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Post World Cup: A celebration of the beautiful game — or just men who play it?

Wednesday, July 14th, 2010

By Rachael Goldenberg I had the thrilling opportunity to watch the World Cup Final at the Soweto Fan Park in South Africa on Monday. Yes, the vuvuzela howls are deafening, but I still cheered alongside 10,000 South Africans as Spain kicked in the winning goal against the Netherlands (my friend Robin ...

Kristine Lilly (oldest and fittest on team) talks age, physical play, and practicing smart

Friday, April 16th, 2010

[caption id="attachment_1251" align="aligncenter" width="604" caption="Boston Breakers Co-Captain Kristine Lilly with teammates after practice on the Harvard fields."][/caption] By Lindsay Rico Soccer is -- if you look at the rosters of Women's Professional Soccer -- a sport played by 20-somethings. When #13 Kristine Lilly takes the field for the Boston Breakers' home opener ...

Does ponytail pull sully the wholesome vibe of women’s sports? Is that OK?

Monday, November 9th, 2009

By Laura Pappano NM soccer player Elizabeth Lambert’s hair yanking, punching, and nasty behavior have gone viral. She’s being labeled the “dirtiest player” in women’s soccer and – depending on who’s writing or talking – all of women’s sports. What makes Lambert’s behavior so outrageous (aside from being captured on video) is ...

Don’t just focus on why girls drop out of sports — see why they stay and play

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009

By Molly Hellerman It doesn't matter to me where you play soccer -- grass, dirt, turf, parking lot, or gym floor. I have trained girls on each surface who have found their passion for the game. And yet, there is a serious opportunity gap that bothers me: Inner city and poor girls ...

Acosta & Carpenter on why it’s nonsense-talk that females want male coaches, why women’s teams shouldn’t be the Lady (fill in the blank) — and more

Thursday, September 24th, 2009

By Laura Pappano and Lauren Taylor R. Vivian Acosta and Linda Jean Carpenter, professors emerita at the City University of New York's Brooklyn College and co-authors of a book on Title IX, have collected data on women’s roles on – and off – the field in college athletics since 1977.  They have ...

Back to Sports Reminder for Parents: You’re not the coach, ref, or SportsCenter analyst

Friday, September 4th, 2009

By Lauren Taylor I’m not a parent. I don’t know what it's like to be on the sidelines watching your child compete -- and feeling powerless. But I am a Gen-Y athlete who saw friends’ parents embarrass themselves in the stands of lacrosse, field hockey, and soccer games. Heading into the Fall ...

What Women’s Professional Soccer Can Learn from NASCAR: Love The Fans You’ve Got

Thursday, July 9th, 2009

By Laura Pappano Let’s get over the woe-is-us tone that shrouds women’s professional soccer. Yesterday’s NY Times story captured the uncertainty league bigwigs feel around the (admittedly) very challenging task of filling soccer stadiums, and getting enough sponsor and ad dollars to give WPS staying power – and in a recession. What’s ...

Budget Crisis Special: Forget pay to play, consider pay to watch (and not just HS football)

Thursday, May 7th, 2009

By Laura Pappano School districts are sweating. Budgets are tight and they are cutting in the same old places, including middle and high school sports. (A recent American Association of School Administrators survey shows the proportion of school districts cutting extracurricular activities, including sports, will triple from 10 to 28 percent ...