By: Holly Thomas

The problem with co-ed soccer teams is that girls don’t want to be on a boys soccer team.

Co-ed soccer teams require at least 6 girls, so the number of girls normally remains 6, and it’s basically just a handful of girls thrown onto the boys soccer team – which is not fair.

Co-ed soccer teams should have an equal number of girls and boys.

“I do not think soccer teams should remain co-ed because I haven’t played on a co-ed soccer team since I was way younger,” 7th grader Cece D. said. “From personal experience boys are way too rough on girls, and I think it is not fair. I also think that you can fully open up and be yourself on a girls only soccer team.”

She added that she’s never played on the Audubon soccer team but probably would if it was not co-ed.

There’s a pretty good likelihood there will be enough girls to have a girls’ soccer team as well as a boys’ soccer team; however, some students disagree and do not think there would be enough girls to have two separate teams.

7th grader Emma O. said, “I think soccer teams should remain co-ed because there are not enough girls who play soccer to make a soccer team just for girls, but there are enough girls who do play soccer to make a co-ed soccer team.”

However, Audubon soccer coaches could try and draft more girls, so that there’s a more varied number of boys and girls.

The school most likely has more than 6 girls who want to play soccer but either don’t make the team or don’t try out for different reasons. One reason is that girls feel uncomfortable playing soccer with boys because they can be more aggressive towards girls.

7th grader Isabelle W. says, “I do not think soccer teams should remain co-ed because boys are different from girls and more aggressive.”

While some students might want to have a separate soccer teams for fairness and equality, other students are considering the economics of having two teams.

“I think soccer teams should remain co-ed because of the funds. There would have to be more money for the buses and uniforms and scheduling time,” 7th grader Farah M. said. “This would mean that there would be less funds for things we like at school, like Space Camp, the France trip, or Fall Fete.”

While some students are weighing the financial impacts, others are thinking of the community impact.

7th grader Sully B. said, “I think the soccer teams should remain co-ed because I think that it will start problems in the future about who is better, and why do we want to start that fight?”