To be a Renegade

Feb. 7, 2008 – At the end of August last year, I was reading through the local newspaper and I stumbled across a brief announcement for women’s football tryouts. I immediately got excited.

I’ve always wanted to play football. I tried in high school, but unfortunately had one of those misogynistic coaches who believed girls couldn’t play the game. He offered to let me play kicker, but only if I could kick at least a 30 yard field goal. No problem; I was a soccer player and had plenty of confidence. I worked hard and two weeks later demonstrated to the coach that I could actually hit 35 yarders. He completely reneged on his offer and wouldn’t let me play. He never thought I could do it to begin with. So, here it is,  almost ten years later, and I have a chance to play full contact football – and not just at kicker.

I told everyone I was going to try out. My husband worked with me to improve basic football skills such as blocking, catching, throwing, and running the 40. I am sad to say that I was very, very out of shape. Nonetheless, on September 15, 2007, I showed up for tryouts. I was nervous and excited. I think I did ok. I didn’t have the fastest time, I wasn’t the strongest, and I didn’t catch anything thrown my way, but I tried my hardest. (I pulled a hamstring in the process, too!) It must have worked. I was asked to start coming to practices.

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