‘Exercise was kind of my escape’
‘‘I’ve been saying I’m going to play football for years, but I’m a bit older than most of the girls I play with.
‘‘I’m almost 29, and a lot of them have celebrated their 21st. That was really hard as well.
‘‘I find a lot of women, especially who have had kids, are ashamed of their body and jiggly bits that never used to jiggle before, but football isn’t a judgmental sport.
‘‘It’s rough, nine times out of ten you look ghastly at the end of it but no one judges you. It’s not a fashion show. You’re there to do a job and you’re there to have fun.
‘‘There’s heaps of people out there who don’t have the confidence, but they’re screaming out for people. So many teams in the Waikato are struggling to put teams together.’’
Bennett said her Rovers squad had been sympathetic and flexible to her family’s needs.
Instead of attending the two weekly trainings, she only attends one.
‘‘If you’re going to attract people that aren’t school kids, you’ve got to be flexible, because at some point in their lives they’re going to want to have kids, they’re going to want to get married, and when you stop allowing flexibility, that’s when people start saying ’I can’t do this’.
‘‘My home life is the most important thing, and that can’t give. Something’s got to give and it’s not your family,’’ she said.
Bennett said there were also misconceptions that mums can’t find time for sport.
‘‘I have an extremely busy life, but I’ve always been told it’s really important to have some alone time, some time where you can focus on yourself, doing something you enjoy.
‘‘And I love football, I find it’s a really good way to vent, that goes with all the fouls and yellow cards I get,’’ she said.
‘‘I want to become a good role model for my kids. In a society that’s ruled with iPads and iPhones and Netflix, they need to see it from their parent.
‘‘I’m lucky that I have a supportive husband, but if you can make time to sit on your butt and watch the Kardashians, then you can take an hour and a half to train.’’
Bennett’s football team plays games every Sunday and although it’s time away from family, she arrives home feeling refreshed, she said.
She also goes to the gym three times a week while the kids are tucked in bed.
‘‘The thing I’ve found is that if you want to do it, you will find time to do it.
‘‘Especially for people with busy lifestyles or have heaps of kids, there’s nothing stopping you from putting them in a pram and going for a run. It all starts with you. You need to want to do it.’’
Bennett will be relocating to Whakatane in December. She said she will be ‘‘heartbroken’’ to leave the Claudelands Rovers behind, but will continue playing sport.
‘‘(The team) are like friends you’ve always had, but I’ve only known them for six months.’’
Bennett’s team play city rivals Northern United at Discovery Park on Sunday.
Sport Waikato’s general manager for regional leadership Michelle Hollands said despite considerable efforts to generate change, sport remains dominated by men.
‘‘The media’s portrayal sets the scene that sport is largely for men and sets unrealistic expectations for many women of what it is to be ‘sporty’.
‘‘To truly generate growth in participation for women and girls, we must focus on changing perceptions - real images of real women and girls - and we must deliver opportunities that are safe and welcoming for all to participate.’’
Hollands said evidence suggests women especially like to participate in activity in a flexible and safe environment. It is often less about sport and more about physical activity, health and wellbeing.
She said there were many more demands on women’s time today than in the past, but motivation often stemmed from their circle of friends.