Here is a sneak peak into my publication, to be out soon!
If you ever thought a women's wrestling team was different than a males, they seek many of the the same things! Here are some responses as to how to make a female team feel more comfortable:
Chapter 5: Straight from the Wrestlers’ Mouth
How do female athletes feel about wrestling
“I’ve heard that women can...women in wrestling have been able--or been so strong that they can beat men actually in certain aspects... or certain specific women have beat men in the past or whatever...so I think it’s just a matter of how aware people are of women participating in these kind of male dominated sports... but of
course right now it seems like... women are less represented I guess you can say...but they’re definitely making it clear that they can participate in it just as good if not better” (AG001)
What to expect when coaching a female team
“hard working... you know I’ve never worked this hard for anything...and I like that lifestyle... to you know be working out... to be working for something you know “(AHS001)
What the athletes want in a coach
“you know putting in the time and then being able to get rewards out of it I guess you could say is...that’s always self-confident... it’s boosting for that...it’s just... It’s nice to be able to know that being a female and still being able to have that opportunity to participate in the male dominated sport... and being accepted by my team and my coaches...is good in a sense that no one really tried to shut me out or push me down... and they’re all really supportive so that’s always helpful for my self-confidence I guess you could say” (AG001)
What the athletes need from the coach
“well definitely female...and characteristics... I think—okay support is a big thing... because you can’t have a sport where you feel that you have no support from your coach... I just don’t think that could work... support—I think they have to be hard working and understanding.” “she puts herself through some of the stuff I do in practice to understand me more so... almost in a sense she’s not afraid to put herself in my shoes you know... so that kind of aspect I guess you could say... supportive...oh also someone who is really good at communicating too..” (AG001)
What we need to overcome as coaches
“alright...do you feel that women are over sexualized in the sport? P: I’d say yes... in pretty much any sport I’d say yes... and... I don’t know I’ve kind of had a bad experience being on a boys' team when it comes to going to boys’ matches because I see the other teams you know making faces when they’re about to wrestle me... making jokes... and I always make sure to look as less feminine as possible... because of it...yeah” (AHS001)