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Hit like aGirl IN THE SUBURBS, HARD-HITTING CONTACT SPORTS SUCH AS AND AREN’T JUST FOR THE BOYS By Jocelyn Murray

fter her husband passed away, Jocelyn Jenik gles champ Bobby Riggs in a Battle of the Sexes match. found herself craving companionship and friend- The prior year’s passing of Title IX, which created equal A ship. She didn’t join a book club, coffee klatch or opportunities for both sexes in high school and college JOCELYN JENIK support group for grieving widows. Instead, she became sports, ushered in an influx of opportunities that enabled (THIRD FROM LEFT, “The Cycrone.” Now she’s known exclusively by this women to participate in a wider range of sports at ear- alias to fans of the Women’s Flat Track Roller Derby As- lier ages. IN RED) JOINED sociation’s Philly Roller , of which she has been a Although sports such as , tennis, THE WOMEN’S member since 2007. and soccer are widely accepted and wildly popular FLAT TRACK “No matter what kind of day I’ve had, by the end among women of all ages, more females are seeking of a two-hour-long practice or game, whatever has been sports with a harder edge. The “traditional” women’s ROLLER DERBY bothering me has been swept away,” she says. “I could sports, though physically demanding, are a far cry from ASSOCIATION’S have been completely absorbed into [my kids’] lives the likes of roller derby, or football, all of PHILLY ROLLER after my husband died and … I never envisioned that which now boast local teams exclusively for women. for myself, so roller derby fit very efficiently.” As Jenik suggests, the training and game-day physical- GIRLS IN 2007 Jenik is part of a quiet but growing revolution. For ity required of these high-impact sports improve one’s AND RECREATED decades now, women such as her have been proving strength and cardiovascular health but also provide an HERSELF AS that they can “hang with the guys” when it comes to emotional release and a way to forge strong connec- Shaw

contact sports, including those that traditionally have tions with other women. Tyler

“THE CYCRONE.” been dominated by male athletes. “It’s another whole set of girls I’ve added to my fam- by The most famous example might be tennis great ily that I have to spend time with,” says Jenne Massie, Billie Jean King, who broke ground in 1973 when she a defensive end for the Firebirds, a pro-

rather famously bested former Wimbledon men’s sin- fessional women’s football team that maintains its Photograph

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home stadium at Bensalem High School. showing up to try out for the team. Julie Bernstein, a defenseman on the Warminster-based Hawks Hock - The Hawks ice hockey team also skates in stride with the rules of ey Club, part of the United Women’s Hockey League, agrees. “[Hock - the , although the ladies are not allowed to check ey] is great exercise and we have such a strong bond,” she says. “It’s a and have automatic icing. “The rules are the same; it’s just a no-check great team . We have a great time in the locker room and after the league,” says Bernstein. Even though skaters are not allowed to inten - games.” tionally knock each other around and up against the boards, there is still plenty of contact. “It is a rough sport and we get hooked and tripped In Harm’s Way all the time,” she adds, “and once in a while there’s even a fight.” Some traditionalists may consider aspects of these sports unnatural, un - And while there is no professional men’s league for the roller girls safe or even unfeminine for women, but the challenge is often one of to model after, full-contact collisions are the norm. “You are intention - the most appealing aspects for women who are considering trying out. ally putting your body against someone to impede their progress by throw - ing yourself at them,” says Jenik. There are, however, illegal target zones that are off-limits to the flailing limbs in the roller rink. As one might suspect, hel - mets, mouth guards, elbow pads, wrist guards and knee pads are required dur - ing bouts. Considering the contact and the in - tensity, it’s no surprise that women suf - fer the same injuries as their male coun - terparts—scrapes, burns, strains, broken bones, torn ligaments, etc. And be - cause of the dedication required, there are other “casualties”: infringements to one’s work, family and social lives. Al - though teams try to cater to players by having practice at night and games on weekends, women must still sacrifice o Contact sports are somewhere for the sake of sport. becoming more popular among young girls. Last “It’s a sacrifice of your body and your season, for example, 14-year- family and friends’ time as well,” says old Madison Billingsley made Massie. “You are going to spend time prac - the Lenape Middle School ticing and at games and just bonding with football team as a kicker. your team. As a player, you have to decide how committed you have to be, and you It’s certainly not a cakewalk, however. Although many “IT’S A SACRIFICE OF have to make that choice.” leagues are recreational, the ability to compete effective - Luckily, Massie (a doctoral student at Drexel), Bernstein ly requires extensive training and preparation to reach the YOUR BODY AND (a full-time nurse) and Jenik (a mother of two) have found necessary skill and fitness levels. YOUR FAMILY AND time in their schedules to pursue these unconventional pas - “We go through a ‘Fresh Meat’ training period once we FRIENDS’ TIME AS sions. The hope, at least in part, is that young girls—the next make the team,” says Jenik. “It’s compressed into three WEL L. YOU ARE generation—will be inspired to do the same. months of training with the coaching staff three nights a GOING TO SPEND “It would not be full contact when they’re younger, but week, which fills them in from where they are with their taking them and showing them how to be assertive and skating skills to where they need to be as derby players.” TIME PRACTICING aggressive, it’s an incredible resource for self-esteem and During this period, new players learn everything from pos - AND AT GAMES AND confidence building,” says Jenik. “The hope is to bring this ture and protection to hitting legally and falling safely. JUST BONDING WITH to [girls] who might not see themselves in standard Fitness is expected for hockey as well, but “it’s different YOUR TEAM. AS A sports and are looking for something with sort of an edge.” than other sports because you’re not running around on the One local teen, 14-year-old Madison Billingsley, is part ground,” says Bernstein. “You’re skating and handling a stick PLAYER, YOU HAVE of this younger generation of athletes. Last season she was and shooting. It is very demanding; you go out and give your TO DECIDE HOW the kicker for the Lenape Middle School boys’ football team all for 45 seconds and then rest for a minute or two.” COMMITTED YOU in Doylestown. She had managed the team in seventh grade Perhaps the most surprising aspect of many of the HAVE TO BE, AND but decided to try out for a roster spot in eighth grade af - women’s contact-sports leagues is that they play by the YOU HAVE TO MAKE ter she and her coach recognized her knack for punting a same rules as the men’s professional leagues—the Nation - field goal with precision from the 40-yard line. y e THAT CHOICE.” l al Hockey League, , etc.—with a “It was hard at first,” she says. “There were a few guys s g n i l

