I have only played organized team sports twice in my lifetime. The first time was five years ago at college where I played two seasons of girls intramural floor hockey. And the second time was today when I played powderpuff football.

I had fun playing football even though my team lost both the games we played today. The reason I had fun was because I was playing with a group of awesome girls who played hard and gave 100%. However, even though I had fun it did sting when the girl I was supposed to be guarding caught a pass or outran me. Let me just say it, losing is not fun. I now have more compassion for those NFL teams that play and are soundly beaten almost every week.

However, there are two big differences between me playing powderpuff football and big guys playing NFL football.

First, NFL games are broadcast on national TV so if your team fails or you personally mess up and don’t tackle the guy you are guarding, everyone sees it. The next day you are cut down by radio announcers, sportswriters and fans.

Second, for NFL players football is their career. How well they play in a game may influence how much money they make and what team offers them a job next season.

That’s a lot of pressure! In pondering this I thought of what I have learned through books and speakers about how men would rather feel unloved then inadequate or disrespected or how they are often insecure that their inadequacies will be discovered. Being a man seems like it’s a tough business. Men long for respect and when they feel respect that is how they feel love (See the book “Love and Respect” or just ask a guy who is honest).

Being a man must be tough. Actually, I’m pretty glad I’m not a man. Sure, women have their own issues to struggle with, but if you’re a girl reading this, when was the last time you felt more angst about not measuring up at your job then you did about not being able to fit into a favorite pair of pants anymore? See what I mean?

The point is that in playing powderpuff and experiencing some of the types of feelings guys must have when they get beat at the sport they are playing has caused me to have a greater respect for and understanding of men. And it seems from most sources that respect is just what they crave.

 

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