens. Source: The Advertiser

TEENAGE soccer prodigy Emma Checker is set to become the first South Australian female in almost 20 years - and the second ever - to play against elite boys her own age.

Emma, 17, who made her senior debut for national women's team the Matildas, will play for West Torrens Birkalla's male under-18 Premier League team against White City at Novar Gardens tomorrow.

She will be the first female to play in an elite male competition since one of the state's most decorated Matildas, Di Alagich, played in the competition in 1995.

Board members and coaching staff voted for Checker to play against the boys last month, after an approach by the Football Federation of Australia.

"We were happy to allow her to trial with the under-18 men's team and earn selection on merit because she is such a special talent," club spokesman Andrew Ross said.

"If she earns selection in the side and it helps her progress towards playing for the Matildas we think that is great for women's soccer."

Birkalla under-18 coach Daniel Patterson yesterday confirmed Checker would play in tomorrow's clash after excelling in competitive training.

"She shows a level of experience and skill that is exceptional," Patterson said.

"She has been in the senior Matildas and the under-20 Matildas squad and I think that athletically she'll able to handle this level of football."

Checker said she was nervous but excited about the opportunity.

"I'm obviously pretty nervous because it's something new," she said.

"I've come up against boys before but they've always been younger than me, so this is definitely going to be a real challenge but one that I'm willing to take on."

[SAD GAL]

Read today's paper and make up your own mind. YOu can choose to live under your rock and actully state your position. Reading your initial post you were quite (or acted) naive about it all. Now you've made comments that suggest you know a little bit more.

I'm tired of reading crap about the FFSA tinkering with a broken product and fooling the masses. Emma's situation is evidence. Don't bother putting up another point of view because it doesn't stack up.

The stats speak for themselves.

SAD Gal the elite players are taken out of the girls league and put in the FFSA teams in prem competition and NTC and skillaroos in the boys to advance there skills. If you are identified then you go down that path for state selection etc. Also when the SA made it to representative level the womens competition was so far from now and the boys leagues were a must. The structure is getting there. You unfortunately have a Jadded view and reading your posts is the worst part about the womens games, no positive, all doom and Gloom, such a shame

[Left Wing Back]

I was told Sad Gal is not involved in the women's/girls game anymore. Is that true?

[The Kings Jesta]

Nothing really to do with whether girls play with girls or play against boys.
Contributing factors as it is with both sexes and probably all sports:

Parents (do they push too little/too much, supportive, a background in the sport themselves to aid early development etc...)
Coaches (right coach/right player)
Club (can they create a supportive learning environment)
Player (do they have the natural ability/drive/passion/maturity that if all the above aren't there they can still do it)

Having worked with elite female footballers and the general players of the local prem league, there is a huge difference in the metal side of the game of the players.

The best advice is to always assess yourself first (are you really making all the sacrifices you should to make it), before you look at external factors like what league/team/coach etc is best

[SAD GAL]

We are talking about the critical formative years here. Keep it in context. Yes enjoyment is important but real enjoyment comes when you can “play” the game rather than participate. Burdening players at a young about the dizzying heights of national representation is probably going to go over their heads.

The risk is that by the time a player at 14-15 starts to think about State/National League/Matildas, it may be late as the skills they should have are probably not at the required level. People like Emma are the exception and that raw talent is something to be admired however in the wring hands ie a comp where probably 90% aren’t of the same standard will mean frustration and retard the onward development of the player. Whilst in the boys comp, you would probably find that the majority of players in any team have exceptional drive determination and reasonable skills.

Do you get the slant I’m coming from? Leaving a player like Emma in the women’s comp will not give her an advantage. Boys/men’s comp will give her the intensity and speed and level of comp that she requires and is not evident in the women’s comp.

Development of skills is critical at the junior level.


BTW I haven't been around the scene in 4-5 years. May make me irrelevant however, the viewpoint I have hasn't been disputed.

[Abra1]

Well, a couple of months on and I'm telling a different story. Playing with the boys at a competitive club hasn't done for her development what I had hoped it would. Instead she has lost her confidence and is now no longer playing. We will take the rest of the season off and then look for a girls club next year and try and get her liking soccer again. Lesson learned.

[JBJBJB]

build a strong league ------ you must play prems or reserves ------- so what about the rest who are not at that standard or who struggle to play with boys. Are you saying there is no place in football for you because you do not fit the mould or not up to scratch. Shame Shame you need a competition for all to play and fast track or accelerate those that stand out. FFSA is doing this slowly but surely by having it's own prems team, holding it's own. coached a couple that are there and they are doing it well as our club doesn't offer prems or reserves it is the best avenue.

