Football as a Women’s Sport, Too. Who Would Have Thought It?!

Daily writing prompt

What are your favorite sports to watch and play?

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I wanted to play football when I was a young girl, but no one would let me play with the boys in the neighborhood. The Christmas when I was twelve, I asked for a football outfit with pads for Christmas, and I got a doll!. Bummer big time! Then, my cousin, Tony, got tired of me asking to play. I was under five feet tall but I was hefty for a girl. One day, he let me play. I was elated, until I was handed the ball and tackled a couple of times. I thought on one tackle that I lost one of my breasts. I had pain everywhere, and I never asked again to play, which I think was the reason for allowing me to play.

So, you can imagine my surprise when I was in graduate school when one of my fellow students informed a group of us that she was chosen for a women’s football team in Atlanta. This was in the early 2000s. Now, Atlanta has a women’s professional football team called the Atlanta Rage, and they play tackle football! They are in Division 2 of the Women’s Football Alliance. They are pretty good! They went 6-0 in season play in 2024. I admire their courage and hope they protect their top halves as the guys do their lower halves. Enough said.

Of course at age 73, 4 feet, 10 inches, and 128 pounds, I am not likely to play with them, but in 2025, I hope to attend a game or two. I will be the loudest spectator. I love the game, and even today, I can name quarterbacks and coaches, which amazes people because of my gender. I coach from my armchair on Mondays, Thursdays, and Sundays, just like the guys.

I don’t watch as much since Damar Hamlin was hurt. I can’t stomach the big hits any more, and I find myself nearly in tears when a player stays down on the field too long. But there is no other sport I love as much as football, American style. There are few things more wonderful that a spiral football flying through the air and caught in the end zone! Touchdown!