Why women's sport is friendless

October 16, 2013

Kathryn Wicks
Community editor

'People need to give us a go'

Women's sports will get more support if the public overcomes the pre-conceived idea that men's games are faster and more skillful compared to women's games says Matildas defender, Danielle Brogan.

"Socceroos in 6-0 loss!" "Socceroos in 6-0 loss!" (Yes, twice)

"Australia lose Twenty20 international to India."

But you already know that.

Sam Kerr of Sydney FC celebrates her goal in last year's W-League Grand Final win over Melbourne. The Sky Blues begin their title defence on November 10. Photo: Robert Cianflone

Did you know Sam Stosur won the Japan Open?

Did you know the world No. 8 Matildas are to play the Olympic champion US side in four days? Did you know Sydney FC begin their defence of the W-League title in three weeks?

Did you know our netballers have just beaten New Zealand in the Constellation Cup?

Did you know that women's grade cricket began last weekend with Alex Blackwell and Rachael Haynes striking a 387-run first-wicket partnership for Universities?

I care about all of those things. But I am in the minority. I am also the problem.

When Australian Sports Commission chairman John Wylie said that "we think Australian companies and broadcasters should jump on the opportunity and get behind women's sport because it's a rising force" he is right. But the point he doesn't make is that broadcasters and sponsors are not going to climb aboard anything unless there is an audience.

And that is where I become the problem.

I would love to spend six hours at a cricket ground watching two world-class batters slog it out. Instead I was at an under-13 boys game, like any good mother would have been.

I would have loved to have watched all of the netball. But I was working.

I'd love to watch the Matildas but I will probably collapse exhausted at the end of the working week and sleep through it.

And therein lies the problem. Women, between work and home, don't have time to spend hours watching sport.

I caught a bit of the netball on TV (ironing time!). I read about Stosur on smh.com.au (bus to school/work). And I am sure plenty of women did both of those things.

Yet no matter how good a multi-tasker a working mother might be, it is nigh on impossible to find the time to go to a sporting event.

Sure, plenty of women go to football matches – as a family outing. Most would rather catch up with friends for a coffee/wine. Some would rather poke a stick in their eye.

How to fix it? Well, clearly it is not about winning as it so often is with men's sport. It is about making attendance and viewership compelling.

Netball has some good ideas about using the game to allow women to network – exactly what blokes do at football matches. Cricket usually reserves a one-day match each summer for a ladies night – but it occurs at a men's game.

Do fixtures need to be made more attractive to younger women with more time on their hands or is the "mum" audience more valuable?

Women's sport needs the whole audience. Young women, mothers, men, families. The best sight I have seen at women's sport in recent memory was the (mostly male) Western Sydney Wanderers supporters at a W-League match late last season. They didn't care that it was the women's team. It was their team.

Double-headers are a good way of exposing a broader audience to women's sport. It has been good for our female cricketers in the T20 format; and it is good for our footballers at W-League level.

But these are just week-to-week games. If women's sport wants to be more compelling it needs to start with a bang.

Football Federation Australia should bid strongly to host the 2019 women's World Cup. It is the one we have the best chance of winning - today's golden generation will be at their peak. Put a World Cup in my backyard - knowing there is never likely to be a men's World Cup here in my lifetime - and I have to go.

It is not like women lack opportunity to watch world class athletes. And it is not that we do not appreciate their skill and achievements. And it is not that we don't want to go. We just don't have the time.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/comment/why-womens-sport-is-friendless-20131016-2vlry.html#ixzz2hsBhHRMh

Frailty thy name is woman.

Edited by Eastern Glory: 16/10/2013 10:17:13 PM

There's a reason why the idea that women's sport isn't as fast or skilled as men's sport is 'pre-conceived'. It's because that is true.

It's like me saying "The A-League will get more support if the public overcomes the pre-conceived idea that English Premier League games are faster and more skilful compared to A-League games."

I'm a fan of women's football, but even I find it hard to watch it because it is either on at stupid times (like during working hours), not televised, or not mentioned anywhere. Also most men actually work and perform home duties. I'm a single dad FFS, I hate the generalisation that only women have dual roles.

The sports that the spectacle of women competing is level with men are ones that results mainly come through perfection of technique and control. Unfortunately the popular sports aren't based on that.

The bit about most women not having time to watch sports is rubbish. If they wanted to watch it, like men, they would make time for it.

I still don't understand why when women on the ATP tour Opens are paid the same amount as men yet they have to play 2 less sets, they're still complaining about not getting 'fair treatment'.

They are lucky the men haven't demanded the tours get totally split. Good luck getting equal pay when the men aren't playing in the same tournament.

Make them play the full 5 sets or tell them to fuck off.

Women don't have time to watch sport? How does this generalisation account for there so many women at men's football games? Or is she suggesting that women should watch the women's games?

This article makes my head hurt.

There is ALWAYS time to watch your show ON DEMAND when you have time

Even though Netball was being shown on primetime the last few years with support from the AFL and various vested interests it didn't make any commercial sense and ended up with no takers this year(sbs would later be paid to cover it, just as C9 are being paid to cover the sheffield shield).
You need a good product.Some women's tennis is great, most is unwatchable.
Women's hockey is pretty good but doesn't rate.W League can be very good in patches but struggles because of the small amount of games and the money involved in the game so the players are only semi pro.
Sports like womens squash is quite watchable but just can't attract any attention.Volleyball is also one that's quite good to watch but it's not shown

Womens sport is improving but it has a fair way to go