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The Magazine Devoted to World-Wide Coverage of Women's Soccer
WOMEN IN SPORTS
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EMAIL WOMENSOC@aol.com |
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The Magazine Devoted to World-Wide Coverage of Women's Soccer |
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WOMEN IN SPORTS |
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Article Index 2000
WSW's Most Valuable Person of World Cup '99
Another Olympic medal for Norway?
A tragic loss for women's soccer
Julie Foudy raises $62,500 for TopSoccer competing against other Olympic athletes on a special edition of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire on ABC television
Foudy competed against other athletes on a special Olympics-themed show.The athletes played on behalf of their favorite causes, and Foudy chose Uniroyal Tire TOPSoccer, a US Youth Soccer outreach program that gives children with mental and physical disabilities the opportunity to play soccer. Foudy made it to the "hot seat" and progressed all the way to the $125,000 level before she walked away with the prize money, rather than risking it on a $250,000 stumper. Fifty percent of her winnings will be donated to the grassroots program.
"I was determined to get into the hot seat," said Foudy, co-captain of the U.S. Women's Soccer Team, which won the silver medal in Sydney.
"This program means so much to me, and I knew that every extra dollar raised will help more children with disabilities get into the game."
Uniroyal Tire, which became the national sponsor of the program earlier this year, will work with Foudy and US Youth Soccer to develop a special grant program. The program will use the donation from Foudy, as well as additional funds raised by Uniroyal Tire and its dealers, to help start
TOPSoccer programs in communities across the country.
FIFA referee Sandra Hunt chosen to fill the Referee Director's role on U.S. Soccer's Board of Directors
Hunt, from Bellingham, Washington, has been a FIFA referee since 1999, a year in which she received the prestigious assignment of working the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup. Hunt also worked the 2000 Olympic Tournament in Australia.
At 37 years old, having played since the age of 12, and making 119 appearances for England, Gillian Coultard has decided to end her International career
Colin A. AldisShe will continue to play for her Yorkshire club, Doncaster Bellesand coach at the East Durham academy for womens football.
Gillian is the only English women's player to reach 100 appearances, and is second on the English ( both men&women) list to Peter Shilton (125 app).
With the England team preparing for the away leg of the UEFA 2001 Finals play-off in Ukraine, Gillian Coultard was not included in the squad for the match, or the last match against Finland, and was un-available for the prestigous match in France, a warm-up game before the mens FIFA All Star game against the host country.
Prior to that in June, she was included in the squad for the trip to Norway, when England suffered their worst ever defeat, 8-0 and arguably this greatest ever player for this country had to sit and watch the game from the bench. You can draw your own conclusions on how such a player was feeling on that dreadful day. To put it mildly, I was not happy sitting watching it. It does help a little to know that almost the same Norway team were being crowned Olympic Champions, some 3 months later.
There will be plenty of fond memories for her to treasure, but only one major international medal to look after, a runners-up medal from the 1st UEFA final in 1984, when England lost on penalties to Sweden. England did manage to win a trophy in Italy later in the decade.
Fortunately, her club has been extremely successful, so the trophy cabinet is well stocked. It will be interesting to see if the country and the English FA honour her in a similar way to some of the other 'top ladies' of the beautiful game.
Lance Cpl. Veronica Cortez, a native of Santa Ana, California rises to top of Marine Corps soccer
by Lance Cpl. Josh P. Vierela
Consolidated Public Affairs Office, USMC
Okinawa, Japan
With only three years of soccer experience, she has reached the top of Marine sports as one of the members of the All-Marine Soccer Team.
Lance Cpl. Veronica Cortez, a Santa Ana, California native serving here as an electrician assigned to Communications Company, Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, tried out for the elite group of females at Camp Lejeune, N.C., to represent the Marine Corps at both military and open tournaments.
After completing the tryouts in August, Cortez and her teammates played against male and female high school teams in North Carolina in preparation for the All-Forces Tournament held at Ft. Eustis, Va., in September.
Although her team lost the tournament, the other teams and coaches recognized it as the team with the most heart.
"I was really proud of my team because we gave it our all, not because we had to, but because we wanted to," Cortez said.
Cortez said she, like many Latinos, is passionate about soccer and feels as adamant about the sport now as she did three years ago when she first started playing at age 15. "I want to play soccer for the rest of my days," Cortez said.
Her cousin and mother introduced Cortez to the game to keep her busy with a sport. Playing most of her three years as a midfielder, All-Marine team coach Brian Hickerson moved Cortez to the position of defender. Cortez said she knows how it is to switch positions, not only in a soccer game, but also in life. Originally planning to go to college and work part-time, Cortez said she never thought about joining the Marine Corps until she talked to a friend. Cortez said she was lucky to have joined the Marine Corps and plans on getting as much out of it as she can. "I love my job," said Cortez, referring to her unit. With a positive look on the future, Cortez described her life as "just lucky." Looking forward to being the best she can be in the Marine Corps, as well as soccer, Cortez said she plans on trying out again next year for the All-Marine team.
I agree wholeheartedly with Liz Forbes great appreciation and support of our women's team. However, I found one comment troubling, particularly because it appeared in a publication devoted to female athletes and their pursuits. Ms. Forbes wrote: And, another important factor (to a woman, anyway): you are great athletes, but you still look and act like women!
Why can't we get past this!!? There is NOTHING inherently masculine or masculinizing about sports! However, the better and stronger women become in their athletic pursuits--when they become, to use Forbes' phrase "great athletes"--the greater the sensed fear that this is going to detract from their ability to look like real women. Implicit in the phrasing of Forbes' statement (and to her defense, I will point out that she is just one of thousands of people who continue to say this kind of
thing), is the idea that athleticism and being womanly are inherently contradictory ("you are great athletes, BUT you still look and act like women!" [my emphasis added]). Am I supposed to deduce from her statement that a lot of great athletes DON'T look like women? Does Forbes' realize how subjective her viewpoint is and how destructive this kind of statement is to women's sports?
We've been trying to fight this image (i.e. sports is masculinizing for women) for over a hundred years now. This kind of attitude kept most women out of athletic pursuits until literally the last thirty years, and it has prevented many female athletes from getting the respect they deserve up until the present (Babe Didrikson and Martina Navratilova--two of the greatest athletes, male or female, of all time come immediately to mind). Historically, and to this day, sport has played a critical role in our culture in helping to define masculinity and serving as a proving ground for "real men." Now, thankfully, women are standing up in greater numbers and saying "we want to play too." However, as sports sociologists and psychologists have shown us in numerous studies and reports, many who would like to hold on to the realm of sports first and foremost for men, have worked to perpetuate the erroneous idea that women who pursue sports run the risk of becoming masculine. This popular belief is considered to be the primary factor causing many young girls to end their athletic pursuits around the age of puberty (13-15 yrs.). Yes, more girls are playing sports than ever before, but I firmly believe that even more would be if our culture was more supportive.
The idea that women who excel at sports must make a concerted effort to hold on to their femininity (what Forbes seems to be saying with her comment) is the kind of thing that our opponents--people not so keen about women's inroads into athletics--use against female athletes in an effort to break them down and make them unsure of themselves, their bodies, and the ways they choose to live their lives. Those of us who support female athletes--as I know Ms. Forbes does--do not need to add any more fuel to that fire.
Sincerely,
Elise Edwards
University of Michigan
Finalists for the 10th annual Missouri Athletic Club Collegiate Player of the Year award announced
The fifteen women candidates for the 10th annual Missouri Athletic Club Collegiate Player of the Year award, the official National Soccer Coaches Association of America award for Division I players, have been announced. The winners will be selected by a vote of NSCAA member Division I coachesand will be honored at an awards banquet at the Missouri Athletic Club on Friday, January 5, 2001, at the NSCAA convention in Indianapolis.
