As the soccer boon was taking place in the 70’s, so was the beginning of gender equity in sports. We in the soccer community embraced the girls playing the game and soon co-ed teams were a reality. In most cases, this was because there were not enough girls playing soccer to form their own teams and leagues. By the 90’s that had changed and there were enough girls to form girls teams and leagues. However, in sparsely populated areas, many girls have to play on boys teams because there aren,t enough girls playing.
Gender separated teams are not a requirement to the growth of a soccer player. Girls who want to compete on boys’ teams should be permitted to do so. The title 9 equity law indicates male vs. female competition should be permitted prior to puberty and in co-ed sports where there are equal numbers of males and females on both teams and rules governing fair competition between the sexes. Prior to puberty, there is no gender based physiological reason to separate males and females in sports competition. At birth, girls tend to be slightly shorter and lighter than their male counterparts, but these differences soon disappregarding the potential risks ear. During their childhood years there are no significant differences in their heights and weights, girls mature faster at ages 12 and 13. (they are actually 2 biological years ahead). Even though there are relatively few biological differences, boys generally score higher on many performance tests. It is not known whether these differences are based entirely on developmental differences or whether social pressures for girls have limited their activity, resulting in lower scores. There is no reason why girls cannot participate in soccer and develop a high degree of skill.
Boys and girls can play with or against each other; the primary concern is that the group is performance and size-matched. Research has shown that girls who play mostly with boys or in co-ed groups are more likely participants when they become women. When girls have the same expectations that boys do, the performance gap narrows. Socially, cognitively, and emotionally, children all develop at different rates. There can be as many differences here within a gender as between the genders. Anatomically there is little difference between children under the age of 10. So it’s reasonable to allow co-ed teams as a matter of course for the U-6, U-8, and U-10 age groups. The boys and girls have a lot to learn from each other. Young soccer players brought up in this environment are also more likely to respect the opposite sex as they mature.
Of particular concern is parental pressure. In the absence of excessive pressure, children are unlikely to harm themselves in sports situations. Efforts should be made to educate parents regarding the potential risks and benefits of soccer participation for children. Youth soccer should always be conducted with the welfare of the children as the top priority. Once boys reach puberty, boys and girls should compete on separate teams. Some girls are such good athletes that they can continue on the boys teams even in pubescence. But by the time of adolescence they move onto girls teams as the physical differences are too great.