Male/Female Coaches

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Jun 27, 2011
5,089
0
North Carolina
She HAS played the sport, though not at the NFL level, which is also true of most NFL coaches.

Yeah, I was reading an article recently about the trend toward fewer NFL coaches with NFL-playing experience. Only 6 of the 32 head coaches last year had played in the NFL. About 30 years ago, half of NFL coaches had played in the NFL. Vince Lombardi never played in the NFL. Neither did Bill Walsh.
 
Jun 27, 2011
5,089
0
North Carolina
As far as coaches being accepted, credibility is important. In the case of this woman, I believe she gets credibility from the fact that an NFL coach hired her. The NFL is huge money and pressure, to say the least. A head coach's job is on the line. I'd like to think that most NFL players would be smart enough to think that this coach has something to offer or she wouldn't be there. The stakes are too high. From there, it's up to the coach (a female in this instance) to prove herself. She'll then be judged on her performance. I hope that's the case. We'll see.
 

Strike2

Allergic to BS
Nov 14, 2014
2,049
113
The dads out there coaching girls FP may not have playing experience specifically with that version of softball, but they've typically played enough baseball and slow-pitch softball to get started. The FP game obviously has differences, but the basics of hitting, fielding, throwing, and catching are the same. If they have even average intelligence, they figure the rest out quickly enough. That said, those dads are a long way from coaching college, HS, or 18U Gold teams, and the vast majority won't get past 12U.

This looks like a publicity gimmick to show how enlightened and progressive the NFL is. Yeah, she's played a bit, and would probably be fine as a youth football coach working her way to HS. However, you'd be hard pressed to find an NFL coach (HC or assistant) who didn't at least play in college, and a good number played in the NFL. Heck, a couple of my HS coaches were former NFL players, and every one of them had played in college. Credibility at the top level of professional sports requires the same type of career development as any other high-level job. Playing in some women's semi-pro football league isn't likely to impress players coming from a series of top-level youth, HS, and college programs any more than my meager playing and coaching experience would impress any college FP team. There are thousands of talented and better qualified people out there who would kill for this opportunity. The Cardinals have the right to hire who they want, but that doesn't mean that anyone will be listening to her at game time any more than a high-level FP team would listen to me.
 
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Nov 18, 2013
2,258
113
The dads out there coaching girls FP may not have playing experience specifically with that version of softball, but they've typically played enough baseball and slow-pitch softball to get started. The FP game obviously has differences, but the basics of hitting, fielding, throwing, and catching are the same. If they have even average intelligence, they figure the rest out quickly enough. That said, those dads are a long way from coaching college, HS, or 18U Gold teams, and the vast majority won't get past 12U.

This looks like a publicity gimmick to show how enlightened and progressive the NFL is. Yeah, she's played a bit, and would probably be fine as a youth football coach working her way to HS. However, you'd be hard pressed to find an NFL coach (HC or assistant) who didn't at least play in college, and a good number played in the NFL. Heck, a couple of my HS coaches were former NFL players, and every one of them had played in college. Credibility at the top level of professional sports requires the same type of career development as any other high-level job. Playing in some women's semi-pro football league isn't likely to impress players coming from a series of top-level youth, HS, and college programs any more than my meager playing and coaching experience would impress any college FP team. There are thousands of talented and better qualified people out there who would kill for this opportunity. The Cardinals have the right to hire who they want, but that doesn't mean that anyone will be listening to her at game time any more than a high-level FP team would listen to me.

Who's to say she's not the highest qualified? She's been around the game some as a player and coach, but most impressive on her resume is a masters in sports psychology and a Phd in psychology. If the Cardinals believe their linebackers need improvement in the mental game she may very well be the highest qualified for this internship. Do you want your DD help back from a career she loves only because of archaic stereotypes that say "a woman can't do that"? It's a long shot that she'll actually coach during an NFL season, but this is a move in the right direction.
 
Feb 17, 2014
7,152
113
Orlando, FL
I would submit that regardless of the sport, the mental game is the most under coached aspect of competition and holds tremendous potential for improvement.
 
Mar 23, 2010
2,019
38
Cafilornia
Yeah, I was reading an article recently about the trend toward fewer NFL coaches with NFL-playing experience. Only 6 of the 32 head coaches last year had played in the NFL. About 30 years ago, half of NFL coaches had played in the NFL. Vince Lombardi never played in the NFL. Neither did Bill Walsh.

Stereotypical football coach is a strong competitor, strong student of the game, but lacking in size, so they channel their love for the game in another direction.
 
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Strike2

Allergic to BS
Nov 14, 2014
2,049
113
Who's to say she's not the highest qualified? She's been around the game some as a player and coach, but most impressive on her resume is a masters in sports psychology and a Phd in psychology. If the Cardinals believe their linebackers need improvement in the mental game she may very well be the highest qualified for this internship. Do you want your DD help back from a career she loves only because of archaic stereotypes that say "a woman can't do that"? It's a long shot that she'll actually coach during an NFL season, but this is a move in the right direction.

She's been around the Women's Football League; that's not quite the typical feeder for the NFL. If they need a team shrink, then maybe she's it. If they need a linebacker or other position coach, saying she's the "highest qualified" is laughable. I've got daughters, and they're very capable and will no doubt do great things, but there are a few places where they are at disadvantage. I don't expect them to compete with men in areas such as ground combat and professional sports, to name two. It may be an "archaic stereotype", but it's an accurate one.
 
Aug 29, 2011
2,584
83
NorCal
I think it is great. If she has a good strong head coach who runs a good organization I don't really forsee many problems.

Last year The San Antonio Spurs hired a female assistant coach and with Greg Popovich calling the shoots I'm sure everything went smoothy.

Bottom line is if she knows what she's doing and can communicate well, I'm sure she'll do fine. I wish her great success.
 

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