[Music] I’ve always played a lot of sports from
I’ve always played a lot of sports from
I’ve always played a lot of sports from cheerleading to swimming to baseball to
cheerleading to swimming to baseball to
cheerleading to swimming to baseball to basketball they always have been and
basketball they always have been and
basketball they always have been and continue to be a huge part of my life
continue to be a huge part of my life
continue to be a huge part of my life this was thanks to my parents who since
this was thanks to my parents who since
this was thanks to my parents who since I was very young put me in basically
I was very young put me in basically
I was very young put me in basically every sport imaginable but I’m thankful
every sport imaginable but I’m thankful
every sport imaginable but I’m thankful for it and I think it shows because to
for it and I think it shows because to
for it and I think it shows because to this day in our house sports are part of
this day in our house sports are part of
this day in our house sports are part of daily life and when you have three
daily life and when you have three
daily life and when you have three siblings your parents often try to see
siblings your parents often try to see
siblings your parents often try to see if they can have more than one child
if they can have more than one child
if they can have more than one child playing on the same teams which often
playing on the same teams which often
playing on the same teams which often meant that my brother who is one year
meant that my brother who is one year
meant that my brother who is one year younger than me and I played together on
younger than me and I played together on
younger than me and I played together on the same teams some people find this
the same teams some people find this
the same teams some people find this strange but I’m not sure why when I run
strange but I’m not sure why when I run
strange but I’m not sure why when I run track or swim I trained the boys and
track or swim I trained the boys and
track or swim I trained the boys and girls so I should baseball or basketball
girls so I should baseball or basketball
girls so I should baseball or basketball be any different
be any different
be any different all kids care about is if you can play
all kids care about is if you can play
all kids care about is if you can play if you’re good a hard worker and willing
if you’re good a hard worker and willing
if you’re good a hard worker and willing to be competitive boys will play against
to be competitive boys will play against
to be competitive boys will play against you just like any other guy in over ten
you just like any other guy in over ten
you just like any other guy in over ten years of playing sports I’ve never felt
years of playing sports I’ve never felt
years of playing sports I’ve never felt that boy didn’t want to play with me or
that boy didn’t want to play with me or
that boy didn’t want to play with me or against me
against me
against me because of my gender there probably is a
because of my gender there probably is a
because of my gender there probably is a crazy sports parent’ talk in here
crazy sports parent’ talk in here
crazy sports parent’ talk in here somewhere about my wife and I you know
somewhere about my wife and I you know
somewhere about my wife and I you know we’ve been driving and coaching and
we’ve been driving and coaching and
we’ve been driving and coaching and cheering from the sidelines as our four
cheering from the sidelines as our four
cheering from the sidelines as our four kids have been growing up and we never
kids have been growing up and we never
kids have been growing up and we never really thought of this notion of gender
really thought of this notion of gender
really thought of this notion of gender of being important we were just trying
of being important we were just trying
of being important we were just trying to get our kids in a range of activities
to get our kids in a range of activities
to get our kids in a range of activities and we’ve been really surprised by how
and we’ve been really surprised by how
and we’ve been really surprised by how it seems to have struck other parents
it seems to have struck other parents
it seems to have struck other parents really differently parents do seem to
really differently parents do seem to
really differently parents do seem to get all caught up in gender I grew up in
get all caught up in gender I grew up in
get all caught up in gender I grew up in a house of with just brothers and none
a house of with just brothers and none
a house of with just brothers and none and in during all of our sports
and in during all of our sports
and in during all of our sports experiences I don’t think we ever had a
experiences I don’t think we ever had a
experiences I don’t think we ever had a time where we had girls on our teams but
time where we had girls on our teams but
time where we had girls on our teams but actually things have changed and it was
actually things have changed and it was
actually things have changed and it was probably not right then and it’s
probably not right then and it’s
probably not right then and it’s definitely not right now they’re not
definitely not right now they’re not
definitely not right now they’re not finding ways for girls and boys to be
finding ways for girls and boys to be
finding ways for girls and boys to be playing together in almost all
playing together in almost all
playing together in almost all activities there seems to be this notion
activities there seems to be this notion
activities there seems to be this notion that we’re protecting both boys and
that we’re protecting both boys and
that we’re protecting both boys and girls but I’m not really sure what
girls but I’m not really sure what
girls but I’m not really sure what exactly it is we’re protecting them from
exactly it is we’re protecting them from
exactly it is we’re protecting them from and then also at what cost are we doing
and then also at what cost are we doing
and then also at what cost are we doing it it’s interesting to see the reactions
it it’s interesting to see the reactions
it it’s interesting to see the reactions of other parents as our kids have been
of other parents as our kids have been
of other parents as our kids have been playing as our kids are playing sports
playing as our kids are playing sports
playing as our kids are playing sports and especially watching Liz play with
