Netherlands pilot scheme to allow women to play in senior men's team

[rhomelmabini]

Not to underestimate women but I think this is a good chance to showcase how they can head to head on with males. Well, that depends on the degree of program on training they might get into to be able to play with men. If they can play like a pro then why not give them a chance? That all depends on the team owner by the way.

But honestly that's much of a distraction on the field and maybe men, well, you know kind of be gentle if women are the one who has the ball, sort of.

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[Sadlife]

My prediction is that she will be on the bench for the rest of the game. I mean realistically speaking, no offense meant but she doesn't have any qualifications to play for a pro team. Maybe, if she could show some potential then it would be really interesting to see and worth betting on knowing your money will not go to waste and there's a chance for victory.

[Saint-loup]

I don't think this is a good idea since women are not like men. Their skills are a far way off to one another, you know?
I saw a boxing match with a woman versus a man then he beat the man with no problem. although that was only an amateur fight, I don't think the match was good to consider that fight is going to give us nice entertainment. it is the same for the soccer match and any other games that involve competing for one another with their physical bodies. Chess and other mind games should be OK though.

that boxing match you saw is an example that women can beat men  . women now are not on the femin side anymore unlike to what they are known before , that is because the world gets tougher now .

i can view the scenario on the first page simillar to shaolin soccer where there is also a female player that joined the team of men . i agree that its verry exciting to see that kind of scenario happen on real life  .

I don't think it's a good idea to mix genders in contact sports like boxing, american football, rugby, ice hockey etc but for sports with no or few contacts like soccer it could be a very good idea IMO. Soccer is not a manly sport in North America (Usa and Canada) for example, it's mainly practiced by girls over there.

[AbuBhakar]

My prediction is that she will be on the bench for the rest of the game. I mean realistically speaking, no offense meant but she doesn't have any qualifications to play for a pro team. Maybe, if she could show some potential then it would be really interesting to see and worth betting on knowing your money will not go to waste and there's a chance for victory.

Maybe some people see something from her that make them decide to support in these game, we don't know yet what else she can do to be on that spot, since I'm not underestimating women and they have this gut and empowerment to push throu in the game then preferably she still have what it takes. Will see maybe many women will bet on her that can boost her guts to win.

[Tipstar]

I've seen some practice matches involving both men and women and men easily superpower over women. Many of the popular women team players are occasionally found with larger amount of testosterone which is a male hormone. These two facts clearly establish that a women can not physically match men (exception being the women with men hormones) and if any made a part of the team, it would be just for a cosmetic purpose.

[Daniel91]

My prediction is that she will be on the bench for the rest of the game. I mean realistically speaking, no offense meant but she doesn't have any qualifications to play for a pro team. Maybe, if she could show some potential then it would be really interesting to see and worth betting on knowing your money will not go to waste and there's a chance for victory.

I wouldn't totally agree with you..
I found an interesting article about her in the Croatian media and here is her statement:
''It's fantastic that I can continue to play in this team. I've been playing with these guys since I was five and I'd be disappointed if I couldn't keep going," Fokkema said.''

Source: https://www.index.hr/sport/clanak/nizozemskoj-nogometasici-dopusteno-igrati-sa-seniorima-ima-tek-19-godina/2203184.aspx

So it wasn't that decision that came out of the blue and unexpected, but obviously there were good reasons for that.
That girl has been playing with these guys since she knows about herself and has been playing football with boys since she was five years old and she's obviously earned her place at that club, not because she's a girl but because she plays good football.
Clearly this club is not some top men's football club but this could be one small example and proof that girls can play on an equal footing with men even when they are older and move into seniors.
This is an example for the fourth Dutch league but who says that in ten years we will not see such examples in the higher leagues and even in the first Dutch league?
Obviously even in a physically demanding sport like football girls are already equal with men in the lower men's leagues, no matter what others think about it.
After all, if physical strength and muscles were really the most important thing in football, Messi would never have had the chance to become the best footballer in the world.
I think football skill is much more important.

Likewise, the issue of physical contact between men and women in the field is not as big a problem as some think here, given that this girl has been playing alone among men for so long and continues to play without fear or any problem  
After all, if she felt threatened by physical contact with men, she would obviously have given up playing with men a long time ago.