few exceptions. on the team that didn’t accept me very much because I kind l i B “We play full contact and wear full football pads—the of took one of their spots and they couldn’t really goof m i K

whole nine,” says Massie. “We are as close as it gets to what American around a lot with a around.” y b men’s football is.” A key difference between the Firebirds and the Philadel - Eventually, though, her teammates came around and supported her h p

phia Eagles is that most of the Eagles have been playing the game since and her contributions. Most of them, she says, thought it was “pretty cool a r g o

they were kids, while these women are learning the game at a later stage I had the guts to join the team.” She didn’t receive any special treatment t o h

in life. Some of them have never played a “down” in their lives before either, as she was required to participate in all practices and conditioning P

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drills, from sprints and core workouts to may still hear their male peers teasing each oth- strength training and kicking practice. She er by saying that they “hit like a girl,” but such even had to take part in some of the tackling an uttering is becoming less of an insult and drills. more of a compliment. Truly, as contact sports Billingsley has chosen to pursue her sports continue to make their way to the forefront of career as a ninth grader, but she will play soc- women’s athletics, boys may one day find them- cer instead of seeking a spot on the football selves surprised at what a girl’s hit is really like. team. Regardless, she looks back fondly on her In the meantime, more women will make the gridiron experience. “It got me in a lot better likes of football, ice hockey and roller derby, shape,” she says, “and helped me with my among other sports, a part of their identity. workouts and how to keep on improving on “I’ll be glad when [football] is another everything.” women’s sport,” says Massie, “not a men’s sport Girls in elementary and middle school that women can play.” n

JOIN THE CLUB For many years golf was rather than gender in not exposed to the sports as strictly a man’s game … foursomes, lesson clinics young girls. Stephano recalls but no longer. and family days at which being introduced to golf Buckingham’s Lookaway golf among all is promoted. during high school gym Golf Club is one of the Most clubs, however, class before she picked premier golf facilities in the still see significantly higher up the sport more seriously Philadelphia area that, since numbers of male members in 2005. its first round in May of than female, a potential side “The junior programs 1999, has strongly effect of obligations in other that exist in golf have supported female aspects of life, such as work allowed younger females to membership. Chuck and motherhood. get better quicker and, Rininger, head golf “The challenge, I think, therefore, to not only take professional and a PGA for women as opposed to their skills to the high school member who has been with men is that when you get and college level but also to Lookaway since its opening, five free hours to play 18 the pro ranks,” says Rininger. realizes the importance of holes there is so much else The purple elephant, it providing such we need to do, and seems, is not only crucial to opportunities. something always isn’t the growth of women’s golf “Coming out of the getting done,” says Lillian but also for the sport of golf gates a new club, we didn’t Stephano, who plays at in general. With more and have preexisting things that Lookaway. Fortunately, for more girls and young were already there in place those trying to raise a family, women interested in golf like an old established club the popularity of junior and, consequently, more where certain things are so leagues is increasing at a involvement in the pro deep set in their situations,” rapid pace, opening a leagues, they are bringing he says. Being “gender gateway for golf to expand a whole new set of friendly” has allowed as a family sport. possibilities. Lookaway to host member The “purple elephant” of “The women’s PGA, events—tournaments held junior leagues, as Rininger they make golf sexy,” says on holiday weekends, refers to it, represents a Stephano. “The clothes are typically, in which male and tremendous, largely better, the girls are great female golfers are grouped untapped resource for golf. looking, and they’re not together according to skill Historically, women were afraid to be out there.”

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