Keeping Score: Free E-Book Available With Email Signup

During the 1990s, I logged many hours in the stands and on the sidelines supporting my children as they played organized, competitive sports. I had plenty of other parents and grandparents for company. Often our conversation revolved around how much things had changed in the relatively brief twenty-plus years since we were our childrens’ age - especially if it was the moms talking about their daughters.

I was in junior high when Title IX was passed into law in 1972.* The women’s rights movement was gearing up again, a perhaps unintentional collateral benefit of the Civil Rights movement. But it would be some time before the trickle-down had much impact - too late for me, I’m afraid. Title IX went into effect as soon as it was signed into law. But effecting change for generations of southern culture and attitudes about the fairer sex would take a little more than the simple stroke of a pen.

In the 1960s in Dallas, Texas, we had gym class throughout my public education career. But if we had organized sports for girls before 1972, I don’t recall them or knowing anyone who participated. We had cheerleading and drill team, which were considered appropriate pursuits for southern young ladies (along with needlepoint, piano lessons, and, yes, there was such a thing as ‘charm school’). Soccer was at least a decade away from becoming the youth sports juggernaut it has become. The only thing I recall about soccer back then was playing it once during gym class on our decrepit tennis courts and scoring a goal - for the other team. Then, as now, baseball, football and basketball ruled the world of youth (read MALE) sports.

Many of my female friends and family had some wonderful anecdotes and observations about how sports participation has changed since they were in school. They were generous to share them with me so that I could share them in my new e-book, Keeping Score. Their stories run the gamut from indignation to inspiration, from humor to humiliation. I found something I could relate to in each of the twenty stories included here. I hope you will as well.

Perhaps more importantly, I hope their stories provide some wow! moments for younger generations who have benefited from increased opportunities in sports for girls. It’s hard to believe things used to be so different. It hasn’t been that long ago - has it?

Keeping Score isn't available anywhere else. You can receive it in .mobi format by clicking here to subscribe to my email list. Don't worry - I won't bombard you. You'll hear from me once a week or so whenever I publish a new history nerd blog post or have other fun news to send your way. If you prefer Keeping Score in PDF format, let me know either in the comments below or by contacting me via email, and I think I can make that happen.

*Title IX is a law that makes it illegal for any entity receiving federal funds to discriminate on the basis of, among other things, gender.