I was the only girl on my soccer team for the first five years that I played (ages 5 to 10), and coordination, size, behavior, and strength varied, but kids' gender differences were irrelevant

My dad pulled me aside, pointed at the boys, and told me they think they're better than you - prove them wrong. Perhaps a parent or kid said something, or he understood that a mixed-gendered team liberated me to be as or more aggressive than boys.

Although I love my female teams, I advocate for mixed-gendered sports because they decrease the stigma and sexism by removing gendered norms and barriers.

Parents on my female teams complained that I was arrogantly confident. I was confident, not arrogant, but young girls must not express confidence because it upsets the norms. I hoped things had changed since the 80s.

Sport is liberating, but people will always try to capture us. We must learn to be unapologetic because we won't and can't please everyone, which is easier said than done. Ugh. I wish your daughter all the confidence in the world. xo