[serjent05]

I just read the link but that is just about the 1 woman who can play in men's team but she has to move out of the division once they progress,,, unless I misread it.

Mixed teams are already normal in Netherlands and even in many countries and I agree we can have a mixed league. But no offence, men and women performance are HUGE difference.

True that, this thing might get the attention of sports lover and can be the talk of the town but once implemented, I doubt that this kind of arrangement will be that popular in a team since everyone wanted to take an advantage over the other and having a female on the team can somehow be disadvantageous since men are naturally built physically stronger than women.

[fiulpro]

OK I had nowhere to publish this so I started a new theme  
Here is the official news:

''A new pilot scheme that will allow amateur women to play in a senior men's team in the Netherlands has been approved by the Dutch Football Association.
The KNVB has given permission for one woman - 19-year-old Elle Fokkema - to join fourth-tier VV Foarut for the 2020-21 season.
The pilot could lead to regulations amended permanently to allow more women to play 'category A' men's football.''

Source: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/53649795

What do you think of this?
If some talented girl shows up, can you imagine that she plays for the first team of Ajax or PSV, in the Champions League match against Real or Barcelona?
Personally, I'd like to watch it and I think it would be very interesting.
We're already used to female referees in men's football and even women who coach men's soccer teams.
Soon it will be time for women to play alongside men on the same football team  

If any of you would like to bet, what do you think are the chances of a woman playing in the first men's team of Ajax or PSV in the next 10 years?

This is a really interesting topic , I personally feel it would itself break many barriers and restrictions , show the world that you can do things differently.

The society needs this , but then again the thing is :
Implementation
How the public will take it ?

When we are thinking about the bet being made for the 10 years time period , I do think we have fair chances that we will soon see some woman playing in the team .

The first match with a woman in the team would be epic and no one is going to miss it for sure.

When we are talking about Qualifications , I do think one should understand that if she wasn't qualified none of this would have happened , people would have seen some talent and gone forward .

[milewilda]

If any of you would like to bet, what do you think are the chances of a woman playing in the first men's team of Ajax or PSV in the next 10 years?

0.0%. It's just not possible because of physical preconditions, where men have clear advantage. In some lower division it might be possible, but will bring a lot of other issues (like having additional locker room etc.).

Men and women competing on the same level is only possible, when fitness, muscles, height etc. plays no role. Like in Darts for example, where Fallon Sherrock was doing great in the PDC Championship last year. Or in Chess, Poker etc.

Im having the same sentiment as yours when it comes to physical preconditions yet no matter which angle we do try to look at then it wont really be that much effective yet we know the difference between men
and women in terms of performance specially on durability and stamina since we are talking football on here.No matter how she do know the basics or how to play but you can really see the difference.
For some sports then it might be considerable but for this one? physical capacity/capability wont be only the issue but also in other stuffs as well just like you mentioned about additional locker rooms etc.

[TravelMug]

I voted "no way" in the pool. I'm no sexist, but we all know that men and women are totally different, muscle mass etc, so it wouldn't be fair and they are really in a disadvantage here.

They already have their own league, so I'm not expecting any cross-over, maybe some exhibition match are "Ok", but that's just it.

[LTU_btc]

I have nothing against women playing together with men in amateur level. I even know one women playing in men team in my country in Sunday league. But they have no chance to play in professional level, even if they would have Messi skills. Physical differences is just too big. Well, unless she is like Caster Semenya with very high level of testosterone.
I remember reading article about USA women national team (current World Champions loosing to Dallas U15 team. So, best women players in the world with amazing skilss can't even beat bunch of teenagers.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-4389760/USA-women-s-team-suffer-5-2-loss-FC-Dallas-U-15-boys.html
So, I think that women can compete together with men in pro level only when physical differences isn't important. Like darts, snooker, motosport or curling.
By the way, few moments ago I saw add on TV that this Saturday our women national basketball team will play against U16 side. Will be interesting to watch .

