Women have been underrepresented in many roles, positions, and areas in recent years. Since the beginning of time, they always have been. Female representation is powerful in ways that are unimaginable as they bring distinct qualities to the table that men do not. Women make inspiring role models by focusing on teamwork, flexibility, and many other characteristics. Above all, they deliver a unique strategic perspective and a wide range of abilities. That is why women should have a better representation in sports.
Central Oregon Community College offers a diversification of club and intramural sports including men’s rugby and soccer, basketball leagues, volleyball, tennis, etc. These sports are open to students and are a fantastic way to meet people. Even though COCC has a women’s basketball and soccer team in the spring, the number of female-only physical activities comes down to only three leagues.
Jacob Swinn, COCC’s assistant director of club and intramural sports, believes it is partly because of the kinds of sports the school offers. “Just from what I’ve seen, a lot of the sports that we currently offer for like club teams and stuff, are traditionally more of the male sports, like rugby. We have soccer right now, but it’s men’s soccer,”
Tatum Gende, a female student who played all season for the men’s rugby team this fall, considers that sports at COCC are mainly women-based, but have fewer teams provided for women specifically.
“I feel like a majority of the sports offered at COCC are women-based, like soccer, but there are definitely less teams offered for women. This might just be due to the fact that women are nervous to join a team that is mainly dominated by men, which is understandable but unfortunate,” said Gende.
Women should participate in sports regardless of this dominance since it can be beneficial in a variety of ways. Joining a sports club or team can construct a sense of community and group building in ways that other things cannot. An example would be meeting new people while also remaining fit. Sports is a common and loved interest that can make someone feel as if they aren’t alone since it fosters a nurturing and empowering environment.
“It’s a lot of them learning how to do something at the same time and just, you know, lifting each other up that way. It’s a great way for new students to make friends and also just stay active and things like that” said Swinn. Having a shared passion for a specific sport is an amazing way to stay connected with others and feel empowered in a circle that can be extremely supportive.
The women-based athletics at COCC are lacking, but all it needs is a little encouragement to have multiple female clubs up and running. Creating the kind of activity depends on what the female students or students in general desire. Getting at least one female sports team to start will ultimately initiate further mainstreaming of women-based sports and allow for more leagues to begin.
“One of my jobs is figuring out what the female students want, like what sports are they looking for? Do they want a tennis team? Do they want a golf team? And then working with those students to be able to build that. It’s kind of like a domino effect a little bit. Once one of those teams can start, more and more will come.” Swinn said.
So why aren’t there more women-based sports here at COCC? This can be due to numerous reasons and causes. One possible factor is student passion. It can be an intensive part, especially in organizing and whether or not students are enticed.
“A big part of my job is listening to students who stop by my office or [say] something like, ‘Hey, I would love it if there was a running club’. I can help get that organizer and then, that year we have a running club and, maybe next year no one wants to organize that…It’s up and down based on student interests,” Swinn said.
“It’s a two-year college. Some people are here a bit longer than that. But if female students are coming in and seeing that it’s mostly only male-dominated sports, then they’re probably thinking that it’s not possible. It’s part of the athletic department’s job to make it known that ‘Yes, it’s possible’. Just come talk to us, we can make it happen,” Swinn said.
Several more organizations and activities will soon be developed by COCC for students to join, creating a densely populated community with a wide range of interests. Female sports could be one of those areas. “It’s really based on student interest, so, it’s again a big part of my job is just figuring out what sports the female students do want to see, and then me working with them to come up with those teams,” Swinn said.
Gende speculates that more women will join sports granted that COCC creates further official female-based teams.
“I feel like COCC has women-based sports, but I do feel like if they created official women’s teams for these sports then a lot more women would play,” She further says, “For example, rugby at the beginning of the year, there were at least a good ten girls who asked about the sport and wanted to play. However, I think when they found out they would have to join the COCC men’s team, they all decided not to,”
Employing female trainers or in greater managerial roles in athletics can boost the participation of women, creating substantial popularity and participation. Having all men’s sports teams and just male leadership may discourage females from joining these activities as it shows women aren’t welcome or included. Constructing additional women-based activities can attract and show availability to females of the same gender.
“Another piece of it, too, is just having more females in leadership roles like coaches, referees, stuff like that…so, if we can get a running club with a female coach, like a co-ed sport, I think that will also attract a lot more female athletes as well, just cause it makes it a lot more accessible for them to see someone in the same gender, that’s in that leadership role,” Swinn said.
“I think it’s important for our students to know that there are opportunities for sports, even if they’re not listed on the website right now…So if students, especially female students, if they want to come start any sort of sports team, we’re absolutely open to that. It just takes some student engagement,” Swinn said.