Finalists
Megan Anderson , Nebraska ‹ junior, midfielder
Jenny Benson, Nebraska‹ senior, defender
Susan Bush, North Carolina ‹ sophomore, forward
Isabelle Harvey, Southern California ‹ senior, midfielder
Jena Kluegel, North Carolina ‹ junior, midfielder
Karina LeBlanc, Nebraska ‹ senior, goalkeeper
Lori Lindsey, Virginia‹ junior, midfielder
Anne Makinen, Notre Dame ‹ senior, midfielder
Mary-Frances Monroe, Connecticut ‹ junior, forward
Danielle Slaton, Santa Clara‹ sophomore, defender
Nikki Thole, Missouri ‹ senior, forward
Aly Wagner, Santa Clara ‹ sophomore, midfielder
Abby Wambach, Florida ‹ junior,foward
Christie Welsh, Penn State ‹ sophomore, forward
At the Annual General Meeting of the BFA, held September, 24 Maria Jones was elected as Junior Assistant Secretary, Sylvia Darlington as Honorary Assistant Treasurer,and Carol Best as Member, on the Executive Council. The three women on the Council are the most during any one term in BFA history.
US Olympic soccer superstars Shannon MacMillan, Tiffeny Milbrett and Lorrie Fair have teamed up with In the Mix, the Emmy award winning teen series on PBS, to encourage young people to pick up a soccer ball rather than a cigarette. "Because there's no way you can be at this level, be sucking down cigarettes and still be successful", says Milbrett. Despite the efforts of many national anti-tobacco campaigns, young adults are still smoking-many of them beginning as early as age 12. Each day more 3,000 teens become daily smokers. It is estimated that among teens that are regular smokers, one in three will die from tobacco related illnesses. "Soccer...Kickin' Butts shows how soccer is the perfect antidote to teen smoking. On and off the field, the men and women of the U.S. National Teams go for the gold and prove that an active, smoke free lifestyle is clearly a winner." Donna E. Shalala, Secretary of Health and Human Services
SOCCER.... KICKIN' BUTTS takes an in-depth look at the physical and psychological benefits of playing soccer as part of a healthy smoke-free lifestyle, including weight management, stress relief and building life long friendships. Professional soccer players Eddie Pope of the U.S. Men's National Soccer Team and Bobby Convey of D.C. United share how their involvement with soccer helped them resist peer pressure to smoke. Rick Guter, Certified Athletic Trainer for D.C. United, explains how smoking affects not only the lungs but also an athlete's reaction time, endurance and risk of physical injury. Dr. Alan Leshner, Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, explains how nicotine changes the brain, debunks myths and reveals that some people can actually become addicted in months rather than years.
Teen soccer players from across the country talk with candor and humor about how being involved in soccer has "kept them out of trouble" and helped them make friends, deal with adversity and develop leadership skills. In addition to playing soccer, many of the teens profiled in the show volunteer as anti-tobacco advocates. In the Mix is there as they visit elementary schools, record PSA's and spread the word about the dangers of tobacco. Also, Jennifer, a young soccer player from New Hampshire, describes how second hand smoke affects her and takes the difficult step of confronting her mother about her smoking.
Army pilot Captain Stacy Hennessy named to All-Armed Forces Soccer Team
By Patti Bielling
Capt.ain Stacy Hennessy, daughter of retired Navy Capt. Lawrence and Paula Hennessy of Newport, a Rhode Island native and Army pilot was named to the All-Armed Forces soccer team following the Army's victory at the Armed Forces Women's Soccer Championship Sept. 10-15 at Fort Eustis, Va. After graduating and being commissioned in 1995, Hennessy earned her wings on the UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter and served as a pilot for three years in Giebelstadt, Germany. She scored four goals during the six-game tournament to lead the Army to 5-0-1 victory over the Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. Army held their opponents scoreless until the last game of the tournament, when Air Force, the defending champs, managed a 1-1 tie. A minor knee injury had kept Hennessy from practicing at full speed, but hampered her little during the games. Playing forward, she scored at least one goal against each of the other services to earn a spot on the All-Armed Forces team.
Hennessy, a 1991 Rogers High School graduate, assumed command of an aviation company at Fort Eustis shortly before the team trials. The petite-but-muscular brunette admits it was a challenge to begin a new job while trying out for the team, but said the opportunity to compete again was worth it. In the last five years, recreational games were the only means Hennessy had to indulge her passion for soccer. At Canisius College in Buffalo, N.Y., where she attended on a full soccer scholarship, she competed and earned numerous honors as a striker. As a sophomore, she accepted a 3-year Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps scholarship, which complemented her soccer scholarship.
"I traveled all over the world and met people from all over," she said. "As a college student, just knowing you have full medical and dental coverage and you'll be collecting a pay check for the next five or six years that security is a nice feeling."
Throughout the tournament, Hennessy maintained a positive attitude, and teammates said she was very supportive of them.
"There are a lot of great players out here," Hennessy said. "Most of the officers have played on the collegiate level. The enlisted soldiers we have on the team are really talented and must have come from exceptional soccer programs to be playing here."
"She is a great addition to the team," said defenseman Capt. Catherine Gaffigan. "Her speed on the right side is lethal. She can outrun any defender."
Hennessy said she is looking forward to the chance to compete again soon. Military sports officials are exploring the possibility of entering the All-Armed Forces team in a national-level tournament early next year.
She scored four goals during the six-game tournament to lead the Army to 5-0-1 victory over the Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. Army held their opponents scoreless until the last game of the tournament, when Air Force, the defending champs, managed a 1-1 tie. A minor knee injury had kept Hennessy from practicing at full speed, but hampered her little during the games. Playing forward, she scored at least one goal against each of the other services to earn a spot on the All-Armed Forces team.
Hennessy, a 1991 Rogers High School graduate, assumed command of an aviation company at Fort Eustis shortly before the team trials. The petite-but-muscular brunette admits it was a challenge to begin a new job while trying out for the team, but said the opportunity to compete again was worth it. In the last five years, recreational games were the only means Hennessy had to indulge her passion for soccer. At Canisius College in Buffalo, N.Y., where she attended on a full soccer scholarship, she competed and earned numerous honors as a striker. As a sophomore, she accepted a 3-year Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps scholarship, which complemented her soccer scholarship.
"I traveled all over the world and met people from all over," she said. "As a college student, just knowing you have full medical and dental coverage and you'll be collecting a pay check for the next five or six years that security is a nice feeling."
Throughout the tournament, Hennessy maintained a positive attitude, and teammates said she was very supportive of them.
"There are a lot of great players out here," Hennessy said. "Most of the officers have played on the collegiate level. The enlisted soldiers we have on the team
are really talented and must have come from exceptional soccer programs to be playing here."
"She is a great addition to the team," said defenseman Capt. Catherine Gaffigan. "Her speed on the right side is lethal. She can outrun any defender."
Hennessy said she is looking forward to the chance to compete again soon. Military sports officials are exploring the possibility of entering the All-Armed Forces team in a national-level tournament early next year
Carolina Morace is to be Italy's National Team Head Coach
Mario Rimati
It's (finally) official! Carolina Morace is Italy's new head coach! Italian F.A. president Luciano Nizzola has given the former national team captain the bench of the Italian national female team. Morace, who will also be in charge of the U-18 national team, takes over from Ettore Recagni. The official presentation will take place in Rome at the headquarters of the Italian F.A. in the morning of July 21, 2000
U.S. National Team's 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup to go on public exhibition at National Soccer Hall of Fame on Saturday, June 24, 2000
The trophy and Kristine Lilly's gold shoes made to honor her 200th international match appearance are part of a new Women's World Cup ?99 Exhibition at the hall. "This is one of our most important artifacts, even over our exhibit of the world's oldest soccer ball, because it is a World Cup trophy." said Will Lunn president of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.
