[Albion] Women’s Football

[Moshe Gariani]

Do they still have mixed stool ball ?

Yes, stoolball is mainly mixed. At recreational level it is managed to make allowances for most of the women being fairly useless. I guess at a decent level of competition then women contribute to mixed games more competently?

Equestrianism is one semi-physical sport where women compete equally with men. Are there any others?

 

[Moshe Gariani]

Physical Sports Where Women Compete Equally With Men​

In some sports, physical differences between men and women are less influential, allowing women to compete on an even playing field with men. These include:

1. Equestrian Sports: Horse riding relies heavily on skill, balance, and the ability to communicate with the horse, rather than raw physical strength. Women have won major mixed-gender competitions, such as the Olympics.
2. Sailing: Success in sailing depends on strategy, teamwork, and tactical knowledge rather than brute strength, enabling women to compete successfully alongside men.
3. Archery: Precision, focus, and consistency are key, making it one of the sports where physical disparities are minimal.
4. Shooting Sports: Like archery, shooting relies on accuracy, steadiness, and mental toughness, allowing women to perform at the same level as men.
5. Snooker and Darts: While traditionally dominated by men, these sports depend more on precision, concentration, and psychological fortitude than physical power.

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Evidence-Based Argument for a Woman Winning a World Snooker or Darts Championship​

1. Minimal Physical Disparities:
Both snooker and darts are skill-dominant sports that rely on hand-eye coordination, strategy, mental resilience, and consistency. Since these attributes are not directly tied to physical strength or speed, there is no inherent biological advantage for men.

2. Improving Opportunities for Women:
Historically, fewer women participated in these sports due to societal and institutional barriers. With increasing access to professional training and more inclusive tournaments, more women are entering and excelling in snooker and darts. For instance, players like Fallon Sherrock in darts and Reanne Evans in snooker have already demonstrated they can compete with male counterparts at a high level.

3. Proven Success in Mixed-Gender Events:

• In darts, Fallon Sherrock became the first woman to win a match at the PDC World Darts Championship in 2019 and has since continued to challenge top male players.
• In snooker, Ng On Yee and Reanne Evans have shown competitive performances in open tournaments, and Evans has been a World Women’s Snooker Champion multiple times.

4. Growth in Mental Toughness:
Elite-level competition demands psychological resilience. Women have proven their mental toughness in sports like tennis and golf. As more women gain experience in high-pressure snooker and darts matches, they will become increasingly competitive at the highest levels.

5. Statistical Probability:
As more women compete in open tournaments, the likelihood of a breakthrough champion increases. A larger pool of female players increases the chances of finding a once-in-a-generation talent capable of winning an open championship.

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Precedents in Other Domains​

In chess, another sport relying on strategy and focus, women like Judit Polgár have successfully competed against the best male players in the world. This serves as a precedent for other skill-based domains like snooker and darts.

Conclusion​

With growing participation, better training opportunities, and the absence of inherent physical disadvantages, it is only a matter of time before a woman wins an open world championship in snooker or darts.

 

[dsr-burnley]

Yes, stoolball is mainly mixed. At recreational level it is managed to make allowances for most of the women being fairly useless. I guess at a decent level of competition then women contribute to mixed games more competently?

Equestrianism is one semi-physical sport where women compete equally with men. Are there any others?

Wheelchair rugby league is one where women and men compete on equal terms, but I suspect that is because there aren't enough wheelchair bound women (or women who are able bodied but want to play wheelchair rugby) to get up a match. Physical strength, just like in real rugby, is a very definite advantage, but at least a couple of women played in the World Cup in 2022.