[STT]

There shouldn't be any rule to stop it being possible but realistically there is a clear physical disadvantage.   I'd put down a bet a woman could play in that league for at least a couple games, depends how we qualify it as a successful term but its a skilled game so its possible to have a winger maybe play and it could be either gender if they are fast enough and can place the ball it'd possibly work.    Really depends on the team to make this a thing, obviously if they close ranks and assume they are receiving a sub standard supporting player then its hard to say it'd work out

[AjithBtc]

There shouldn't be any rule to stop it being possible but realistically there is a clear physical disadvantage.   I'd put down a bet a woman could play in that league for at least a couple games, depends how we qualify it as a successful term but its a skilled game so its possible to have a winger maybe play and it could be either gender if they are fast enough and can place the ball it'd possibly work.    Really depends on the team to make this a thing, obviously if they close ranks and assume they are receiving a sub standard supporting player then its hard to say it'd work out

Well said, from my personal view the possible chances were very less. I mention this upon the physical ability that's been required to stand strong on the soccer field. If the game is completely skill based without the physical strength requirement then it can happen. For now at least few games will be played to get the response from the viewers.

[Wexnident]

WHOOOO WOMEN!!... Is what I would like to say but let's be real here mates. I ain't hating women or anything, they can play the game itself and I have no problem with that. Yes, most of us can acknowledge that there could be good female players out there, but teams would opt to choose the BEST and realistically speaking, male players are the ones that bring up the best in said games. Besides, if there were women that could be better than most pro players, it'd number around a few tens or so tbh, and they wouldn't even be on the same team possibly. Just the build of men is enough of an advantage when choosing players between men and women. And let's be real here, skill could probably take you a long way in high school tournaments even with a female build, but official matches where everyone has both skills and build?

[erikoy]

We should not underestimate the women nowadays for they can also do whatever a man can do. This will promote also the welfare of the women around the world. We have now Gender Equality for the women to get a good chance to every opportunity in every aspects like in working force. So, why not allow them to play in the senior men's team? Anyway, women can play along with the senior men's team especially young women players that are healthy. But if it really will not allow then better to find ways that will dignified the Gender Equality act on them to get fair opportunity to all the women.

[Shasha80]

I agree if women are referee or coach of men's football team, but if women play in men's main team I think could not be done.
And also I often see that the game of professional female footballers cannot compete with male footballers. What the KNVB did
by giving permission to Elle Fokkema to join a male footballer was a wrong decision.

[bonjouros]

It is quite unique as we were not able to expect this kind of situation to happen where women will start to play against men especially in football.

But for me, this kind of action is like a test whether women can really compete to men in football and if Elle Fokkema will be able to display a good
performance in football then it will surely change the future of football where women will be allowed to play against men. It is quite unique scenario but is
also good to watch as I am excited about the outcome especially if the men's team will be defeated by a women's team.

[semobo]

Its not a good idea, and football is war like game and most furious injuries happens too often due to the collision between player and if this happens between male and female then female could get more brutal injuries and more often death as well.Why not bring women's football as well into a popular game, all players are women means we can actually find more male audiences.

[dothebeats]

Men's league is simply too much for women. Not that I'm saying that they're weak or whatever but it's just that men tend to get more physical and more aggressive in their play style against anyone in the field in a contact sport such as football. Also, one reason I see why this would not pan out very well is through fan objection. Men usually hold back when they are pitted against women, giving them some form of 'handicap' on matches which isn't really enjoyable and fair to bettors and fans alike. If this is a non-contact sport then I would definitely agree, especially if it requires more skill and decision-making, but on a highly-physical game such as football, this is not a good idea.

[peter0425]

Its not a good idea, and football is war like game and most furious injuries happens too often due to the collision between player and if this happens between male and female then female could get more brutal injuries and more often death as well.Why not bring women's football as well into a popular game, all players are women means we can actually find more male audiences.

Not good in terms of possible injuries that those women will get into.

The idea of mixing those girls inside the field of a man is not right, like what you have said, inside the

battle field stronger and quicker big masculine are dominating the game, how this girls will be able to
stop them especially if they are already on their momentum, it's hard to stop a person who completely
eager to make a point, whoever in front of them will be taken for granted.