Carin Jennings-Gabarra will be inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame at official ceremonies to be held in Oneonta, NY on Saturday, October 28, 2000
Gabarra starred on the USA's first world championship team which made history when it won the First FIFA Women's World Championship in 1991. Gabarra was also a member of the U.S. team that won the Gold medal at the 1996 Olympics, and of the 1995 squad that finished third at the Second FIFA Women's World Cup held in Sweden. A four-time All-American from the University of California, Santa Barbara, she also played with Ajax of Southern California when they won the 1992 and 1993 U.S. Women's Amateur Cup. She was drafted by the L.A. United of the Continental Indoor Soccer League in 1993.
Gabarra's selection drew praise from former U.S. women's national team coach Tony DiCicco. "Carin was an inspirational, exciting and wonderfully effective player for the USA and a joy to watch," said DiCicco. "Her ability to take on opponents, to dribble and hold the ball under pressure and on the attack is, to this day, the standard by which we measure our national team players."
©Women's Soccer World July/August 1998
Carin Gabarra retires from international play
In a special ceremony during half-time of the U.S. - Argentina game on April 24th, Carin Gabarra was honored by her teammates and U.S. Soccer as she officially retired from international play. A member of the U.S. National Team since 1987, Gabarra represented her country in 117 matches, in which she scored 53 goals‹placing her as the fourth highest scorer in the team's history.
As Carin Jennings she was a formidable scorer in the 1991 World Cup, helping lead the U.S. to victory with six tournament goals, including a hat trick in the 5-2 semifinal match against Germany. Known throughout that tournament as "Crazy legs" and as one third of the famed "Triple-Edged Sword" (along with April Heinrichs and Michelle Akers) she was part of a forward line which cut through defenses and put the ball in the net. When Pele presented her with the Golden Ball as most valuable player of the championship she became the only American to ever receive that soccer honor. She also earned the Silver Boot as second top scorer of the tournament.
Gabarra was named as U.S. Soccer's Female Athlete of the Year in 1987 and 1992. She played in the 1995 World Cup in Sweden and made her last international appearance with the U.S. Team at the 1996 Olympics, taking time off from play to have her first child, Tyler Andrew Gabarra, the following year. Since her appointment in 1993 she has served as head women's soccer coach at the U. S. Naval Academy and has been active with numerous outreach projects, including the Annual Kicks Against Breast Cancer Tournament. She is married to former U.S. Men's National Team member, Jim Gabarra. ©WSW
Iranian women search for a head coach
By Mario Rimati
The Italian press has reported on the continued and tranquil revolution surrounding the world of Iranian female soccer. This revolution began in 1997 with the advent of the reformist president Mohammad Khatami. Iran's female population is now waiting for the ban on women to attend sports arenas to be soon lifted.
In the meantime, the many women involved in the world of soccer have created a female soccer federation and are now looking for a foreign (female) coachfor the national teams. Khadijeh Speanji, the newly-elected president of the federation, was quoted in the Iran Daily as saying that "Women are now ready to organize the first games in towns which playing facilities." The major hurdle that organizers foresee is the total ban for women to exhibit themselves in front of a mixed audience of men and women in sporting events. This would be incompatible with Islamic law which imposes that women must be covered from head to foot with the chador.
The first-ever mini-soccer female tournament took place in October of 1999 and saw 9 teams which played in a closed arena. The tournament was strictly out of bounds to both men and t.v. cameras.
Michelle Akers to be awarded the 2000 Henry P.Iba Citizen Athlete Award on June 19th in Tulsa, Oklahoma
The Iba Award is given annually to a male and female athlete who best exemplify citizenship in the image of Iba, the former Oklahoma State and U.S. Olympic basketball coach.
The award recognizes athletes who have excelled in their sport and have shown by their actions a desire to help others. Akers founded Soccer Outreach International in 1998 with the intent of inspiring and motivating children to reach their full potential. She also is an advocate for the ChronicFatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome Association of America.
Al Fayed falls in love with women's soccer
By Mario Rimati
Millionaire Mohamed Al Fayed, father of Dodi (Princess Diana's deceased companion), was so favorably impressed with last summer's women's World Cup that he has decided to finance, sponsor and above-all grant maternity leave to the players of Britain's first women's professional club, Fulham. The Egyptian businessman, famous for being the owner of Harrods among many things, returned from last summer's event excited at the thought of setting up the women's team and hopefully taking away the championship title from Arsenal, the reigning amateur club champions. Al Fayed had already bought Fulham's men's team three years ago bringing it to the men's 1st division championship. Not worrying at all with expenses, he immediately bought a Norwegian midfielder for the women's club. And the maternity leave? Ronnie Gibbons, the 20 year-old capitan, explained it in the following way: "The same rules regarding maternity leave in the work force will apply to soccer. If a player gets pregnant she'll stop playing but she'll continue to attend workouts until leave is granted. A month after the child's birth the mother will have to begin training again."
How many other nations are ready to follow Fulham's example?
SOCCER CHAMPION MIA HAMM RANKED MOST POPULAR FEMALE ATHLETE AMONG TEENS
April 17, 2000
Soccer star Mia Hamm's popularity continues to grow among U.S. teenagers, who ranked her second only to Michael Jordan in a survey asking "Who is your favorite athlete?" Hamm garnered 3.5% of the total vote, behind Jordan's 9.7%, but ahead of Vince Carter of the NBA with 2.1% and Tiger Woods with 1.9%. The survey was conducted from March 21-23 by Bolt Bus of over 1,000 teenagers who were pre-screened and balanced by age and gender to reflect the U.S. teen population. The results: 1. Michael Jordan, 9.7%; 2. Mia Hamm, 3.5%; 3. Vince Carter, 2.1%; 4. Tiger Woods, 1.9%; 5. Kobe Bryant, 1.8%; Ken Griffey Jr., 1.8%; 7. Tony Hawk, 1.3%; 8. Emmitt Smith, 1.1%; Dennis Rodman, 1.1%.
Sun Wen is the first woman to be a candidate for the prestigious Asian player of the year award
By Mario Rimati
Italy's sports daily "Corriere dello Sport" published two days ago the news that Chinese Captain Sun Wen is the first women's soccer player to be a candidate for the prestigious Asian player of the year award, "dethroning" Japanese national team player Hidetoshi Nakata who won the award in 1997 and 1998 (Nakata is currently playing in Italy's men's Serie A with club Roma)
The Asian Football Confederation stated that Wen deserves the award for her "brilliant performance at the U.S. World Cup," although erroneously mentioning that Sun Wen was the leading goal scorer of the tournament when in fact she shared the prestigious title with Brazil's Sissi (7 goals each). The paper also stated that Wen received the Golden Ball award as best player, ahead of Sissi and Michelle Akers. The news item was highlighted by a picture showing Wen battling for the ball against Kate Sobrero and Joy Fawcett during the Final at the Rose Bowl.
Three women referees officiate official men's game in Argentina
By Guillermo Tagliaferri
For first time in Argentina three women referees were in charge of an official men soccer game. FLORENCIA ROMANO was the referee and ALEJANDRA CERCATO and ELVIA MALDONADO were assistant referees on the lines, in the reserves game between Atlanta and Argentino de Quilmes (Argentinian Third Division Championship). The photo of the three dressed in the black referee uniform appeared today on the front page of all the Argentinian newspapers.