and especially watching Liz play with
and especially watching Liz play with her younger brother this is no great
her younger brother this is no great
her younger brother this is no great bold political statement we were trying
bold political statement we were trying
bold political statement we were trying to make as Elizabeth went and played
to make as Elizabeth went and played
to make as Elizabeth went and played with her brother who was a year younger
with her brother who was a year younger
with her brother who was a year younger as all of you know often sports are
as all of you know often sports are
as all of you know often sports are arranged in these two-year brackets and
arranged in these two-year brackets and
arranged in these two-year brackets and as she said you know we
as she said you know we
as she said you know we I was really out of convenience that we
I was really out of convenience that we
I was really out of convenience that we ended up having our son and our daughter
ended up having our son and our daughter
ended up having our son and our daughter play sports together but hearing some of
play sports together but hearing some of
play sports together but hearing some of the comments were really surprising
the comments were really surprising
the comments were really surprising there are those who said wow what a bold
there are those who said wow what a bold
there are those who said wow what a bold powerful statement you’re making you
powerful statement you’re making you
powerful statement you’re making you know having girls plate you having your
know having girls plate you having your
know having girls plate you having your daughter play with a boys team I
daughter play with a boys team I
daughter play with a boys team I actually never really understood that
actually never really understood that
actually never really understood that sports are just about kids having fun it
sports are just about kids having fun it
sports are just about kids having fun it wasn’t like we were trying to create any
wasn’t like we were trying to create any
wasn’t like we were trying to create any political statement by what we were
political statement by what we were
political statement by what we were doing but more concerning were some of
doing but more concerning were some of
doing but more concerning were some of the other comments that I heard from
the other comments that I heard from
the other comments that I heard from parents those comments like I’m really
parents those comments like I’m really
parents those comments like I’m really worried the girls are going to get hurt
worried the girls are going to get hurt
worried the girls are going to get hurt if they play with the boys as though
if they play with the boys as though
if they play with the boys as though somehow a five-year-old girls body is
somehow a five-year-old girls body is
somehow a five-year-old girls body is far more breakable than a five-year-old
far more breakable than a five-year-old
far more breakable than a five-year-old boys body or comments like you know I
boys body or comments like you know I
boys body or comments like you know I think it’s great what’s happening but
think it’s great what’s happening but
think it’s great what’s happening but I’m kind of worried about what some of
I’m kind of worried about what some of
I’m kind of worried about what some of the other parents might be thinking or I
the other parents might be thinking or I
the other parents might be thinking or I do remember one in particular who was
do remember one in particular who was
do remember one in particular who was who who said you know this is just
who who said you know this is just
who who said you know this is just outrageous this is such discrimination
outrageous this is such discrimination
outrageous this is such discrimination against all those boys by allowing a
against all those boys by allowing a
against all those boys by allowing a girl to play on the team and those are
girl to play on the team and those are
girl to play on the team and those are just a sampling and I have to tell you
just a sampling and I have to tell you
just a sampling and I have to tell you those actually aren’t the worst comments
those actually aren’t the worst comments
those actually aren’t the worst comments the worst comments are those kind of
the worst comments are those kind of
the worst comments are those kind of comments that I know in some circles get
comments that I know in some circles get
comments that I know in some circles get dismissed as locker room talk but are
dismissed as locker room talk but are
dismissed as locker room talk but are things that were never in vogue 30 or 40
things that were never in vogue 30 or 40
things that were never in vogue 30 or 40 years ago and the things that actually
years ago and the things that actually
years ago and the things that actually shouldn’t be thought said or thought
shouldn’t be thought said or thought
shouldn’t be thought said or thought about today it’s clear that that parents
about today it’s clear that that parents
about today it’s clear that that parents and to be fair both dads and moms are
and to be fair both dads and moms are
and to be fair both dads and moms are carrying over some of their views of the
carrying over some of their views of the
carrying over some of their views of the of growing up in the 60s 70s and 80s and
of growing up in the 60s 70s and 80s and
of growing up in the 60s 70s and 80s and then their their experiences in playing
then their their experiences in playing
then their their experiences in playing sports and they’re carrying them over
sports and they’re carrying them over
sports and they’re carrying them over into their adulthood
into their adulthood
into their adulthood and to being parents today just this
and to being parents today just this
and to being parents today just this past spring an all-girls soccer team
past spring an all-girls soccer team
past spring an all-girls soccer team from Spain with players around 13 years
from Spain with players around 13 years
from Spain with players around 13 years old when a 14 team boys League when the
old when a 14 team boys League when the
old when a 14 team boys League when the idea came around for this girls team to
idea came around for this girls team to
idea came around for this girls team to play in this league the girl’s parents
play in this league the girl’s parents
