From: Deffley Leanne <ECSLDEFF@livjm.ac.uk> on 31/10/2001 14:42
 

         Deffley Leanne           To:   Paul Eastman-PD/PGI

 <ECSLDEFF@livjm.ac.uk>           Cc:   "'britdisc@csv.warwick.ac.uk'"

                               <britdisc@csv.warwick.ac.uk>

                          Subject:      RE: women

       31/10/2001 14:42

 

 






I am a bit surprised by this email!! We DEFINITELY need to encourage
beginners especially but players of all levels to practise outside training
sessions if they want to improve their playing of the sport. That is
obviously natural. However, I wouldn't simply account 'women not practising'
as the reason for the difference in skill level between men and women.

There are BLINDINGLY OBVIOUS physical differences between men and women. I
consider myself a competent ultimate player but even now, playing against
male beginners of this sport I can be beaten to the disc due to the
unavoidable height, strength and speed differences between men and women. I
don't think that women are discouraged to play ultimate because the men have
better disc skills. I think the physical differences lead to men being
naturally 'stronger' players. This cannot be avoided - it is the way we were
made after all! However, by having to include female players on a team and
enabling a system where less confident women play against other women so
actually STAND A CHANCE of getting to the disc they can then improve and
gain confidence. After all, practice, practice and more practice isn't going
to turn me into a man is it? (sorry - no need for that really!!)

Replies/thoughts/discussions welcome!!

Leanne

-----Original Message-----
From: eastman.pd@pg.com [mailto:eastman.pd@pg.com]
Sent: 31 October 2001 09:05
To: eng9aw@leeds.ac.uk
Cc: Britdisc@csv.warwick.ac.uk
Subject: re: women



Hi BD,

I have just a couple of points which I think might help, well at least they
should be taken into consideration.
There is quite a simple reason why generally the skill level of the men who
compete is higher than that of the women who compete. And please note the
word
general in the previous line. When men start to learn to play those who
become
good work harder than women who start at the same time. From my experince
you
will often find guys who have just started out in the park throwing around
away
from practice, you will rarley find the women doing the same! Now, I think
the
way to narrow the skill gap is encourage women to put as much effort in, I
know
that the culture surrounding sport is quite different for men and women, but
if
everyone is to compete at the same level, then everyone has to put in the
same
effort!
Those who are now envolved in student ultimate and have a new crop of women
to
teach should encourage them to take what they've been tought and practice,
practice, practice! Then we can see what most of us want. More Co-ed
ultimate of
the standard which people want to play and watch.

Just a few thoughts,
Paul Eastman