Italian sports correspondent writes about the possible dependency of the MLS on the popularity of U.S. women's soccer
By Mario Rimati
In other news, an interesting article appeared in an Italian sports paper on the start of the new MLS season, beginning with the arrival of former German national player Lothar Matthaeus in the MLS' Metrostars team. The paper's correspondent from the States apparently had difficulty in understanding why American clubs are still intent on signing up "over the hill" players such as Matthaeus (38), Hristo Stoichkov (34), Carlos Valderrama (38), Paul Caligiuri (37), Lubos Kubik (36) and Anders Limpar (34). The article applauded the decision that the penalty shoot-out will be finally abolished in favor of the Golden Goal scheme. The apparent decrease in fan turn-out was also analyzed (from an average of 17,406 to 14,000). Three-quarters of the article blasted the organizational methods of the MLS' new president Don Garber. What's interesting about the remaining part of the highly critical article on U.S. men's soccer was the positive note with which the journalist discussed the upcoming professional women's league set for next year. The journalist concluded his highly critical article on a rather positive note: "Mia Hamm and "Brady" Chastain already filled a stadium once with 90,000 people. There'll be no problem filling a stadium in a second with 20,000 people using their names on advertising posters. The men's matches will probably be used as an "appetizer" for the women's games. Has anyone ever heard of female soccer helping the men's game in order to strengthen its own reputation? When it comes to a country like the U.S. which always wants to be first in everything, this is certainly a record".
Commentary
If an Italian soccer journalist sits up to takes notice of the positive effects of U.S. female soccer on the men's game, you can be sure that in one way or the other he's been won over by the outstanding accomplishments of Mia and Co.!
Three Mexican players to play for the New Brunswick Power team
By Flor M. Romero Rivera
Fatima Leyva, Iris Mora and forward Maribel Dominguez are going to play from April to August and are going to live with Mexican families.
The three of them accepted the opportunity and said that this was the best chance they had to improve their game and play soccer with high level players.
Women's
Soccer event to be announced at NikeTown, Portland
on Friday, February 25th.
U.S. Soccer will hold a press conferenceto announce a major international women's soccer event coming to Portland that will feature the 1999 Women's World Cup champions. Portland native, former Pilot star and U.S. striker Tiffeny Milbrett, the USA's leading scorer in 1999 with 21 goals will be at the press conference beginning at noon.
Women's
soccer may be outlawed in Nigeria
By Tokunbo Ojo
Women's soccer may soon be a thing of the past in Nigeria as many states in the northern part of Federal Republic of Nigeria embrace Islamic Sharia law.
Under the law, it is "unislamic" for women to play soccer. "The sport is against the teachings of Islam," said Shehu Gusau, director of sport in the Nigeria's northwest state of Zamfara.
Zamfara is the first Nigeria state to adopt Sharia law and the plan is underway to enforce in the law to core. As in the most part of the world where Sharia law is being used, women must cover themselves from head to toes. Men and women are often segregated from one another.
As other northern states are weighing the options of Sharia laws, the government of Zamfara has expressed willingness to build a new sport stadium with separate stands for men and women.
Since 1989, women's soccer has rapidly developed in Nigeria, which is a secular country on paper. The country's female soccer team, Falcons, is the best in Africa and currently among the top eight teams in the world.
It placed fifth in the last Women's World Cup in the United States. The team is of the few teams to have participated in all three World Cups.
The Falcons, which was a quarter-finalist at the last year's Women's World Cup, will also be the African sole representative at the Sydney Olympics. The country's women's soccer program has produced many world-class players like Mercy Akide, Florence Omagbemi, Nkiru Okosieme, Patience Avre and others.
In the past weeks, several thousands of Moslem women from across the northern states staged rallies demanding imposition of Sharia in spite of opposition from the Christian community.
In Nigeria, Muslims are in the majority in the northern part of Nigeria but there is a substantial Christian minority, while the southern part is predominately for Christians.
English female referee to be part of officiating team
for League Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, England on February 27, 2000
By Mario Rimati
The Italian press has reported that for the first time in the history of the world's most famous soccer stadium, Wembley, a female referee will take part in a League Cup final match between Leicester City and Tranmere Rovers on Feb. 27, 2000. Referee Alan Wilkie will be flanked by linespeople Paul Armstrong and Wendy Toms. Ms. Toms, 37, has been a lineswoman since 1994. She has been refereeing in the Premier League since 1997 and is also a FIFA referee for women's soccer.
 Action against Canada 1991 |
Carin Jennigs-Gabarra, the MVP Golden Ball Award winner at the Ist FIFA Women's
World Cup '1991, heads the list of final candidates for induction into the National
Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta, New York, for the year 2000. Carin Gabarra Retires From
International Play - Women's Soccer World July/August 1998(C)
In a special ceremony during
half-time of the U.S. - Argentina game on April 24th, Carin Gabarra was honored
by her teammates and U.S. Soccer as she officially retired from international
play. A member of the U.S. National Team since 1987, Gabarra represented her
country in 117 matches, in which she scored 53 goals-placing her as the fourth
highest scorer in the team's history.
As Carin Jennings she was
a formidable scorer in the 1991 World Cup, helping lead the U.S. to victory
with six tournament goals, including a hat trick in the 5-2 semifinal match
against Germany. Known throughout that tournament as "Crazy legs" and as one
third of the famed "Triple-Edged Sword" (along with April Heinrichs and Michelle
Akers) she was part of a forward line which cut through defenses and put the
ball in the net. When Pele presented her with the Golden Ball as the most valuable
player of the championship she became the only American to ever receive that
soccer honor. She also earned the Silver Boot as second top scorer of the tournament.
Gabarra was named as U.S.
Soccer's Female Athlete of the Year in 1987 and 1992. She played in the 1995
World Cup in Sweden and made her last international appearance with the U.S.
Team at the 1996 Olympics, taking time off from play to have her first child,
Tyler Andrew Gabarra, the following year. Since her appointment in1993 she has
served as head women's soccer coach at the U. S. Naval Academy and has been
active with numerous outreach projects, including the Annual Kicks Against Breast
Cancer Tournament. She is married to former U.S. Men's National Team member,
Jim Gabarra.
Another new womens professional soccer league being formed? The following press release was received by WSW.
The Women's Elite Soccer Association (WESA) wants to bring a women's professional soccer league to reality. "The United States has the world's best women's players and there are millions of young women playing the sport, this is a perfect time for our league", said Ron Bronson, Jr., founder of the new league.
WESA will begin its first season in the spring of 2001, with teams in
fourteen cities across the country. They will play a 19 game schedule, with two games against their division rivals and one those from the other
division. The Premier Cup Championship Playoffs will feature the top six
teams in the league, regardless of record in a single-elimination
tournament.
"We are in the stages of identifying which markets we will enter in our
initial season," said Bronson. Unlike Major League Soccer, the league will
not be based on the single entity concept. Bronson stated that many of those potential investors and owners that he talked to, cited that control of their clubs was something that was viewed as a strength for the new league, not a detractor.
Teams from the USL's W-League are being petitioned to enter the league, as well as clubs from the West Coast's Women's Premier Soccer League. Upstartfranchises from new owners are also being sought for the new league. Bronson stated that the league was seeking about $10-20 million to get the league going."
League cities will be announced this spring and a web site http://www.womenselitesoccer.com launched in the coming weeks.
Email us at womensprosoccer@changeamerica.org
The inaugural NSCAA Women's Committee of Excellence Award won by April Heinrichs April Heinrichs, captain of the 1991 World Cup winning U.S. Team, first superstar of women's soccer in the USA, presently the Head Coach of the U.S. Under-16 National Team, and in her fifth year as Head Coach at the University of Virginia will be honored at the NSCAA Annual Convention on January 14, 2000 for her outstanding long term service and contribution toward improvement and advancement of the women's game in the United States.
