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Dork Diaries Book 14

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Get the BOY side of things!
Doubtful Dreamer
Timid Tattler

September 16, 2017

I’M THE ONLY GIRL ON THE FOOTBALL TEAM!!

Hey Brandon,
I’ve been training with my school’s football team, and it’s a lot of fun. The only thing is that the guys all underestimate me because I’m a GIRL. Even though I can beat almost all of them in our half mile warm up and keep up in weight training, they still don’t take me seriously! What’s up with that? And, what should I do?

Female Football Fanatic

Hey Female Football Fanatic,

UGH. I’m sorry you’re dealing with these losers when you are clearly superior to ALL of them!

“What’s up with that?” is the easy part of your question. It’s sexism. Some of them might not even think they’re sexist. They might respect their female friends and teachers, and believe women can be astronauts, surgeons and president.

But…put them on a football field and something changes. (This is NOT excusing them, by the way.) You’re kind of a trailblazer, as a girl on your school football team. I mean, you’re not the first, but it’s not common either. I’m guessing you’re the only girl on your team, right? (And if not, have you vented about this with your female teammate?)

So, it looks like the guys are not USED to having a girl on the team. (Again, not an excuse. Unless you’ve been playing with them since Pop Warner, in which case they’re just being idiots.) And, sometimes people resist things that are new or different.

Size is also really important in football. And as a girl, you’re probably physically smaller than most of the guys on the team. Which only means you’re working harder than anyone to be there, but some guys might look at you and think your size means you’re not up to the challenge. Some of them might think you’ll be a weak link on the team; some might think you need protecting. Either way, they’re being sexist.

The tougher part of your question is, “What should I do?”

I mean, I’ve got to be honest. I’ve never been in your position. And not just because I don’t play football! Honestly, as a white guy, I never face the kind of prejudice some people have to deal with all the time. It’s not fair. If I were on the team, it would definitely be my role to call out stupid comments and behavior when I saw it. It shouldn’t have to be your responsibility.

So, I guess…if you have any guy friends on the team who appreciate your abilities and realize how much you deserve to be on the team, maybe give them a heads-up that you’d appreciate their support when this stuff happens.

But maybe you don’t want to rely on a guy to handle it. Which would make sense. In that case, I think sarcasm and snark are your friends. When they make crap comments, you’re ready with a comment that’ll cut them down to size and remind them how much harder you work. And above all, try not to let it bother you. When you hear that stuff, vow to fight even harder and show them why you deserve to be there. You shouldn’t HAVE to prove yourself any more than they do, but until girls on football teams are more common, hold your head up high and keep on blazing that trail.

Whether or not those guys appreciate you, YOU ROCK. And little girls are going to come to your football games and see you out there killing it, and they’re going to realize they can play football on the school team if they want to, too. And that’s how it will become more common!

So, keep crushing your weight training, warm-ups and games, and never let those guys make you doubt yourself. You’ve definitely inspired me! 🙂

Are you the only girl on an all-guy team, or the only guy on an all-girl team? Do your teammates respect you? How do you handle it when they don’t?

Category: Ask Brandon Tags: sportsnikki

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Comments

  1. EAH/Dork Diaries fan says

    September 29, 2017 at 4:00 pm

    Your’e not alone. My friends sister is a wide reciever on her middle school team.

  2. Spicy says

    September 29, 2017 at 8:23 am

    I once had to be in a group with 2 boys and it is embarrassing .

  3. super dork nerd geek says

    September 28, 2017 at 4:46 pm

    don t worry same thing happens to me!

  4. Female Football Fanatic says

    September 27, 2017 at 10:34 pm

    Thanks for the advice Brandon

  5. Roore Aqlips Penguin says

    September 25, 2017 at 3:05 am

    Those guys r jst insane. Dont even bother

  6. Anonymous says

    September 24, 2017 at 3:32 pm

    go for it girls!

    • Roore Aqlips Penguin says

      September 25, 2017 at 3:05 am

      Yay

  7. football pro says

    September 24, 2017 at 12:28 pm

    I am in the girls football but boys and girls are different in teams
    we compete with other schools
    and the boys cheer for us girls
    and im proud that the boys in my school are fair to the girls !!!!!!

    go gender equality !!!!!

