Team Spirit
Children's Story
The football team were furious. They'd finished the season top of their under-13 league and were already training for next year, when they received the letter.
"It has come to our attention," the letter began pompously, "that two members of your team are female. I enclose a copy of the current rules. You will see that rule 6a, paragraph h states that "after the age of thirteen years, no club may field a football team comprising members of both sexes."
"There is now a very good Womens' League which will welcome your two female players. Please offer them our best wishes and hopes for their future in football."
The letter was signed by the president of the Clubs' League.
Mary and Hannah looked at each other, their faces downcast. They loved football, but they didn't want to change teams. It seemed so unfair. They just happened to be the best goal scorers the team had ever known, and it was largely through their efforts that the team had reached the top of the league.
The boys weren't happy either. They were well aware that without Mary and Hannah, the tem would be mediocre at best. There was no way they could ever retain the trophy without the two girls.
"It's not fair," Andrew said, angrily. Andrew was the captain of the team, and felt he'd been put in a difficult position. Then his face brightened and he added, "I know! Let's quit the league! We'll find loads of friendlies to play, no trouble. We can still play all the best teams, just like before. And we can still come top again, even if we wouldn't get a cup for it. Anyway, who cares about a stupid cup? One of our parents will start a new cup for us, if we want."
The team looked at each other. It was a great idea, and would solve all their problems. Why, if they no longer belonged to the League, they wouldn't have to keep any of the silly rules, like not having more than two matches a week, and only allowing people who actually lived in the village. There were some good footballers living a couple of villages away, perhaps they could be persuaded to join.
"Hey, we could start our own League, and run it just as we wanted," Mary added. And they all nodded in agreement, suddenly excited by the prospect.
But it never happened, for the Coach came by just at that moment. He listened quietly to all they had to say, and read the letter for himself. Then he scratched his head and said, "I'm really sorry about you two girls. I don't want to lose you any more than these lads here. But you know, you both have a great footballing career ahead of you, and now's the time to be moving into the big picture in Women's Football. You'll do well, both of you, but you won't do anything if you cut yourselves off from the League, and neither will this team. You see, you just can't go it alone. You need the support and strength of the League. And d'you know, those rules are there for a purpose. They're to prevent you injuring yourselves, and to give each of you the best possible chance as you grow up. Even though you may not be able to see it at the moment, and even though you're hurt and upset right now, you'll do nothing apart from the League. You might start off OK, but the team would soon wither and die without the League. And besides, if you really want to fight this ruling and change the rules, stay inside. You've a much better chance of fighting from the inside."
They all knew he was right. Sadly, Mary and Hannah left the Club, but they always remained friends with the boys. They went on to become professional Women Footballers. Strangely enough, the boy's team took off as well, and as the boys grew older and stronger their football improved out of all recognition. To their surprise, they stayed at the top of the League for a very long time.
"It made sense," Andrew said to himself a long time later. "We boys developed at a different rate to the girls. I'm glad we stayed with the League. None of us would have managed without it. But now we've all done well, thanks to the support of the League."
"It has come to our attention," the letter began pompously, "that two members of your team are female. I enclose a copy of the current rules. You will see that rule 6a, paragraph h states that "after the age of thirteen years, no club may field a football team comprising members of both sexes."
"There is now a very good Womens' League which will welcome your two female players. Please offer them our best wishes and hopes for their future in football."
The letter was signed by the president of the Clubs' League.
Mary and Hannah looked at each other, their faces downcast. They loved football, but they didn't want to change teams. It seemed so unfair. They just happened to be the best goal scorers the team had ever known, and it was largely through their efforts that the team had reached the top of the league.
The boys weren't happy either. They were well aware that without Mary and Hannah, the tem would be mediocre at best. There was no way they could ever retain the trophy without the two girls.
"It's not fair," Andrew said, angrily. Andrew was the captain of the team, and felt he'd been put in a difficult position. Then his face brightened and he added, "I know! Let's quit the league! We'll find loads of friendlies to play, no trouble. We can still play all the best teams, just like before. And we can still come top again, even if we wouldn't get a cup for it. Anyway, who cares about a stupid cup? One of our parents will start a new cup for us, if we want."
The team looked at each other. It was a great idea, and would solve all their problems. Why, if they no longer belonged to the League, they wouldn't have to keep any of the silly rules, like not having more than two matches a week, and only allowing people who actually lived in the village. There were some good footballers living a couple of villages away, perhaps they could be persuaded to join.
"Hey, we could start our own League, and run it just as we wanted," Mary added. And they all nodded in agreement, suddenly excited by the prospect.
But it never happened, for the Coach came by just at that moment. He listened quietly to all they had to say, and read the letter for himself. Then he scratched his head and said, "I'm really sorry about you two girls. I don't want to lose you any more than these lads here. But you know, you both have a great footballing career ahead of you, and now's the time to be moving into the big picture in Women's Football. You'll do well, both of you, but you won't do anything if you cut yourselves off from the League, and neither will this team. You see, you just can't go it alone. You need the support and strength of the League. And d'you know, those rules are there for a purpose. They're to prevent you injuring yourselves, and to give each of you the best possible chance as you grow up. Even though you may not be able to see it at the moment, and even though you're hurt and upset right now, you'll do nothing apart from the League. You might start off OK, but the team would soon wither and die without the League. And besides, if you really want to fight this ruling and change the rules, stay inside. You've a much better chance of fighting from the inside."
They all knew he was right. Sadly, Mary and Hannah left the Club, but they always remained friends with the boys. They went on to become professional Women Footballers. Strangely enough, the boy's team took off as well, and as the boys grew older and stronger their football improved out of all recognition. To their surprise, they stayed at the top of the League for a very long time.
"It made sense," Andrew said to himself a long time later. "We boys developed at a different rate to the girls. I'm glad we stayed with the League. None of us would have managed without it. But now we've all done well, thanks to the support of the League."