Lorrie Fair was named the recipient of the prestigious 1999-2000
Honda Sports Award for soccer on Tuesday, January 4, 2000 by the Honda Awards Program. This automatically nominates the Los Altos, Calif. Senior for the Hond-Brocerick Cup to be presented to the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year. A banquet to announce that selection will be held June 12, 2000 in Orlando, Fla.
UNC players have won the Soccer Honda Award six times since its
institution in 1989-90. Shannon Higgins won that year and since has been
joined by Kristine Lilly in 1991-92, Mia Hamm in 1992-93 and 1993-94, Tisha Venturini in 1994-95 and Fair in 1999-2000. Hamm was the recipient of the Honda-Broderick Cup in 1993-94. In nine of the award's 11 years, recipients have included members of the 1999 United States Women's World Cup Team, which won the gold medal last summer. Fair was the only active collegian to play on that history-making team, forgoing the economic spoils associated with winning the Cup so she could remain a vital component of the University of North Carolina's 16th National Championship in her senior season (UNC captured 3 NCAA Championships in Lorrie's 4 year tenure with the team).
Fair is joined as fall sports recipients of the Honda Awards by Sally
Northcroft of Ball State in field hockey and Amy Yoder of Arkansas in cross country. International
Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) award for the World's Best Women's Soccer Player
of the Century won by Mia Hamm The final ranking :
Akers, Hamm and Mohr didn't show up to receive the trophies, which were only shown to the public. Akers wrote a nice letter, that she does not feel well because of fatigue syndrome. At the Gala the world's best male Soccerplayer of the Century and the world's best goalkeeper were also honoured. The award as best player went to Pele, followed by Johan Cruyff and Franz Beckenbauer. Goalie of the century became Lev Jashin ahead of Gordon Banks and Dino Zoff.
The first women's 5-a-side tournament since the Islamic revolution of 1979 takes place in Tehran, Iran.
The tournament was organized by Mitra Danaifard, a former player who had to abandon the game shortly
after the revolution when the religious authorities of her country prohibited women from playing
soccer.
Julie Foudy elected to two year term as President of the Women's Sports Foundation Board
Julie Foudy was elected President of the Women's Sports Foundation Board of Trustees yesterday,
succeeding Nancy Lieberman-Cline. Her term begins January 1, 2000 and lasts for two years.
Mia Hamm named Sportswoman of the Year by Women's Sports Foundation
Hamm was named as Sportswoman of the year in the Team division by the Women's Sorts Foundation
yesterday in New York. As usual she insisted on sharing the honor with her teammates who were present.
She particularly praised Carla Overbeck and Julie Foudy the team's co-captains for their part in
helping her athletic development.
Women's soccer scores again as U.S. National Team's World cup '99 commercials bring praise and top awards for creators
The top awards and praise from the Advertising Awards Women of New York went to advertisements portraying members of the U.S. National Team at an awards luncheon in New York today. The organization is committed to raising the quality of advertising involving women, and a panel grades commercials as Good, Bad or Ugly according to the way women are portrayed.]
Top Grand Good award for the most positive attitude was given to FCB Worldwide Chicago for their commercial with Michael Jordan and Mia Hamm evoking the "Anything you can do I can do better" song of Irving Berlin (WSW's e-mail suggests that this would have been the choice of the more than a thousand 8 to16 year old girls who wrote during the World Cup).
The Grand Good award for a campaign went to Leagus Delaney (San Francisco office) for their four players' childhood television spots done adidas.
Others receiving praise were the two commercials created by Wieden & Kennedy, Portland, Oregon for Nike, Inc. extolling the idea that "We will take on the world together." One of them at the dentist includes the now famous line "Then I will have two fillings."
NSCAA/adidas WOMEN'S
SOCCER SYMPOSIUM
The National Soccer Coaches Association of America presents the sixth annual Women's Soccer Symposium.
The event is being held in conjunction with the 1999 NCAA Division I Women's College Cup at
San Jose State University. The symposium will be held at the DoubleTree Hotel in San Jose and
registration for the event will include a premium ticket to the semifinal and championship games.
The symposium will appeal to coaches at every level of the game. The following are the featured
speakers at this year's event:
Lynn Berling-Manuel Karen Stanley-Kehl Joy Fawcett Tony DiCicco SCHEDULE
REGISTRATION
ACCOMMODATIONS AND TRAVEL
NSCAA/adidas WOMEN'S SOCCER SYMPOSIUM REGISTRATION FORM NAME: ________________________________
NSCAA MEMBER? ____YES ____NO MEMBERSHIP #__________
ADDRESS _______________________ CITY _________________ STATE _____ ZIP _________
DAYTIME PHONE __________________ FAX NUMBER ________________ E-MAIL ___________
NSCAA member pre-registration $90 _______
Non-member pre-registration $110 _______
______ extra game tickets @ $30 each _______
______ extra luncheon tickets @ $20 each _______
______ extra reception tickets @ $15 each _______
TOTAL ___________ Enclose check or money order (payable to NSCAA) and return for receipt no later than Nov. 19 to: NSCAA National Office,
6700 Squibb Road, Suite 215, Mission, KS 66202
TO PAY BY CREDIT CARD: Name on card (please print) __________________________________ Type of card _____ Visa _____ MasterCard Exp. date _____
Card number ______________________________________
Signature ________________________________________
Caroline Morace - she came, she saw, she conquered! September 5th For most of the match, she and her assistant Betty Bavagnoli were
surrounded by photographers and TV cameramen. Gallantry was the call
of the day as the opposing team's coach presented her with a bouquet of
flowers before kick-off. Many of the fans who wore pink and raised
banners in her honor took part in a festive "wave" around the stadium
and representatives from the Italian Department of Culture (which also
has responsibility for sports) were also on hand to witness Carolina,
the new "cultural and social phenomenon" of Italian soccer. Morace's
victory was reported in many of Italy's major evening news programs.