    • Equalanatic says

      September 29, 2017 at 3:07 pm

      Same in our school

  8. experty girl says

    September 24, 2017 at 7:42 am

    I am the ONLY girl in our school soccer team. The boys treat me the same way…. well, at first. Show them what you can do, try your best. they well notice you. good luck! 🙂

  9. Sunset1320 says

    September 23, 2017 at 10:02 pm

    That is so amazing! I knew that girls could be on the football team, but most of them just don’t. Your amazing and Boys can be rude, and really oblivius. Trust me. Good Luck

  10. cutecupcake123456789 says

    September 22, 2017 at 5:43 pm

    great solution Brandon!!!

  11. VideoGamer286 says

    September 22, 2017 at 11:57 am

    Hey Everyone, all people are equal and different (in a good way) no matter what. Nobody is better than anybody no matter what gender or whether they are rich or poor. Just be yourself!

  12. Jillian the no good actor says

    September 22, 2017 at 8:00 am

    Hey I need help. I’m REALLY into musical theater . My family always gives me compliments on my voice. Most family members are surprised that I’m not on broadway, yet. But these theater group I’m in doesn’t seem to see my talent yet. I’m either on the enesemble and/or get very few lines(the most lines I ever had was 6). It seems that no matter how hard I try, I can’t get anything in return. Nobody takes me seriously!

    -Jillian the no good actor

    • Fast Girl says

      September 23, 2017 at 6:55 am

      I’m the second fastest girl in my school and I challenged the fourth fasted boy in our school to a 100m sprint because he was saying someone like ‘oh I bet I can beat you’. I won of course and that boy was just like ‘I’m sure I won!’ GIRL POWER

  13. Dorky tomboy says

    September 21, 2017 at 11:41 pm

    WOW! You’re the ONLY girl! Fierce! You go girl and show em how it’s done! Be proud of it and confident. You’re beating them so the should take you seriously. Have you ever watched this certian show where the main character is this girl who is the only girl on the team and the best player! If not try looking it up. It’s a pretty good show. But anyway you keep crushing it with your warm ups and showing them how good you are. Just try not to be a show off.

    • Hewo :3 says

      September 26, 2017 at 7:40 pm

      Ikr! Go for it!

  14. Tomboy Mad Scientist says

    September 21, 2017 at 3:12 pm

    I totally get you. I’m a pretty good athlete on the girls side, and I’ll love to play against some boys, but, oh well. I’m pretty well respected when it comes to sports, even with the boys. But I understand your situation, because, well, as a female athlete, it something I experience. Like Brandon said, work hard! Train yourself seriously, and prove that you’re serious about sports. Good luck, sport!

  15. Anonymous says

    September 21, 2017 at 1:40 pm

    well done

  16. moo cow says

    September 21, 2017 at 9:00 am

    brandon is so supportive!

  17. Loldork says

    September 20, 2017 at 4:19 pm

    Hi Brandon, how do you know when a guy has had a crush on you? They have a boy that keeps on staring and smiling at me.

    • Isabellamarie10 says

      September 26, 2017 at 1:52 am

      Do you like him? There is this boy that flirts with me and does this really cute smile. Secret i have a crush on him.❤

  18. Yeah says

    September 20, 2017 at 9:57 am

    Go girl girls are better than boys who agrees

    • Isabellamarie10 says

      September 26, 2017 at 1:52 am

      Most me

  19. Two dorkys with a puppy says

    September 20, 2017 at 5:03 am

    You’re special for this!

    • My puppu says

      September 26, 2017 at 1:07 pm

      Good opinion

  20. Dork Girl says

    September 19, 2017 at 7:55 pm

    Don’t give up if your the only girl on the team hey you can be a the first girl on a football team ever so keep trying you’ll get there!

  21. hockey girl says

    September 19, 2017 at 4:03 pm

    it’s okay i’m the only girl in my class that plays hockey and i’m fine with that so u should be too:)

    • Isabellamarie10 says

      September 26, 2017 at 1:54 am

      I am one of the only girls on the soccer team and i dont get made fun of.

  22. MARCO DIAZ says

    September 19, 2017 at 3:34 pm

    YOU GO GIRL !!!

    • Dorky GIl 294 says

      September 22, 2017 at 3:43 am

      nice comment GIRL !!!

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