I play a lot of co-ed sports, and as a medium-framed girl I'm pretty sturdy. I've never broken a bone, I'm agile and ... I like to think I'm tough.

Lately I've been getting injured on almost a weekly basis.

I play hard, I play to win, and I get the crap beat out of me. As a veteran of Japanese martial arts, I can handle the worst of knicks and bruises, muscle and joint pain. What I cannot handle are sprains, getting elbowed in the back by behemoth dudes who can't control their movements and shin injuries.

I'm just ranting. Rant rant rant.

I'm a guy that thrives on contact, I've always loved playing contact sports like football or playing in the paint in basketball, but lately I'm starting to find the same thing... it's not a matter of me getting old or not being able to take the punishment anymore, but I'm finding that the people that end up playing on the basketball court at my gym are REALLY, REALLY uncoordinated and... overzealous.

I end up taking elbows or knees or body checks when they have nothing to do with the play, which is just frustrating and, as much as I want to get mad at these guys sometimes, they're really just THAT bad.

This idiot that was guarding me the other day playing basketball ended up elbowing me HARD just above my eye... BEFORE we checked the ball into play to START the game. It took three guys to hold me back and his own team was yelling at him for being an idiot.

Ranty rant rant.

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one. Sometimes it's just a matter of physics:

250lb dude will wipe out 170 lb girl.

And then again, some guys are just dicks because a girl can take the ball away from them/get by them. Then they think you're fair game to beat up on. Really guys, grow a sack. Or maybe that is the problem??

The guy who checked me into the wall the other day; I got in his face. He said, "What are you going to do? You're a GIRL."

Oh I dunno. I bet I can remove your balls. Break some ribs. Make you cry i front of your team mates. Then the other chauvinists can all be like, "HAHA A GIRL MADE YOU CRY...."


Sigh. Assholes. They make ME cry. On the inside. :-/

I can sort of relate.

I play in an all-girls basketball league, but when I played last summer it was co-ed. I really didn't appreciate being pushed around because I was the only girl. Luckily it was at a church and they were pretty tough with the no-pushing, so no serious injuries.

Someone gotten bitten when I was at one of my all-girls games though...and then it happened again at a different game.

Though I've made a few people cry, too...Once I was playing a neighbor of mine that I REALLY, REALLY don't like, and I tripped and landed on her...while she had the ball.

I play rough and I foul out a lot. It's a good thing I can't shoot worth a crap anyway.

I'm responsible for helping run events for the grad students in my department, and the one I started was pick up sports for an hour on Thursdays. I get okay attendance (about 10-14 people) so we pretty much always play a small game of soccer. However, I'm the only female who comes out to play. Not great odds for more when I'm in Computing Science. :P

But it's been a lot of fun and so far no one has gotten hurt (although some interesting falls - including me). I feel like a lot of the guys figure I won't rush them if they have the ball. It's fun to shock them.

Some guys take it differently. A lot of guys are surprised. Others just don't like the idea of a chick taking the ball away.

lame!

I've made a few people cry too. It's not malicious though.

Maybe we should wear american foot ball gear!

I've usually had a different experience. Most guys that I play with are afraid they are going to hurt me or something. So they are really careful until I score on them a couple of times. Haha. That'll show them.

Some like to do it because they get power from it.

Some like to treat you just like they would anyone else (male/female)

Some don't do anything because your a woman

Some don't do anything because they don't know what they're supposed.

I'm of the mindset have fun, don't be a jerk, and don't try to injure someone on purpose... and I like playing with women because they don't smell as bad usually compared to the guy with all the hair and no shirt..

Basically, I agree with Shawn here...however, you have to note this:

If you want to play with the guys, be willing to play with the same intensity the guys do. When I'm out there playing basketball, I play hard, and so do all the other guys. We hurt ourselves (most frequently...) and each other on a regular basis, and fouling is part of the game. Everyone is getting hurt, we have had torn ACLs, broken knees, concussions, injured wrists and ankles countless times, and innumerable minor injuries and bruises. Such are the perils of sport, injuries are not gender biased.

If a lady is out there, we might subconsciously play a bit easier because its ingrained in us at this point, but really if you want to play the game with the guys you need to be willing to play the game they way guys play it. Dont expect special treatment...if you want equal power, then accept equal responsibility.

I don't expect special treatment. I DO expect every player on the pitch to respect the other players. I DO expect them to play under control. I DO expect them to understand that they don't need to take it personally when someone smaller (or female) takes the ball from them. I DO expect those guys (and ladies) to realize it's a fucking rec league and to not destroy someone who has to go to work the next day. You know, since sports doesn't pay my bills.

This rant isn't reserved for the guys. We played a team last night with a huge girl, and she threw her weight around. She was utterly skill-less. She knocked down no less than two people in the half a game that she played.

I've given my fair share of bruises. But I don't check people into the fucking boards because they pissed me off.

A lot of that is how guys tend to play (or larger people in general, they're using what they have to their advantage, in order to make up for the lack of speed or agility, or skill)

A lot of that is ego, and for that I have no excuse. Some players are bad sports, and the only solution I know of is to call them out on it or just boycott playing with them. I have a few people that I find it very difficult to play against because they know they are physically larger and will use that weight to their advantage.

Interesting that you mention checking into the boards...I used to play hockey, and at the time I was the big guy, but not exactly a fan of using that to my advantage. Then, in one game we had a real small kid constantly skating in-between us, splitting the D (as he should, thats good playing) but then he kept getting away with fouls like slashing at the shins and little jabs with his stick, primarily because he was a little guy in a land of big guys. Well, eventually you get tired of that, having to sit out because some punk just took potshots at your shins. I checked him so hard into the chain-link fence that he didnt come back up to our half of the arena the rest of the time. I did 5 minutes for it, but thats what was necessary. So it can go both ways...which one is right? Do you put up with the kid or take them out?

Its a tough line to walk...people that abuse the rules because of their size or lack thereof have to be dealt with eventually, they'll always be there.

In your games, whatever they may be, are people responsible for calling their own fouls? Do you have a ref?

Nah, we have reff'ed games. Sadly a lot of the time they are sticking their fingers in their noses staring into space. I had wondered why a couple of my friends who are soccer regulars refuse to play there; now I know why.

Anyway, I try to play a fair game and not assault folks, so I don't think I am synonymous with your little-guy hockey story. I am pretty decent at defending, and there have been a few cases where guys do get visibly angry that I steal the ball.

I guess it's just part of the game. That is why I'm venting. I've gone four days without injury though!

Get on the ref's case. If nothing else, youll at least make sure they are paying attention (it might cost you a penalty or two if you really go get in their face )

If its a foul, and the ref doesnt call it, get on it and make sure they pay attention. Is this a league? Cause if its a league you paid for thats a big ripoff...