Michelle
Akers and Sylvia Neid in new commission on soccer created Monday,
November 9, 1998 in Zurich by FIFA President Blatter Commission on Soccer President:
Angel Villar Llona (Spain) Members Fifteen
Women To Vie For Missouri Athletic Club Sports Foundation Collegiate
Soccer Award Fifteen of the most talented women's
collegiate soccer players in the United States have been selected
as candidates for the eighth annual Missouri Athletic Club Sports
Foundation Collegiate Player of the Year award. The prestigious
crystal soccer ball trophy will be presented during a dinner
at the M.A.C. on Jan. 8, 1999. Among the 15 candidates is last year's
award winner, Cindy Parlow of North Carolina. Parlow, a senior
forward, will be attempting to join former North Carolina standout
Mia Hamm as the only two-time winner of the women's award. Seven other candidates were on last
year's ballot, including three of Parlow's teammates on the national
champion Tar Heels team junior defender Lorrie Fair, junior midfielder
Laurie Schwoy, and senior midfielder Tiffany Roberts. Three members of the Notre Dame squad
were named as candidates, including repeat selections Jen Streiffer,
a junior forward, and Jen Grubb, a junior defender. Also making
the list from Notre Dame was LaKeysia Beene, a junior goalie. Other repeat selections from last year
were Emily Stauffer, a senior forward from Harvard, and Jaime
Pagliarulo, a senior goalie from George Mason. Others named to the Top 15 were Mandy
Clemens a junior forward from Santa Clara, Danielle Fotopoulos
a senior forward from Florida, Sara Burkett a senior midfielder
from Clemson, Angela Hucles a junior forward from Virginia, Michelle
French a senior midfielder from Portland, and Jennifer Tietjen
a senior midfielder from Connecticut. The 15 candidates for the Player of
the Year award, which recognized the top American born or naturalized
college player, were chosen in balloting by coaches of the top
20 teams in this year's pre-season ranking. The winner will be
selected in balloting by approximately 800 coaches from across
the country. In addition to selecting the top 15
players, coaches also named five "Players to Watch"
during the season. The five named were Jacqui Little a junior
forward from Santa Clara, Amber Berendowsky a junior forward
from Michigan, Kelly Smith a junior forward from Seton Hall,
Kim Clark a junior midfielder from Southern Cal, and Shauna Rohbock
a senior forward from Brigham Young. England's
Sports Minister Tony Banks dreams of the day that a woman will
be the head coach of the English Men's National Team The Italian press reported that Banks
said that "There shouldn't be 5th
Annual Call 1-800-458-0678
for application forms, hotel information and information Schedule
of Events 8:00 a.m. 12:00 noon Hilton Hotel: Cape
Fear and Kitty Hawk Rooms
10:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. Hilton Hotel: Blue
Ridge Room
2:00 p.m. & 4:30 p.m. University of North
Carolina, Greensboro
8:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. Hilton Hotel: Cape
Fear and Kitty Hawk Rooms
9:00 a.m. 10:15 a.m. Hilton Hotel: Triad
Ballroom
10:30 a.m. 11:45 a.m. Hilton Hotel: Triad
Ballroom
12:00 noon Hilton Hotel: Georgia
Ballroom
5:30 p.m. 7:00 p.m. Hilton Hotel: Maggie
O'Malley's Pub
9:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. Hilton Hotel: Triad
West Ballroom
1:00 p.m. University of North
Carolina-Greensboro
Remember
the National Soccer Alliance (NSA) unsucessful attempts to get
approval from USSF for a professional women's league in the USA?
Here is the latest update taken from our many e-mails. In July the NSA filed a complaint
with the USOC against the United States Soccer Federation (USSF)
claiming that the USSF violated the Amateur Sports Act and discriminated
against the women's league in its attempt to gain membership
in the Federation. It seems that the USOC's membership and credentials
committee (the same committee that is reviewing whether or not
the USSF is now in compliance, since Federation was on probation
for the complaint filed awhile back by AYSO) met recently, and
that one of their topics of discussion was the NSA complaint.
NSA had apparently asked the USOC to look into the USSF's membership
procedures, and to demand that the USSF alter its application
process to bring it into compliance with the Amateur Sports Act. University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill refutes allegations in soccer lawsuit
filed by former players Debbie Keller and Melissa Jennings in
a Federal Civil Lawsuit filed in Chicago Tuesday, August 25, 1998 In response to a lawsuit
filed today, August 25, 1998, in the U.S. District Court, Northern
District of Illinois, Eastern Division, University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill Athletic Director Dick Baddour and Women's Soccer
Coach Anson Dorrance made brief statements and responded to some
questions at a media session held today at 5:30 p.m. at the Carolina
Inn's Hill Ballroom South. U.S. Soccer
Federation succeeds in halting unauthorized use of Trademark in
Pinup Calendar Los Angeles, California July
31, 1998 The USSF was particularly gratified by the victory in light
of the U.S. hosting of the upcoming Women's World Cup. "With
the Women's World Cup coming to this country in 1999, we are going
to great lengths to ensure that the USSF's intellectual property
is vigorously protected and that the positive image of women in
sport and soccer as family entertainment is preserved," said
Alan I. Rothenberg, President of the U.S. Soccer Federation. Perry Viscounty of Latham & Watkins, who represents USSF,
pointed out that not only was the trademark usage by PMP Studios
unlawful, but that its usage in a pinup calendar was particularly
offensive as children represent one of the largest audiences for
soccer. Viscounty noted that more American youth participate in
soccer events than in any other sport, that approzimately 67%
of the USSF's three million youth soccer players are under the
age of 13 and that 74% of the 18 million Americans who play soccer
each year are under the age of 13. Hank Steinbrecher, Secretary General of the USSF, expressed
satisfaction with the outcome, emphasizing that "the USSF
encourages and strives to convey a wholesome image of soccer and
we are delighted to prevail in the protection of our intellectual
property." Women's National Team Contract Dispute Follow-up The Soccer Standoff
by Ellen Zavian published in the April, 1996 edition of Women's
Sports & Fitness magazine. We are delighted and honored to bring you a personal view
of the contract dispute. You will find it both uplifting and
thought provoking. It will leave you admiring the conduct of
the athletes involved, and wondering why they were put in this
position. New Women's World Wide Web Site: The following remarks were presented April
20, 1995 at the NCAA Title IX seminar in Baltimore, MD. by Norma
V. Cantu. These remarks were first published, for wide distribution,
by The NCAA News on April 26, 1995. Permission to copy or disseminate
all or part of this material is granted provided that the copies
are not made or distributed for commercial advantage and notice
is given that copying is by permission of the Office for Civil
Rights. To disseminate otherwise, or to republish, requires written
permission. For further information, contact Elvira Castillo,
Staff Assistant, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil
Rights, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20202 at (202) 205-5413. ATHLETIC EXPERIENCE VITAL TO BOTH SEXES
By Norma V. Cantu, U.S. Assistant Secretary for
Civil Rights The following remarks were presented April 20 at the NCAA
Title IX seminar in Baltimore. In the heated and sometimes emotional
discussions of intercollegiate athletics, it is easy to lose
sight of the bigger picture we are dealing with. And when we
narrow the focus to a specific legal or compliance standard,
as we will be doing on these panels, we again run the risk of
compounding our short-sightedness. So, I want to begin by reminding all of us why it is so important
that we provide both male and female students nondiscriminatory
opportunity to participate in athletics. What drove this point home for me was a letter I received
a few weeks ago from a woman in New Jersey regarding the Office
for Civil Rights' enforcement of Title IX. I want to share with
you excerpts from that letter. It starts out: "My concerns are not self-directed, for my opportunity
has long since passed. My concerns are not for my daughter, who
had a very limited opportunity. My concerns are for my granddaughters
and other young females whose future I have hope for. "As a child, I loved athletics and physical activity.
I was talented, but my talent was not appreciated or approved
of by most...I watched my older and younger brothers compete
on school teams. It didn't matter that in the neighborhood pick-up
games, I was selected before my brothers. Society dictated that
I should watch, and they should compete. So at home in the back
yard, I would catch as my brother worked on his curve ball, I
would shag flies as he developed his batting prowess and, as
I recall, I frequently served as his tackling dummy. "...The brother I caught for, and shagged for, and served
as a tackling dummy for, went on to Georgetown University on
a full athletics grant. He later became vice-president of a large
banking firm...Since I was also a better student than my brother,
as well as a more proficient athlete, I am forced to conclude
that his greater success is directly related to his greater opportunity
and access to education. "So, while I rode in the backseat on the bus of opportunity
during my lifetime, I want my daughter's daughter and her peers
to be able to select a seat based on their abilities and their
willingness to work. Don't deny them the things I dreamed of." How powerful. And this letter touches on only a few of the
positive outcomes brought about by participation in athletics. There are many other benefits to participation. According
to the Institute for Athletics and Education, girls who participate
in sports are three times more likely to graduate from high school,
80 percent less likely to have an unwanted pregnancy, and 92
percent less likely to use drugs. The health benefits are extensive.
