From britdisc-owner@csv.warwick.ac.uk Thu Apr 30 12:27:19 1998 Received: (from daemon@localhost) by pansy.csv.warwick.ac.uk (8.8.7/8.8.8) id LAA24170 for britdisc-outgoing; Thu, 30 Apr 1998 11:53:41 +0100 (BST) Received: from imo22.mx.aol.com (imo22.mx.aol.com [198.81.17.66]) by pansy.csv.warwick.ac.uk (8.8.7/8.8.8) with ESMTP id LAA24064 for <britdisc@csv.warwick.ac.uk>; Thu, 30 Apr 1998 11:53:21 +0100 (BST) Received: from DBiag@aol.com by imo22.mx.aol.com (IMOv14.1) id LSIZa02409 for <britdisc@csv.warwick.ac.uk>; Thu, 30 Apr 1998 06:52:40 -0400 (EDT) From: D Biag <DBiag@aol.com> Message-ID: <400fd62.354857f9@aol.com> Date: Thu, 30 Apr 1998 06:52:40 EDT To: britdisc@csv.warwick.ac.uk Mime-Version: 1.0 Subject: Women's Ultimate Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit X-Mailer: AOL 3.0.i for Windows sub 164 Sender: owner-britdisc@warwick.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Since I'm not presently playing, as a expecting mother for the second time, I don't usually participate in these discussions but limit myself to reading about them. However, the Women's Ultimate discussion instigated by Laura (to my delight) hit a cord with me. When I first moved to this country from the U.S. 5 1/2 years ago, I was not only one of the oldest women's players (at 28) but also one of the few who had actually played in a Women's team. Although I enjoyed playing co-ed here (and I played with what at the time was the best open team in the country) I sorely missed my women's team. Co-ed was good for my stamina and speed but it did not allow me to develop my skills and tactical thinking because I had to focus on making up for height and speed (and I'm not particularly slow; or I wasn't then anyway). Most importantly, I missed the bonding that I felt playing with women. This is not to say that some kind of bonding cannot take place in co-ed teams but it's quite different and for me, not as athletically fulfilling. It is more of a social bond. The difference in this country is that the game is younger (especially for women) than in the States. It is difficult for women to find role models who might inspire them to be on a women's team since most female players are still in their twenties. When I first started playing Ultimate in the States some of the best and most experienced players where in their early to middle thirties (some even nearing 40) and my perception of the women's game was therefore quite different from that of the average British female player. I have also played in very competitive co-ed tournaments in the States and, more recently in this country, and would do so again at the drop of a hat. All I am saying is that the Women's tournaments filled an athletic void for me that the co-ed scene could never fill. And this might be true of other women. Finally, I would like to point out that the first female club teams in Britain were only formed three to four years ago (with Twin Peaks and Bliss) and from where I'm standing it seems like they have grown tremendously in that period. To say that women are not interested in playing for women's teams is premature and in view of the quickness of its growth, probably incorrect. As an ageing player I would love to see the women's club scene develop not only because I enjoy playing for women teams but because I often prefer watching them! (sorry guys) Diana Biagioli (formerly of Bliss)