Aghh - failed to pick up some everyday sexism

Given that I have played a variety of contact sports at various levels, from fun local through county up to national side and started playing most of them with boys, then no, I would have no problem in getting any putative daughter involved in sport with boys. In fact, it is completely normal for sports teams in infant and primary schools to be mixed in the UK, and this continues into teams outwit schools.

The FA has this to say about it: This is about a modern, child-friendly approach to youth football, challenging the win-at-all-costs mentality that is stifling development and enjoyment for young people. Working together with a proactive attitude, adults can help develop a better learning environment for young people that puts their needs at the centre of the process.

My bold, which shows that even the FA, not known as a bastion of equality, understands that parental attitudes like yours are making the game worse. I am sure you will find a way of justifying it though.

I find your use of language interesting; and your continued insistence on using a form of address that, had you actually been on this forum for a year or so, you would know wasn't a form that is used here is also very telling.

@Buffy...... So if my 18 year old Daughter does not want to play Netball with boys, that makes her a sexist does it?

@Doreen...... Players can get hurt. or go flying in tackles that are perfectly legal!

Also, lets not personalise this, but seeing as you have. I do not say a word, when I watch my Son play football, and cannot abide parents that scream and shout at kids games!

Well Lurc, as I said. My Son goes to a school who's Headteacher does things as they should be done. Do you think that 11 year old girls should be FORCED to play Rugby with boys?

Anyone else seeing bridge as one of those horrific sideline parents who threatens referees should they not give their precious darlings the benefit of the doubt when they tackle dangerously?

Absolutely.

This is clueless, and is a perfect example of why boys don't want to play football with girls, and should not be forced to....... Utterly clueless!

Tis not me love, it's the actual FA rules. Hope that helps.

Well, it's quite simple then Bridge, isn't it? If the rules of the competition say mixed teams are allowed, and your son doesn't want to abide by the rules of the competition, then he'll have to decide not to play.

@PalmerViolet....... Answer this question. If your daughter was at school, and she loved playing football, but wanted to play for the girls team, would you force her, not by gunpoint, but because she had no alternative, to play with boys?

@Buffy.... If they want to play together that is great. I have no problem with that. I have a problem when they are being forced to play together due to some teachers agenda!

Going back to isit's opening post, yes, you are right it was casual sexism of the sort which cuts girls out from taking part in a great sport, but I don't at all blame you for not challenging it on the spot - these sort of comments tend to "blind-side" me too, and I find I only manage to disentangle why they bothered me after the event.

Can I just give an example of a primary school football tournament being well run? I took the afternoon off work earlier this week to watch my son's school tournament - years 3 and 4. It was a delight. Teams were "self-chosen", so they ranged from teams made up of kids from local competitive youth league teams through to groups of friends (of both sexes) who'd never played before. My DS's team had 3 good players (one of whom was a girl who plays for one of the local league teams - her sliding tackles were amazing), and 3 pretty much novice players - and they did brilliantly. The emphasis was on having fun. Yes, some of the children got minor bumps and bruises - and it was dealt with sensibly by the staff - a cuddle, a cold compress, no sexist comments! At the end of the group stage, we had a surprise "celeb guest" - an assistant referee who's run the line at world cups, and will be one of the officials at Euro 2016. And his (very short) speech was great - the first thing he said wasn't "wow I've seen such great skill", but "It's been great to see so many smiling faces". Which is as it should be, because the point of a day like this is to get the children who maybe wouldn't have a go to try a great sport and see if they enjoy it, not to showcase the next generation of top-flight footballers.

No, I don't think I am being sidetracked, I think I am commenting on how consistently ridiculous your posts have been since you started posting a couple of days ago.

Do you feel that the boys being forced to play sports with girls are doing so at gunpoint? Or might it just be that small children aren't as sexist as you are?

@PalmerViolet...... Wrong again, I have been on Mumsnet for about a year! You are being sidetracked....... Once again boys should not be FORCED to play football with girls if they do not want to. You would not FORCE girls to play football with boys if they did not want to!

I missed the nimby teachers thing.

She's the joke poster who keeps on giving.

Anyone else seeing bridge as one of those horrific sideline parents who threatens referees should they not give their precious darlings the benefit of the doubt when they tackle dangerously?

Possibly just me.

You merely continue to prove my point...

I wasn't aware you were disagreeing with me particularly, so no, you're not a bridge dweller because you don't agree with me, you're a bridge dweller because you seem to have joined MN in the last 2 days and have posted ridiculously stupid an ill informed drivel all over the forum. So I, and pretty much everyone else who has had the misfortune of interacting with you are on balance of probabilities not the ones failing to act maturely.

The irony of your name hasn't been missed. In fact it has been rather amusing, given the circumstances.

@BIWI........ Not when it comes to football he shouldn't. As I said, do not FORCE boys to play with girls if they do not want to!

@PalmerViolet....... My name is Bridget, also..... just because someone does not agree with you, it does not make them a "bridge Dweller." Try to behave like an adult!

Maybe your child should care about sexism or feminism then?

"Isn't it automatically unfair if he sent someone flying? Perhaps he needs to learn how to play football properly for the safety of boys and girls that are playing against him. "

This is clueless, and is a perfect example of why boys don't want to play football with girls, and should not be forced to....... Utterly clueless!

Why do bridge dwellers always preface their replies with @ symbols?

@iisme.....Do not ever force boys to play a competitive game with girls, and vice versa. If they are happy to so, fine, if not, leave them be. Whether you think it is sexist is not relevant, what they think is what matters. My Son is a child, he does not care about sexism, or feminism. He does care about football, and he does not want to play with girls, and an adults agenda should not be forced upon him. It's nuts! As I'm sure you know! If not, open your eyes! I bid you good day................