play in this league the girl’s parents were a little skeptical they were
were a little skeptical they were
were a little skeptical they were worried that their girls might get hurt
worried that their girls might get hurt
worried that their girls might get hurt by the boys the girls knew that wasn’t
by the boys the girls knew that wasn’t
by the boys the girls knew that wasn’t true they convince them otherwise
true they convince them otherwise
true they convince them otherwise so they went ahead and played in the
so they went ahead and played in the
so they went ahead and played in the league and they received a lot of
league and they received a lot of
league and they received a lot of criticism from the coaches of the other
criticism from the coaches of the other
criticism from the coaches of the other teams the referees and the boys parents
teams the referees and the boys parents
teams the referees and the boys parents there was one group that didn’t really
there was one group that didn’t really
there was one group that didn’t really seem to care and that was the boys
seem to care and that was the boys
seem to care and that was the boys they’re playing against the boys knew
they’re playing against the boys knew
they’re playing against the boys knew they were getting good games against a
they were getting good games against a
they were getting good games against a really good team and most importantly
really good team and most importantly
really good team and most importantly everyone was having
everyone was having
everyone was having fun and yes of course we still need
fun and yes of course we still need
fun and yes of course we still need girls only sports we have particular
girls only sports we have particular
girls only sports we have particular issues with girls getting and staying
issues with girls getting and staying
issues with girls getting and staying active and sometimes girl single gender
active and sometimes girl single gender
active and sometimes girl single gender opportunities can make them feel safe
opportunities can make them feel safe
opportunities can make them feel safe that’s why you should have co-ed and
that’s why you should have co-ed and
that’s why you should have co-ed and girls only are young ages girls can be
girls only are young ages girls can be
girls only are young ages girls can be and are just as competitive as boys so
and are just as competitive as boys so
and are just as competitive as boys so there might be the odds for exception
there might be the odds for exception
there might be the odds for exception but I’m not sure why we need any boy
but I’m not sure why we need any boy
but I’m not sure why we need any boy sports and then when it comes to
sports and then when it comes to
sports and then when it comes to organizing teams there are so many other
organizing teams there are so many other
organizing teams there are so many other ways to do it than by gender young ages
ways to do it than by gender young ages
ways to do it than by gender young ages the girls often and almost always are
the girls often and almost always are
the girls often and almost always are just as big and strong as boys of the
just as big and strong as boys of the
just as big and strong as boys of the same age so why not sort by size how
same age so why not sort by size how
same age so why not sort by size how about skills that everyone regardless of
about skills that everyone regardless of
about skills that everyone regardless of gender is appropriately challenged what
gender is appropriately challenged what
gender is appropriately challenged what about age what school they go to or who
about age what school they go to or who
about age what school they go to or who their friends are
their friends are
their friends are why do we always sort to jump to sorting
why do we always sort to jump to sorting
why do we always sort to jump to sorting by gender when there are so many other
by gender when there are so many other
by gender when there are so many other options we could explore in sports like
options we could explore in sports like
options we could explore in sports like swimming and track there are ways we can
swimming and track there are ways we can
swimming and track there are ways we can integrate more mixed gender relays that
integrate more mixed gender relays that
integrate more mixed gender relays that promote gender integration by having
promote gender integration by having
promote gender integration by having girls and boys competing together we
girls and boys competing together we
girls and boys competing together we have come a long way recently in the
have come a long way recently in the
have come a long way recently in the last generation are thinking of girls
last generation are thinking of girls
last generation are thinking of girls girls were to grow up and become nurses
girls were to grow up and become nurses
girls were to grow up and become nurses and boys were too comfy to grow up to
and boys were too comfy to grow up to
and boys were too comfy to grow up to become the doctors we shifted thinking
become the doctors we shifted thinking
become the doctors we shifted thinking from the idea that men were the ones who
from the idea that men were the ones who
from the idea that men were the ones who worked outside the home and women were
worked outside the home and women were
worked outside the home and women were the ones whose responsibility was to
the ones whose responsibility was to
the ones whose responsibility was to take care of the home and then in more
take care of the home and then in more
take care of the home and then in more recent years we’ve had dramatic shifts
recent years we’ve had dramatic shifts
recent years we’ve had dramatic shifts in views from homosexuality to more
in views from homosexuality to more
in views from homosexuality to more recently transgendered persons that has
recently transgendered persons that has
recently transgendered persons that has shifted our thinking from everything
shifted our thinking from everything
shifted our thinking from everything from bathrooms to marriage but we’re
from bathrooms to marriage but we’re
from bathrooms to marriage but we’re still holding on to some very dated
still holding on to some very dated
still holding on to some very dated views on some aspects when it comes to
views on some aspects when it comes to
views on some aspects when it comes to gender and the argument isn’t that we
gender and the argument isn’t that we
