A women’s American Football team’s recruitment drive is about challenging perceptions, head coach Simon Browning tells Twm Owen
The Cardiff Valkyries are on mission not only to recruit new players but challenge perceptions about the place of women in sport.
As the only women’s American Football team in Wales its players and coaches have found they must overcome some deeply held attitudes.
“As we talk to potential players through the year, we are often met with comments along the lines of ‘I could never do that’. As such we have to overcome ingrained social norms and judgements,” says head coach Simon Browning on the challenge of signing up women to don a helmet and shoulder pads and run into, and tackle, other women.
During the summer the club has been holding a recruitment drive, which isn’t uncommon for teams to do in an age where, even in male sports, joining a local sports team isn’t as common as it once was.
The club is hosting its second rookie day of its campaign this Sunday, September 8. Players have visited gyms, posted on social media and joined the Pride Cymru parade to raise awareness of the club and its attempts to get more women in Wales on to the gridiron.
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And Browning says not only have the players been spreading the message that American Football is a game for all shapes and sizes but, at the same time, countering society’s wider perceptions about what makes a sportswoman.
“There is a still a strong social conception of what it means to be a female athlete, and many women that we speak to feel they don’t necessarily conform to that rigid societal judgement. Yet, American Football is a sport that embraces body diversity through the different positions that make up the squad.”
Though the Valkyries play a reduced version of the game, with fewer players and on a shortened pitch, Browning says there is still a space for everyone on the team: “We need the smaller, the bigger, the shorter, the taller, and everything in-between in order to function.
“Our goal is to continually try to break down those norms and show women that they can do what they may have been told they can’t. While we do get interest from women who may have played rugby before we also get a lot of women who have never done anything like this and who are looking to challenge themselves.”
Current players have been out and about around the capital to start conversations with potential recruits including at the annual Pride celebration of the gay and lesbian community held over the August bank holiday.
“We look to target a wide range of areas, ranging from social media campaigns to flyering at local gyms. One important event for us is the Pride weekend. Not only does it allow us to reach a wider audience but it also serves to celebrate the diversity and inclusivity within the team.”
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The first rookie day was held last Sunday and Browning says the more experienced players remain involved in helping new recruits find their place in the sport and with the team which in December last year staged the first women’s American Football games to be played in Wales: “It can be daunting, especially when considering those stereotypes we are trying to overcome.
“The supportive nature of the squad is something that is really drawn out in the rookie days. During these, while they are coach led, the current players work really closely with the new players in order to help them understand what they need to do and provide that supportive environment that allows them the freedom to join in and have fun.
“We allow them to move around and get a sense of all the different positions, rather than pigeonhole anyone right from the outset.
“At the latest session the rookies were able to not only get the basics on blocking and tackling, but also chance to run with the ball, engage in the passing game and line up at linebacker to take on a ball carrier – something they all took to really well. The session was a great success and we were able to really get them involved, trying them out through a wide range of different drills and situations in conjunction with, and with the support of, the current players.
“Feedback so far has been really positive with, most importantly, the rookies saying that they had lots of fun on the day. We are looking forward to not only welcoming them back again, but also to see all the additional new faces.”
The next event takes place on Sunday, September 8 at Pentwyn Leisure Centre, Cardiff from 10.30am to 1pm and Browning says there is a welcome for new players, of all abilities, at any time over the coming months with the programme designed to include beginners at any stage.