Female Jock Syndrome

150% FACT! I have seen it firsthand, and must admit that I have been guilty of using my athletic status to my advantage.

Today’s female athletes are just as exciting, if not more, to watch on all levels as their male counterparts. This can be said for Basketball, Base/Softball, and even Football programs across the world. Many high schools are all too often seeing their women’s sports programs excel much further than that of their men’s, and naturally have picked up on the “SPORTS STAR” mentality that has infected the minds of our men in recent years!

This attitude is more evident in our high school students for a number of reasons. However, the most common reason has been that of School/Player Recognition. Many schools want to be known for having the BEST athletes, and will obtain that status by any means. i.e. A “certain” NY PSAL female basketball “Phenom” who scored in excess of 100 points in a single 32 minute Girl’s Varsity game. In defense of this young lady, whom I’ve seen play many times in person, she is a great player - not the best to come out of New York City, and definitely not worthy of breaking Cheryl Miller’s honestly earned National H.S. scoring record. This player was known on a NYC level, and miraculously gained National attention after scoring 113 unchallenged points against Brandeis H.S. – A school known for students that excel in the hallways instead of on the basketball courts! This is a team that shouldn’t have even been on Murry Bergtraum’s season schedule. A team that shouldn’t even be scrimmaging Murry Bergtraum’s Freshman Girl’s Basketball team! To much of NOONE’S knowledge, this 113-point effort came with laughs, giggles, and a lane as open as Times Square, housing lay-up, after lay-up, after lay-up! As a result of this embarrassing effort, the “Star” was invited on a number of National programs, including Good Morning America to praise her for her new recognition as the best ball player to come out of New York City. When sadly, I have seen games where this same player was nearly scoreless, and was given the BIZNESS by other players! Before I get too far off the topic here, I must focus back onto the main issue of this article. Nevertheless, you get the point. Prior to this new scoring record, outside of NY State neither the school, nor the “Star” player where the topic of discussion in every newspaper, morning/afternoon/evening news, and sports show across America! Mission accomplished to bring national recognition to the School and Athlete!

Other female athletes, including myself, have committed the small crimes of using their status to get them out of trouble in school - trouble that the average student would be suspended for, or have a meeting requested with their parent and teacher. For many years, we have seen the male athletes get a “free-pass” because they are the star athlete in the school; and in recent years, the female athlete has picked up on these bad habits, and has been able to use her on-court skills to her advantage, off the court!

Female Jock Syndrome, otherwise known as FJS…yeah, it’s live and in full effect…and I don’t think the researchers have found a cure for it yet!