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AFM Magazine


AEMA Report: Challenges Female Equipment Managers Face Working Football

by: Kristin Beer
Assistant Football Manager - UCLA Football
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Female equipment managers face many challenges working for the football team. For many decades the world of football has been dominated mostly by men with women playing only minor roles, if any. As we grow as a society and as a sport, women are starting to emerge in football in a variety of roles that once were thought to only be done by males. The world of football equipment has been, in particular, one of the harder positions for females to work. Many coaches and support staff have always been nervous to hire a female in such a role that works so closely with both coaches and athletes in a variety of settings such as in the locker room, hustling out at practice, and fitting the equipment.

However, the female equipment manager can handle all of these situations and overcome these challenges. By showing respect to the coaches and players and having confidence in their ability to perform the necessary tasks, any female equipment manager that is properly trained can become successful as a football equipment manager.

Being Prejudged

The single biggest challenge that women face in football equipment is simply by being prejudged. Many who coach have apprehensions on hiring a female in a equipment capacity. They have many questions about how it will work and can be very critical in judging the female equipment managers ability to get the job done. How does it work? How will they be able to be in the locker room? Will the players be mature enough to handle it? How will they be able to pick up the laundry in the coaches and player locker rooms? Will they be able to handle their emotions when dealing with an upset coach or player? Can they handle the physical demands of the job?

The first thing the female equipment manager can do to set the minds of those who do ask some of these questions at ease is by discussing the issue and how they will handle it. On the first day, discussions with a coaching staff is a good starting point in which to settle any doubts or issues. The equipment manager needs to be confident in her answers. Discussing a game plan as to how she will handle each situation that is a question to a coach or administrative staff member will show that she is prepared for any situation and will handle it with the upmost respect, maturity, and with confidence.

The next big step in overcoming this challenge is to act on the game plan set forth in the previous meetings. She needs to show them that she can do the job because she was the best equipment manager for the job and that it is not about being male or female. The female equipment manager can overcome this challenge by simply doing the job well, doing the job she knows she can do and doing it the best she can.

Gaining Respect from Coaches and Players

Gaining the respect from coaches and players is a challenge for females but it’s not an impossible challenge. As a female equipment manager, there is going to be some doubts as to whether or not they can get the job done. The best way to gain respect from players and coaches is by exhibiting appropriate football knowledge and being able to put that knowledge into actions. They need to know they can help out at practice, be calm under stressful situations, know the proper equipment, handle being in the locker room, and overall basic football knowledge. Some of the ways to overcome this challenge is by discussing practice schedules with the coaches, asking questions about game day, and being overall proactive.   

Players need to know that the equipment manager, especially a female equipment manager, can help keep them safe and outfitted in the appropriate gear. They also need to know that they will be treated fairly and equally. As a female equipment manager, it’s good to always be discussing the players’ protective equipment with them each time they have questions, concerns, or change equipment. Keeping the same rules for all players is another way to show them respect. They need to know that the female equipment manager is knowledgeable so that they can trust and respect her. Once she gains that respect, it becomes an easy and rewarding job. As a result, they will treat you just as they would a male equipment manager and will be comfortable coming to her for equipment issues and needs.

Fitting

Fitting football players for protective equipment is viewed as a challenge for female equipment managers. However, many male equipment managers also never played football, so this actually is not a factor in fitting. One does not have to have played football in order to be proficient at fitting it. In order for fitting protective equipment to be successful, by a male or female equipment manager, gaining the players trust is a must.

Whenever I fit a player for equipment, I always explain what I am doing and why I am doing it throughout the whole process. I ask the player questions about how it feels whether it is a helmet, shoulder pads, or cleats. I check it over to make sure it properly fits and explain to the player what I am checking for. This educates them on how their equipment should properly fit and shows them that their safety is your number one priority. The more knowledgeable you can make the player, the more trust and respect they will have for you. A player that has trust in the ability of the equipment manager to properly fit them, the more likely that they will be comfortable enough to come to them when they have questions or issues. Not only will the players be comfortable with the female equipment manager, the coaches will become more comfortable with the female equipment manager.

Working Within the Football Locker Room

Many would see working within the locker room as a challenge for female equipment managers. However, it is no different than a male equipment manager, a female trainer, a female reporter, or even a female doctor. The female equipment manager has a purpose in the locker room which is to help players with equipment needs/issues, the same purpose a male equipment manager has. The female equipment manager needs to make sure that she is in there when she needs to be in there. This is a good way to gain the trust of the male athletes and coaches by showing them that she is there to do her job and that is the only reason for her being there. The biggest point I always tell coaches and athletes is that at some point in school, everyone has taken anatomy or sex education. We all know what physically makes us different from each other and, thus, there are no surprises in the locker room. It is just like a female doctor dealing with a male patient. What makes the female equipment manager successful in the locker room is the level of professionalism and respect that they show the other staff and players.

A lot of what they have to do to overcome those challenges are no different than any other male equipment manager trying to prove himself with a coaching staff and athletes. Gaining the respect and trust of the coaches and players, having adequate knowledge of the protective equipment and basics of football, having confidence, and being able to perform the job at a respectful and professional level will allow any female equipment manager to be successful. Giving them the opportunity to prove themselves is the biggest challenge. Once given, any determined female equipment manager will be able to show why they are an integral part of the football program.






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