I’ve been thinking about aggression this week. Specifically, I’ve been thinking about how exhibiting and harnessing aggression - required in football and many other sports - is a difficult negotiation
This is such a brilliant piece of writing Georg! I've been noticing training aggression not being translated on the field for my over 35s teammates that is infuriating!! Now i know what's going on.
I'm also personally struggling with my voice on the field negatively impacting my teammates who have less experience in on the field instructional talk. Its been hard to take the feedback and try to pull it back a notch and not be sulky about not being me!! Its hard to know whether my brand of aggression is a product of the patriarchy, or whether my team mates' discomfort with instructional talk is!!
Thank you BobJane. It's a tough one. Instructional talk is something that I've tried to encourage with the U15s, but it hasn't been taken well by some players. It's just not something they understand, but it's so critical to team play! I chatted with others about their experiences with what you call your "brand of aggression". Others have noted similar things: that they need to pull back, that they were ostracised for it, for wanting to do well. I'd really like to explore this more. Hope you're well.
Omigod - the ostracization and shame I'm feeling about a conversation with our coach at half time at our last game really hit me at training. Our coach didn't quite have the tools to discuss with me and our runner is the one that told him. Both are staunch feminists, so i don't feel like they are unused to strong women. They are both distressed by my impact on other players even though I'm not swearing or being negative, but rather instructional. At the moment is really affecting my enjoyment of footy and I'm actually thinking through playing again next season. But that sounds sooky to me!! I'll have to think my way through talking to them directly about it and it may help if i send your article to them!!
Oh Jane, I am so sorry this is making you question your football. Knowing what I do about you, I can imagine your encouragement is instructional, not nasty. You are competitive! Like many of us! And it is quite ok for women to be competitive. Unfortunately, that's not always understood, particularly by other women. Please, if it will help, share this piece. And get them to read Never Surrender! Even at that level, the same difficulties remain.
This is such a brilliant piece of writing Georg! I've been noticing training aggression not being translated on the field for my over 35s teammates that is infuriating!! Now i know what's going on.
I'm also personally struggling with my voice on the field negatively impacting my teammates who have less experience in on the field instructional talk. Its been hard to take the feedback and try to pull it back a notch and not be sulky about not being me!! Its hard to know whether my brand of aggression is a product of the patriarchy, or whether my team mates' discomfort with instructional talk is!!
Anyway hope you're well? cheers BobJane
Thank you BobJane. It's a tough one. Instructional talk is something that I've tried to encourage with the U15s, but it hasn't been taken well by some players. It's just not something they understand, but it's so critical to team play! I chatted with others about their experiences with what you call your "brand of aggression". Others have noted similar things: that they need to pull back, that they were ostracised for it, for wanting to do well. I'd really like to explore this more. Hope you're well.
Omigod - the ostracization and shame I'm feeling about a conversation with our coach at half time at our last game really hit me at training. Our coach didn't quite have the tools to discuss with me and our runner is the one that told him. Both are staunch feminists, so i don't feel like they are unused to strong women. They are both distressed by my impact on other players even though I'm not swearing or being negative, but rather instructional. At the moment is really affecting my enjoyment of footy and I'm actually thinking through playing again next season. But that sounds sooky to me!! I'll have to think my way through talking to them directly about it and it may help if i send your article to them!!
Oh Jane, I am so sorry this is making you question your football. Knowing what I do about you, I can imagine your encouragement is instructional, not nasty. You are competitive! Like many of us! And it is quite ok for women to be competitive. Unfortunately, that's not always understood, particularly by other women. Please, if it will help, share this piece. And get them to read Never Surrender! Even at that level, the same difficulties remain.