Gender & Sports, Cricket, rugby, football, rounders, netball anyone?

[matt]

In the uk, sports are very gender-centric, this meant that as a child I never got to learn how to play cricket, rugby or football. Instead, I was forced to play girls games such as netball, rounders, dance etc.

Now that I am on T and am passing 100%, I feel I need to know at least the basics of those sports, otherwise it would be really awkward when the topics come up and I am like... "erm, actually I have never played cricket, I know rounders though..!" Rounders is predominantly a girls game, and will be a dead giveaway.  The issue is getting worse now that I pass 100% and am going for job internships etc, the companies have their own sports teams and I feel kind of out of place. Anyone else have this kind of problem? And how do you tackle it? I am planning to get a book on cricket/rugby, but am worried it will still be obvious that I don't know how to play... lol!

Recently I really feel like I am trying to make up for lost time. It is like I am experiencing a highly intense puberty, and I am having to learn life skills and how to be a grown up man within 8-10months, while most boys have years to mature. At 11months on T, I have noticed that people and strangers are treating me VERY differently now, compared to when I was 3-5 months on T. I feel I have to shoulder much more responsibilities now, and a lot more is expected of me. Anyone else getting this kind of feeling?

[Forever21Chic]

  I play soccer! That's about it though. 

[RachelH]

I used to forget football boots on purpose, as the punishment was playing netball with the girls    But  I agree the sports in UK schools was always too gender orientated, and it annoyed the hell out of me. Especially seen I was good at netball and hockey and really rubbish at football,rugby and cricket. Cricket was always fun, hiding way out so the ball never came near me, or up close so I could actually throw it back... I had a stupidly girly throw!

Some guys I know, know nothing about football, cricket or rugby; but it does cause problems when talking to the vast majority of men. Definitely get a book and read up the rules and maybe pick a team and start watching them... Sadly, once you start saying you support someone you are then expected to know countless facts about the team and the players so be careful. That is unless you want to get into the sport and then talk about how good a player is and what his goal/run/points for his career etc is. But definitely the best way to understand the sport is to watch and play it.

emoxon I completly agree with football been completly boring, my eyes glaze over when ever anyone starts talking about it, I think they realise because the men stop looking and talking at me and I feel excluded, sometimes not a bad thing, but it has always been like that when ever I've been around lads... trying to change the topic doesn't work either they become obsessed with talking about it.!

[matt]

Thanks for the replies, I swear there were 3 replies, but one got deleted for some reason!

RachelH: Thanks for ur tips. Seems like I really should start learning one or two guy sports. After all I don't want to seem completely out of place in a pub and now that I am using the male changing room, these topics will only come up more and more frequently.

Football may be a good start, since the resources seem so readily available in the UK, and I did play football with my friends(boys) when I was younger.
Perhaps trans people should unite and organise a sports day to teach one another the opposite sports!! That would be so fun and useful

My school had netball and hockey too, also rounders, trampolining, dance & lacrosse. I hated netball (the rules are so lame!) but didn't mind hockey, is hockey also a predominantly girls sport in the UK? I had always wanted to try cricket, seems like an interesting sport, also those white outfits and helmets just look kinda cool 

[Jessica M]

Speaking as a girl who hated sports but played them to "man up" I can say that knowing the rules of rugby is in no way essential. Pass it backwards, tackle from the shoulder down, treat all injuries as if they never happened  . I never played football but if you ever need advice on how to play gaelic football or hurling i could help, (unfortunately the first rule in some places is don't be english  )

Best of luck with your new found hobbies, most straight guys I know love to talk football and have a kick about, they usually don't care if your any good or not. If people are doing that you could give it a go.