gender and the argument isn’t that we should never think about gender when it
should never think about gender when it
should never think about gender when it comes to sports absolutely by the time
comes to sports absolutely by the time
comes to sports absolutely by the time kids hit puberty we do need to be more
kids hit puberty we do need to be more
kids hit puberty we do need to be more thoughtful about how we organize boys
thoughtful about how we organize boys
thoughtful about how we organize boys and girls but until about the age of
and girls but until about the age of
and girls but until about the age of twelve it’s hard to find many examples
twelve it’s hard to find many examples
twelve it’s hard to find many examples of where we shouldn’t allow boys and
of where we shouldn’t allow boys and
of where we shouldn’t allow boys and girls to be playing together it’s hard
girls to be playing together it’s hard
girls to be playing together it’s hard to argue that five and six year olds
to argue that five and six year olds
to argue that five and six year olds shouldn’t share the same soccer field
shouldn’t share the same soccer field
shouldn’t share the same soccer field hockey rink or basketball court the only
hockey rink or basketball court the only
hockey rink or basketball court the only reason that we sin can’t continue to do
reason that we sin can’t continue to do
reason that we sin can’t continue to do this is because we’ve always done it
this is because we’ve always done it
this is because we’ve always done it this way and so we need to take that on
this way and so we need to take that on
this way and so we need to take that on because there are far better ways to
because there are far better ways to
because there are far better ways to begin to think about how we organize
begin to think about how we organize
begin to think about how we organize sports have the ability to send powerful
sports have the ability to send powerful
sports have the ability to send powerful strong messages
strong messages
strong messages that powerful strong message that we
that powerful strong message that we
that powerful strong message that we want to be sent is not that a girl
want to be sent is not that a girl
want to be sent is not that a girl playing on a boy sports team is some
playing on a boy sports team is some
playing on a boy sports team is some bold political powerful statement what
bold political powerful statement what
bold political powerful statement what we want the message to be is well that’s
we want the message to be is well that’s
we want the message to be is well that’s just the waiting of the norm that’s just
just the waiting of the norm that’s just
just the waiting of the norm that’s just how we do things and while we’re at it
how we do things and while we’re at it
how we do things and while we’re at it well we do some of this we’ll begin to
well we do some of this we’ll begin to
well we do some of this we’ll begin to tackle some of the really clear sexism
tackle some of the really clear sexism
tackle some of the really clear sexism that still exists everywhere from
that still exists everywhere from
that still exists everywhere from amateur to professional sports if we can
amateur to professional sports if we can
amateur to professional sports if we can remove gender tags from sports at a
remove gender tags from sports at a
remove gender tags from sports at a young age that’s at least a ripple in
young age that’s at least a ripple in
young age that’s at least a ripple in what is still is still something that we
what is still is still something that we
what is still is still something that we rarely talk about and still we still
rarely talk about and still we still
rarely talk about and still we still hold views from twenty thirty forty or a
hold views from twenty thirty forty or a
hold views from twenty thirty forty or a hundred years ago in many ways when we
hundred years ago in many ways when we
hundred years ago in many ways when we think about sports I’m happy to play
think about sports I’m happy to play
think about sports I’m happy to play like a girl
like a girl
like a girl and I will do it proudly when what was
and I will do it proudly when what was
and I will do it proudly when what was seen as an insult when my mom was
seen as an insult when my mom was
seen as an insult when my mom was growing up is now often a compliment as
growing up is now often a compliment as
growing up is now often a compliment as proof that our world is changing for the
proof that our world is changing for the
proof that our world is changing for the better and youth sports can help speed
better and youth sports can help speed
better and youth sports can help speed up that process when I’m told I throw
up that process when I’m told I throw
up that process when I’m told I throw like a girl or run like a girl or play
like a girl or run like a girl or play
like a girl or run like a girl or play like a girl I say thank you what if
like a girl I say thank you what if
like a girl I say thank you what if instead of boys soccer boys hockey and
instead of boys soccer boys hockey and
instead of boys soccer boys hockey and boys baseball
boys baseball
boys baseball we just had soccer hockey and baseball
we just had soccer hockey and baseball
we just had soccer hockey and baseball since when does the gender define the
since when does the gender define the
since when does the gender define the sport this could have a huge impact
sport this could have a huge impact
sport this could have a huge impact beyond just these sports moms dads
beyond just these sports moms dads
beyond just these sports moms dads if you run leagues organize teams listen
if you run leagues organize teams listen
if you run leagues organize teams listen to your sons they don’t care that I’m a
to your sons they don’t care that I’m a
to your sons they don’t care that I’m a girl like me your son’s just want to
girl like me your son’s just want to
girl like me your son’s just want to play the sport they love everyone wants
play the sport they love everyone wants
play the sport they love everyone wants to get better and have a lot of fun in
to get better and have a lot of fun in
to get better and have a lot of fun in the process so let’s get on with it
the process so let’s get on with it
the process so let’s get on with it thank you
thank you
thank you [Music]
”
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