Savvy Chicks Dig Sport Too
Australian Associated Press
9 October 2009
Published in the Townsville Bulletin
EVEN dual international Ellyse Perry admits sometimes she needs a little help with the rules.
A star player with the Australian women’s soccer and cricket teams, Perry says despite having a refereeing course under her belt, soccer’s offside rule still stumps her.
”Even for someone like myself who plays soccer, (offside) is a bit of a contentious rule,” Perry said.
”I think knowing the rules is a key thing to actually understanding the game that you are watching and that’s tied to your level of enjoyment.”
For those that want to avoid the ridicule of asking the difference between a scrum and a lineout, a new website is welcoming polished paws and is dedicated to unlocking the intricacies of Australia’s most popular sports.
The website sheknowstherules.com is designed to unite women and sport in style, providing informative and entertaining content for the budding and full-bloomed female sports fans, who are changing the face on the once male-dominated live sporting arena.
Australian women represent 48 per cent of all AFL spectators and are en masse joining the colourful crowds at the MCG and SCG each summer for the cricket.
”Female attendance rates are continually increasing and is now estimated at 30 per cent,” said Cricket Australia spokesman Mike McKenna, who along with South Sydney Rugby League and the ASP women’s surfing tour are sponsoring the site.
”We’re working hard to make our games as engaging for newcomers as they are for lifelong fans.”
The website explains the rules and strategies behind cricket, AFL, rugby, rugby league, surfing and soccer.
Perry helped launch the site recently and has signed on as a ‘Sassy sports’ blogger, along with two-time world champion surfer Stephanie Gilmore and WAGS, Hayley Kirk (wife of Sydney Swans co-captain Brett) and sports presenter Lee Furlong (girlfriend of cricketer Shane Watson).
There’s a significant girly edge to the site where firebrand self-confessed sports tragic bloggers, Sassy and Kikki, discuss not only the skill of St George Illawarra centre Matt Cooper - but also his physical attributes.
”We can say things like Matt Cooper is the best defensive centre in rugby league and he has thighs carved of granite and an amazing arse,” they said.
Site creator Amanda Stevens says research shows women want a ‘greater level of engagement with sport’.
”But their lack of understanding of the rules and match dynamics holds them back,” Stevens said.
