Acaptain for womenin sport
Research shows fewer women are participating in sport. Lawrence Gullery speaks to Matamata mum Kerrie Cox who is bucking the trend, for the first in our series on Women in Sport.
It’s a typical cold and wet Waikato winter’s evening when most of us would prefer to be inside enjoying the warmth of our homes.
The field lights turn on and the cars begin to arrive at the Pohlen Park where the players from the Matamata Swifts Ladies football team gather for training.
Among the first to turn up is the team’s captain Kerrie Cox. Boot laces are tied and training jackets fitted on as more players begin to arrive.
It’s the second attempt at an interview with Cox. The first was cancelled because of her work commitments as blood stock manager at Waikato Stud.
Time is precious. She’s a mum to eight-year-old son Liam and wife to husband Rob. All three play football for the Swifts football club.
This time of the year is particularly busy at work. Horses are foaling and it’s not unusual for Cox to be called back to the stud in the evenings or late at night.
‘‘Sometimes at training I have to bring my RT, my radio, and have the coach monitor it in case there’s a foal and I’ll have to zoom back to work.’’
But unlike many other women and mums in the Waikato, Cox manages to find time to play sport.
Research from Sport Waikato and Sport New Zealand showed what kept women on the sidelines.
Only 20 per cent of women were members of any sport or physical activity club, compared with 35 per cent of men. Are you a sportswoman or knowof someone who has recently restarted playing sport? Send an email to: lawrence.gullery@ fairfaxmedia.co.nz with your details. Neighbourly.co.nz
Sixty-five per cent were interested in taking up a sport, but the study showed a perception that women did not have the time.
Costs, age gap and social appearances were also identified as barriers.
‘‘I’m quite an outgoing person. I’m nearly 30 years old, one of the oldest in the team now so I don’t see that [age] as an issue, for me anyway. I understand how it could be for others.
‘‘There are younger girls in our team, some of them are in their early 20s and we’ve got others that have come through the [Matamata] college.’’
Cox did however identify costs as a challenge when it came to playing sport.
For example, it was about $220 to play the football season.
Students paid a lower fee and the club allowed players to pay the fee over time.