For example, studies are reporting that women who participate
in sports lower their risk of breast cancer between 40 and 60
percent. The medical literature indicates that certain sports
and exercises can reduce osteoporosis, which is costing this
nation $18 billion each year. There also are psychological benefits. The research finds
that women athletes have a higher level of self-esteem and a
lower rate of depression than nonathletes. They also are shown
to have a more positive body image, which is particularly important
in the development of a positive self-image. As my fellow panelists
will discuss later, the availability of athletics scholarships
dramatically increases the ability of athletes to pursue a college
education and to select from a greater range of institutions.
Eventually, this has implications for future employability of
persons who will go on to become productive members of our society. And then there are important values we learn from participation
in sports - teamwork, standards, leadership, discipline, work
ethics, self-sacrifice, pride in accomplishment, strength of
character - lessons that are as important to women as they are
to men. Donna de Varona, who won two gold medals at the 1964 Olympics,
has talked about this. I had the pleasure of speaking with her
when she visited my office several months ago. A number of former women athletes point to communication learned
in sports competition as key to their upward mobility. Ninety-three
percent of women in one study agreed that women who participated
in sports would be better able to compete successfully later
in life. Another interesting statistic - 80 percent of women
who were identified as key leaders in their Fortune 500 companies
had sports backgrounds. This connection of sports to work is more critical than ever.
The dynamics of the work world are changing dramatically. According
to the latest Department of Labor projections, women will account
for 59 percent of the net increase in the civilian work force
between 1992 and 2005. By 2005, the 72 million women workers
will constitute 47 percent of the civilian labor force. Unlike previous trends, the vast majority of these women will
not be leaving the labor force to assume full-time child-rearing
responsibilities. In fact, men will be leaving the labor force
in greater numbers than women. The capacity of women to assume
employment opportunities will affect America's ability to compete
in the world economy as well as our security and quality of life. A Federal commission was asked to examine the new demands
of the workplace and whether our young people will be capable
of meeting those demands. Specifically, the commission was directed
to advise the secretary of labor on requirements for entering
employment. What interested me was the commission's identification
of competencies, skills and qualities that lie at the heart of
job performance. Again, many relate to those that are often by-products of
athletics participation. Consider the following identified by
the commission: It is no wonder that public support for women's participation
in athletics is stronger than ever. Eighty-seven percent of parents
now accept the idea that sports are equally important for boys
and girls. We saw a tremendous outpouring of enthusiasm and respect for
women athletes during the exciting NCAA basketball finals and
the come-from-behind victory of the University of Connecticut.
Walter Cronkite has gone so far to suggest that sports participation
is more necessary today than ever before. Let me share with you
a statement that Cronkite made before the National Football Foundation:
"The discipline of sports that teaches you to keep on trying
even when the odds are against you has even more relevance amid
our many persistent frustrations today. There's a place for the
sporting discipline that trains you - under intense pressure
- to keep cool and act with grace and courage. A sportsman's
training may be more necessary than ever just to live in today's
society. But, even more, the sports, man's courage, devotion,
dedication and - most of all - the discipline of fair play are
needed to nudge this world of ours a little for the better." And this is true for the sportswoman as well. The case for providing equal athletics opportunity seems clear
and more compelling than ever. There seems to be misunderstanding,
however, about compliance standards developed under Title IX. This is particuy true about the standard applied by the
department in determining whether a school provides nondiscriminatory
participation opportunities for males and females. Since 1979,
the position of the department has been and continues to be that
a recipient will be found in compliance with Title IX regarding
its obligation to provide nondiscriminatory participation opportunities
if it meets any part of a three-part test: (1) by providing athletics
participation opportunities in numbers that are substantially
proportionate to enrollment by gender; or (2) by establishing
a history and continuing practice of program expansion for members
of the underrepresented sex; or (3) by fully and effectively
accommodating the interests and abilities of the underrepresented
sex. No one part of the three-part test is preferred by the Office
for Civil Rights or used exclusively by OCR over another as a
method of ensuring compliance with the law. Let me underscore
that the first part of this test is not and is not projected
to be the primary measure of compliance under Title IX. Rather,
the three-part test furnishes three individual avenues for compliance. An institution has flexibility in choosing which part of the
three-part test with which it will comply. The purpose of the
three-part test is to enforce Congress' intent that neither men
nor women will be discriminated against when being provided opportunities
to participate in athletics. OCR's bottom line has been and will
continue to be one of fully executing the expressed will of Congress.
I would like your help in getting the public to understand the
Title IX compliance standards. The public also must understand that contrary to some popular
thought, men's athletics participation has not suffered as we
have moved toward increasing athletics opportunities for women.
Information furnished by the NCAA shows that the number of male
college athletes increased by more than 16,000 between 1982 and
1992. We also would like - and we need your assistance in identifying
ways for enhancing equal opportunity in intercollegiate athletics.
We need your advice and suggestions on all aspects of our compliance
and technical-assistance program. There is no place for discrimination in sports. Discrimination
goes against the very grain of what competition is all about.
In sports, we encourage and reward only on performance. In our
history, sports have been the great equalizer, crossing all artificial
social and class distinctions and barriers. We need to showcase
sports as a model of equality in American society. With your
help, we will make greater strides in establishing a level playing
field for all who wish to take advantage of athletics opportunity. DIFFERENT TREATMENT FOR WOMEN AND MEN SOCCER
PLAYERS AT INTERNATIONAL LEVEL One of the more disturbing circumstances at the 95 Women's
World Cup, and one complained about by every coach,was the trimming
down of the rest days between games from 2 days in 1991to 1 day
in 1995 to the detriment of the quality of play. Physically this is extremely tough on an athlete at this level
as well as tiring the psychological dimension. To do this to
female athletes and not male athletes ( the 1994 World Cup for
men had 3 day rest periods between games) is an amazing turn
around in attitude by FIFA regarding women soccer players. I
remember the opposition to a proposal, that I made in a FIFA
meeting at the 1988 Women's Tournament in China, to play 90 minute
games like the men instead of 80 minute games. Some of those
present suggested that it would be too tough physically for the
women to play that long, that view has now apparently been reversed. Now we are about to see more discrimination. Women's teams
will only be allowed to carry 16 players, while men's teams will
carry 18 players at the 1996 Olympic Games. Does this punishment of female athletes represent something
sinister or is it the usual case of a male dominated sports world
controlling everything including purse strings? Gender Equity
In Sports - An excellent, comprehensive, and current review
of the subject by University of Iowa
Carin Jennings-Gabarra starred
on the U.S.National Team which made history when it won the 1st.FIFA Women's
World Championship in 1991.
Pele presents MVP
Golden Ball Award, 1991
In action at the
1991 World Cup
Lorrie Fair of the University of North Carolina and the U.S. Women's National Team wins Honda Sports Award for Soccer
By Rainer Hennies
Women's World Cup winners Mia Hamm and Michelle Akers won another award. Both US-players together with Linda Medalen (Norway), Heidi Mohr (Germany), Carolina Morace (Italy) and Sissi (Brazil) were the top six nominations for the trophy "The World's best Women's Soccer Player of the Century." This award was given by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) on 4th of January during the World Soccer Gala 2000, held at Rotenburg/Fulda in Germany in front of a crowd of 2000 specators, TV and elite of world-soccer.
Mario Rimati
December 3-5, 1999
DoubleTree Hotel, San Jose, Calif
President & Publisher
Soccer America
NSCAA Academy Staff
Santa Rosa Junior College
Defender
U.S. National Team
Head coach
U.S. Women's National Team
The event will begin with registration from 8 a.m. to 12 noon on Friday, Dec. 3, followed by the
NCAA semifinals tentatively scheduled for 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. The symposium gets started on
Saturday, Dec. 4, with three sessions, a luncheon and an evening reception. The weekend will
conclude with the Division I championship game on Sunday, Dec. 5, at 11 a.m.
