Sir, – As a coach of male and female rugby players I’ve some time ago come to the astonishing realisation that men and women sportspeople are different.
Different – but equal in the range and variety of reasons for playing a team sport and in the dedication to the training involved.
As a Ballinasloe man I get the same buzz of excitement watching Béibhinn Parsons flying down the wing as I do watching Shane Jennings, or Aoife Donohue in camogie or Joe Canning in hurling.
The skill sets are similar but as a spectator you are going to experience the games differently if, for instance, watching males and females playing rugby, tennis, camogie or hurling, etc.
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So don’t watch female sports and expect the same game as watching males. They are different sporting experiences but equally enjoyable if you have a mind to appreciate it.
Unfortunately, many men fail to appreciate the difference, leading to smaller attendances, less investment and poorer media coverage and substandard facilities.
Until the male-dominated sporting hierarchy recognises the equal importance of female participation, then female sports will continue their uphill struggle for equality, recognition and spectator engagement – and media coverage. – Yours, etc,
Tomás Finn,
Ballinasloe,
Co Galway.