My experience, spoke to a player who was destined for high level and went to STIC and was told by james and Shaun (northern STIC Coaches) "you must be with the boys to progress your soccer", 6th round knee strain and never to return to football. As she was told that's what you have to do and once injured she was basically sidelined by the coach and even after a phonecall and chat will not return to either the womens or mens game. Such a shame for a bright future star. In the womens the injury would not have been a setback to her career not the finale. The trainers at our club would have had a program and plan to get it right and out playing again, but the boy team did not give two hoots because she was not the best player, As she was there to develop. True story and it broke my heart as when I coached her in under 11's I think look at that spark she love the game. Isn't keeping girls/women in football the key to a strong league?

Marty “left wing back” PHE, super coach , when you open your mouth I suggest you get your facts right! I haven't had the opportunity to post before but I can now. So… let’s weigh into this argument.

Not ever! have I stated that a girl should play in boys teams? Its great that they do, it makes them harder and sharper on the ball but never I have promoted a girl to leave and play in a boys team, or that she will “go far by doing this” this is not factual and you need to retract this.

Also you imply she has had 6 knee reconstructions ??? really? and that you imply I am the cause of this! again you need to retract the false statement.

Marty your continual slight and concocted stories make me laugh, I really hope you wake up one day and stop bringing down anyone who is trying to “develop and improve the standard of players”.

Your also implying you coached these girls into the state team, please ring them ask them what part you actually played id be interested to hear what they would say. I could tell you but i think you know the answer already.

Marty you keep attacking people who actually care and are trying to make the difference, maybe you need to think about what you post before you post it, im NOT looking for an argument but its about time people started to think forwards and positive in the women's game coz the negative stuff is just depressing and taking away any spark that gets lighted each time. Yes its not ever going to be perfect but football is changing , has changed and I find the people who whinge the most are the ones still living in the past and cant accept the change which will make the difference in SA.

Maybe Marty you can explain and apologize at STIC next time I see you as I am really not impressed.

[paul merson]

Also you imply she has had 6 knee reconstructions ??? really? and that you imply I am the cause of this! again you need to retract the false statement.

Just for the record, I read it as she got it in the 6th round, no mention of knee recons, just a 6th round knee strain?

Maybe Im reading it wrong?

[JBJBJB]

Maybe your right? But the inference and incorrect facts is just totally off track.

[paul merson]

Maybe your right? But the inference and incorrect facts is just totally off track.

Hey I've seen both sides of the fence and been on this forum for a while, most on here know to take what you read with a pinch of salt.

[Left Wing Back]

Spoken to JB personally as he contacted me regarding this.

It is a He said, She said scenario and I believe JB when he states he has never said that and I also know what I was told. Unfort at the time I was told the above post and reported what I was told. Unfortunately it may or may not be the facts but don't we find that with every thing that is told to us about everything in the football community. So many have said it so it must be true and in the context of this forum it was to reflect that not all girls suit the mens system to further there potential and to some it suits.

I read it back now and yes should not have mentioned the names directly and have learnt from this for future post. I will still report the facts that are past to me and keep to what I believe in as this is what the forum is for. I am actively coaching and promoting the womens football at PHESC and will be doing that for a long time. As a coach I know I am a good development coach for beginners and younger players to keep enthusiasm and passion into the game of football. I use indoor, swimming, beach and aerobic training as part of my coaching year, as well as a preseason game conditioning camp at wallaroo to help promote football on yorke peninsula as well as develop a mentality in the players of what it will take to be a team and to take there football to another level. In final we are a community club for community players and aligning ourselves with two clubs to ensure a future for our talented girls. Yes I am a super coach if you see what I do every week coaching 15-30 U15 Girls two nights a week and 45 kids aged 3-5 years old once a week then coach on sunday and run the line on any other game and help around the club when needed, yes a super club person.

Jb a final note I understand the reply was written in anger and you are forgiven as I understand, as the names should not have been there, Our personal conversation has sorted this out, see you Friday night at STIC trials, I hope to be there cross fingers

[SAD GAL]

People’s let us remember one thing we’re on her not coz we’re wanting to change to the world or make mega $$$ we’re all on here because we know what a great game we have and to see it deteriorate makes us all sick to the core. Especially when, many years ago, we learned people could see where it was going. When we saw SASI and SAWSA dudes slapping themselves on the back when we could see that there was nothing in the not too distant future that gave us stakeholders confidence that OUR game had a bright future.

That day has come. A once vibrant competition is deteriorating. What do I mean? I look at the big picture. A picture that many girls coming into the game also need to see and aspire to. A competition that delivers whatever a player wants. Whether its to play for the Matildas. Wants to head to the US. Wants to play with buddies here in the local league or whatever. Sadly though our competition has and continues to deliver one thing. Mediocrity bordering on insignificance. girls faced with pursuing basketball or netball (great national and international exposure) vs. soccer (“do girls still play that game? Where will that take her?”).

So lets stop the infighting and look at the competition for what it is. For me this game deserves better.