Photo Credit: Washington Post
In the past, signing women to positions on professional sports teams or organizations was usually seen as a publicity stunt, an act designed to fill seats during games or create positive headlines for a struggling sports organization. It made you happy to see your favorite team signing on a 19 year old softball player for a one day contract, just so your team could have a win with their public relations staff. Sadly, these signings and headlines were short lived and not taken seriously making it difficult for women to occupy top positions in men’s professional sports organizations.
That trend is changing and changing for the better! Over the summer, the National Football League was introduced to Jen Welter, the first female coach in the NFL. On July 27, when the Arizona Cardinals made the decision to take Welter on as a preseason coaching intern, Welter set the stage for change in one of the oldest “Boys’ Clubs” in sports. Welter, however, is no stranger to making history. She has coached in a men’s semi-professional league and even became the first female player to play a non-kicking position in a professional football game.
Welter is just one of many women out there who are infiltrating these age old “Boys Clubs” and joining the ranks among coaches, players and staff. During the 2012 NFL lockout of the full time referees, Shannon Eastin became the first female referee in the NFL. Although her tenure as a professional referee was short-lived, she set the stage for Sarah Thomas, a current full time official in the NFL. Like Welter, Thomas had worked in other semi-professional leagues until April of 2015 when the NFL made the decision to take her on as a full time referee.
Welter and Thomas aren’t the only women out there making a name for themselves in men’s professional sports. The National Basketball Association has already had three female referees officiate regular season NBA games, including two current refs Lauren Hotkamp and Violet Palmer. Furthermore, NBA coaching staff’s have opened their doors to women to fill roles normally occupied by men. Becky Hammon of the San Antonio Spurs and Nancy Lieberman of the Sacramento Kings have led revolutions for women in professional sports creating opportunities for females across the country to join professional sports organizations.
The women mentioned in this article have set the stage for more women in professional sports. While we may be some time away from seeing a female hold the title of “General Manager” or “Head Coach,” it is refreshing to see these age old “Boys’ Clubs” introducing women into prominent roles within their organizations. When Head Coach Bruce Arians of the Arizona Cardinals was asked about a female coach like Welter on his staff, he was quoted as saying “the minute they can prove they can make a player better, they’ll be hired.” It is clear that many leagues and organizations in men’s professional sports have taken that similar attitude, recognizing that gender differences should not determine someone’s ability to coach a team or officiate a game.