tingilinde

on the treatment of female athletes

A remembrance of Christine Grant and her impact on Title IX and women's sport.

Since the introduction of Title IX, women's sports in high school and college have grown by about an order of magnitude.

Separately there's the issue of what a category in a sport means as well as "balancing" inclusion, fairness and safety.  It's only briefly mentioned in the piece, but the inclusion of trans-women is highly changed politically even though there's serious evidence trans-women retain much of the strength advantage of males. Reducing testosterone levels doesn't have a big impact. Many governing bodies are prioritizing inclusion rather than fairness and many women in sports are afraid to speak out.  It's one of those odd situations where I am in agreement with the right wing - but for very different reasons.

 

 

 

 

on the dangers of bobsledding

More than a few pieces have been written on the subject. 

This one looks at a sledder who left early.

 

 

 

 

nutty

There's a lot of evidence that single sport focus for kids is counterproductive, but that doesn't stop people from pushing it..  

This time hockey,

The claim is it's for finding competitive teams, but the intense focus on competition early on is at the heart of the problem.  

Norway has a better way. (posted several times, but worth the read if you don't; know about youth sports there)

 

 

 

 

 

sarah shows some of her intensity

kids and sports

They were moving away from traditional sports - and then the pandemic arrived.

 

 

fairness, inclusivity, and safety

Dr Ross Tucker has been active in the issue of fairness and safety of trans women in women's sports.  The environment is charged and politicized with inclusiveness generally winning out.  The problem is science doesn't support it.  Trans-women retain most of the male physiological advantages afterwards and that is unfair to women.  Many women in sport are afraid to speak out given the policies of the issue.  In his podcast Tucker gives a short (under 30 minute) review with a current dramatic example of unfairness.  He's gone much deeper in some earlier podcasts if you're interested.

It should be noted Ross is very liberal.  It's one of those interesting cases where science is in the same camp as rightwing bigots when it comes to trans women in sport.  Of course the rightwing wants to eliminate LBQT entirely.  Fairness is not being transphobic.  Categorization in the service of fairness is of central importance to sport.  There are age classes, weight classes and the male/female split. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

a flash of victory

When a friend finds victory - the end of a very tough match.  The moment when Sarah Pavan and Melissa Humana-Paredes became world champions. 

name image and likeness in the lower 95%

Name, image, and likeness benefits for those in non-elite college sports programs.

snip

...

What is similarly clear, according to companies that have helped to broker or administer agreements for tens of thousands of athletes, is that many participating players are not even making $1,000 each.

Athletes are still barred by N.C.A.A. rules from receiving direct salaries for playing sports at their schools, but Opendorse said this week that those with deals that passed through its platform had earned an average of $1,138 since July 1; it did not report a median. INFLCR said its median transaction value since July 1 was $51, and that its average deal was worth $1,306.

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money and influence

It's stupid to hold a Winter Olympics in a place with more rocks than snow in the Winter..  but Beijing.  And there are environmental concerns. 

 

 

women's body shaming in sport

Forcing female athletes to a certain type of body even though it can lower their performance and  physically and mentally harm them.

snip

...

The demand has largely gone undercover. “Weight loss” is now “fat loss” or “getting lean.” Women are told that of course the point is not to become incredibly thin but to get “fit.” In practice, they are one and the same.

This appears to have been the case at Oregon, where the pressure on women to lose weight — or, rather, body fat — was cast as key to helping their performance. The body-shaming that allegedly took place at Oregon happened under a veil of science.

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