A 15-Year-Old Girl Just Showed You The Opponent’s Playbook

Today’s blog is in response to this series of images from a Guardian Instagram post.

Why should coaches of male athletes care enough to read them AND be moved enough to bring them up in their team spaces?

First, because it gives you an interpretation of the words I KNOW we hear our guys use. They most likely don’t say these things directly to you, but don’t fool yourself — if you walk by your team room and they don’t know you’re there, you will hear one if not more of these.

Second, because it is a direct plea from a young woman who is impacted by the world our players’ words and actions are shaping.

Ignoring this would be like ignoring your opponent leaving their playbook and calls on your bench before the game.

“Here, Coach — you want to know what all our calls and hand signals mean? Oh, and by the way, you can also find in this binder the ways we think we can break down your defense and win the game.”

You would absolutely use that folder of information.

This is a far more important folder.

For a far more important game.

Coach Prompts

• What language do you think your players use when coaches aren’t around?

• Have you ever created space for girls’ perspectives to enter your team discussions?

• If a young woman told your team this directly, how would they respond?

Player Prompts

• Have you heard language like this from other guys online or in person?

• Why do guys say things around their friends they wouldn’t say in front of women?

• What impact do you think these words have on girls your age?