The cost of pre-registration for the symposium is $90 for NSCAA members and $110 for non-members
which includes registration, a gift from adidas, luncheon ticket, reception invitation, one ticket to
the NCAA tournament games and access to a hospitality tent at Spartan Stadium. Space is limited
due to ticket demand. Registration will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Complete and return
the form below with full payment by the deadline to secure a spot.
Lodging is available at a special rate of $89 per night (single or double) by contacting
the DoubleTree Hotel in San Jose at 408-453-4000. The cut-off date for reservations is Nov. 10.
The hotel offers complimentary shuttle service from the San Jose International Airport.
Travel arrangements can be made by calling the Travel Exchange (Lisa Williams) at 800-550-0135.
Dec. 3-5 - DoubleTree Hotel, San Jose, Calif.
NOTE: All on-site registrations are $125. We reserve the right
to limit the number of extra tickets sold to each function.
Symposium schedule and program subject to change. Sorry, no refunds available.
Mario Rimati
Carolina Morace, the former captain of the women's
national team, lead her club Viterbese to a 3-1 victory in the inaugural
match of the men's 3rd division professional championship. In front of
a home crowd of 3,000 jubilant fans, the player-turned-professional-coach walked away with her first three points of the 1999-2000 season. Viterbese's president Gaucci, who also happens to be the president of 1st division male club Perugia, was also happy with the result.
Vice-President: Amadou Diakite (Mali)
any barriers for women and before I die I'd love to see one leading
the
national team". The minister is travelling on the same wave-length
as
FIFA president Sepp Blatter who has been saying recently that
the
"future of soccer is female"
NSCAA
Women's Soccer Symposium
December 4-6, 1998
Hilton Hotel, Greensboro, North Carolina
(as of September 10, 1998)
Friday,
December 4
Symposium Registration and Merchandise Store
NSCAA All-America Press Conference
NSCAA Division I Semifinal Games
Saturday,
December 5
Symposium Registration and Merchandise Store
Symposium Session #1
Dr. Colleen Hacker, Professor of Sports Psychology, Pacific Lutheran
University WA
Topic: "Leadership Part 1"
Symposium Session #2
Dr. Colleen Hacker, Professor of Sports Psychology, Pacific Lutheran
University WA
Topic: "Leadership Part 1"
Symposium Luncheon
Speaker: Tony DiCicco, Head Coach, U.S. Women's National Team
Topic: "Looking Ahead Women's World Cup USA 1999"
1:30
p.m. 3:00 p.m.
Symposium Session #3
Speaker: Lauren Gregg, Head Coach, U.S. Women's U-20 Team
Topic: To Be Announced
3:15
p.m. 4:30 p.m.
Symposium Session #4
Speaker: Shannon Cirovski, Head Coach, U.S. Women's U-18 Team
Topic: To Be Announced
Symposium Reception
Sunday,
December 6
College Coaches Meeting
NCAA Division I Championship Game
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Women's Soccer Coach
Anson Dorrance today (Aug. 25) issued the following statement
in response to a lawsuit filed by two former players:
"I am shocked and saddened by these allegations. I intend
to vigorously defend myself and this program's integrity. The
allegations of sexual harassment and advances are not true. I
have never and would never abuse my position in any way. I've
respected every player I have coached both as an individual and
as a member of my teams.
"Those of you who know me understand that I would love to
be able to stand here and address this completely today, but
our attorneys have advised me not to respond to specific details.
I look forward to resolving this matter and concentrating on
my duties coaching the team."
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Athletic Director
Richard Baddour issued the following statement today (Aug. 25)
concerning a lawsuit filed by two former members of the women's
soccer team:
"These charges have previously been brought to the attention
of the university and the Athletic Department, and we have taken
them very seriously. We have thoroughly investigated each one
in a timely and aggressive fashion. The university has found
absolutely no evidence that Coach Anson Dorrance used his position
to make uninvited, sexually explicit comments to the plaintiffs,
or that suggested that he engaged in inappropriate physical contact
with or made a sexual advance toward them, or that there was
any retaliation against the plaintiffs for any reason.
"We have also investigated these players' allegations that
Coach Dorrance or members of his staff failed to discourage the
use of alcohol, asked one of the plaintiffs to lend the program
$400 for a short time to purchase emergency supplies, and participated
in team members' discussions about their personal lives. At the
end of that investigation, we concluded that Coach Dorrance's
conduct on those occasions did not violate university policy
or any player's civil rights. Although we found no evidence of
misconduct, we did conclude that his conduct fell short of the
standards of good judgment that we expect of university officials.
Consequently, both the coach and I have apologized to the complaining
player's father. We found no evidence of any impropriety regarding
the shoe charges.
"The record in this matter demonstrates that university
officials and Coach Dorrance have fully and promptly responded
to concerns expressed by these students and their parents.
"Our women's soccer program has a long history of excellence.
Coach Dorrance is among the finest women's coaches in the world,
and he has built the best women's collegiate program in the nation.
The program has never had problems of the sort alleged, and we
have no reason to make any change in the leadership of the soccer
program.
"The university will be represented in this matter by the
N.C. Attorney General's Office. Because this is a pending legal
matter that involves confidential student and personnel matters,
I cannot comment further about the details of the case."
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chancellor Michael
Hooker today (Aug. 25) issued the following statement concerning
a lawsuit filed by two former members of the women's soccer team:
"I am satisfied that the concerns expressed by the plaintiffs
and their parents have been thoroughly investigated and appropriately
responded to. I continue to have every confidence in our women's
soccer program and in Coach Dorrance. Because of pending litigation,
I cannot comment further on the case."
In addition, 27 current players or student staff members of the
1998 University of North Carolina women's soccer team attended
the press conference and then issued their own statement to the
media afterwards. The text of that statement appears below:
August 25, 1998:
To Whom It May Concern:
"We, the current members of the women's soccer program at
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, would like
to share our total and complete support for our school, our
athletic department, our program, and our coaching staff.
"We feel it is vital that our deep feelings in this matter
be understood, especially by those individuals unfamiliar with
our program. We find this situation depolorable and are hurt
by these accusations, which, to our knowledge, are false.
"Furthermore, we insist that our unequivocal endorsement
for all parties involved, particularly Anson Dorrance, be acknowledged.
"Our program has been and will continue to be something
very special.
Sincerely,
Siri Mullinix, Bethany Sheppard, Tiffany Roberts, AmyWhittier,
Anne Remy, Leslie Gaston, Meredith G. Florance, Julia Marslender,
Cindy Parlow, Mandy Morrison, Jamie Kinney, Rebekah McDowell,
Shanna Caldwell, Rakel
Karvelsson, Staci Wilson, Danielle Borgman, Laurie Schwoy, Lindsay
Stoecker, Kristin DePlatchett, Raven McDonald, Lorrie Fair, Charlotte
Mitchell, Helen Lawler, Meghan Pastiglione, Erika Dempsey, Nancy
Hackett, Jena Kluegel.
The United States District Court for the Central District of California
enjoined PMP Studios from selling soccer pinup calendars which
depict semi-nude women wearing soccer jerseys bearing replicas
of the USSF's famous shield and from using the trademark on PMP's
internet home page.
The Feminist Majority Online
The following speech was given by Norma V. Cantu at the
NCAA Title IX seminar in Baltimore on April 20 this year. I believe that it
is particularly germane considering the present political situation in the
United States, and the attacks on Title IX already in progress.
Norma V. Cantu is assistant
secretary for civil rights of the Office for Civil Rights of
the U.S. Department of Education.
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