I Love Women's Basketball
Tuesday and Friday nights were high school basketball. The girls played first and the boys second. It seemed that there were more people in the seats for the girls, but that could have been for many reasons.
My mother had played in the 30's. She also played volleyball and track. By the 50's all that was left was basketball. I was told that Iowa and Texas were the only states that had that.
I looked forward to joining my family as a basketball star! I had even planned to go to Iowa Wesleyan College, one of the few that had women's basketball.
When I was in the 5th grade, the school boards in Wilton and Durant, Iowa decided to stop girls' basketball. I was crushed!
My parents owned the newspapers in both towns and my mother immediately wrote the editorial that saved the sport in Durant, but not Wilton. Since we lived in Wilton, I was still out.
The reason given was that playing sports made it difficult for girls to later have babies. The fact the the president of Wilton's school board was a grandfather whose daughter had played basketball didn't matter much.
I am proud that my mother was an athlete. I am proud that she spoke out and got the public excited about this enough to make the calls that helped girls.
I am also very happy that these kinds of injustices helped to lead to the situation that we have today, where girls' are playing and crowds are coming. When I go to a game at North Carolina State, I see little boys standing in line to get autographs of the women players.
The sport has gone through many ups and downs, it has a long way to go, but the integrity of the women and men who have worked to achieve the current success shines!
Ok, I am off of the soap box. Enjoy the lens and more importantly get out and see a women's basketball game!
Contents at a Glance
- Three Courts, Two Courts, One Court: Women's Basketball Evolves
- Women's Basketball Players Are Getting Tougher
- Women's Professional Basketball Today and Years Past
Three Courts, Two Courts, One Court: Women's Basketball Evolves
Women's Basketball Evolves
When my mom played basketball, they used three courts. One court would have two forwards from one team and two guards of the other. The center court had a center from each team and the other court again had two forwards and two guards. They were only allowed one dribble and the ball had to pass through the centers at each change over. Is this where they got the name 'center', I wonder?They did this because they believed that the women were not as strong as the men. My dad tells us, in his video, however, that he scrimmaged against women and thought they were every bit as physically capable. The real contradiction here, is the while mom and her teammates were only thought capable of three court basketball, the girls played 2 player volleyball on hard courts. College teams today use 6 players on each side, but Mom played with only one other teammate.
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In the 50's when Mom fought to keep girls' basketball in two towns, they were playing 2 court ball. Each side had 3 forwards and three guards. They were allowed two dribbles each. A forward took the place of a center for beginning jump balls.
People were concerned at the time that playing basketball, even at that reduce level, would harm the girls' reproductive future.
Today, the women play on a full court with five players on each team, just like the men, but only got that right when after Title IX, in 1976 Victoria Ann Cape sued the Tennessee High School Athletic Association and won! Today, in high school and college they play the same length of game, but in the pros, their games are 20 minutes shorter. Is it my imagination, but are the women's games (as well as the men's college games) faster? Could it be the 60 minutes is a long time to play intense basketball for anyone?
The picture to the right is the uniform my mother wore for Perry High School in Iowa. In the 50's the girls wore tight fitting shorts. I think it is interesting that today's uniforms more resemble those of the 30's, although I doubt the young women today would see that. But I guess some things do come back around!
Women's Basketball Players Are Getting Tougher
However, when you list to my father's video, you will see that he was participating in this as early as 1935.
Women's Professional Basketball Today and Years Past
- America's First Women's Professional Basketball Team
- The All American Red Heads: 1936-1986
This site is a must. It tells a story of women's basketball history, of the women of a great team, that most of us don't know.
You will learn a lot, and have the chance to buy the exciting video, and have your money go to support women's basketball.
Don't miss it! - Official WNBA Site
- The WNBA is not the first professional women's basketball league, but it is arguably the most successful.
It began as a sister league to the NBA, with each team using the arena and colors of an NBA team. Many of the teams even used similar nicknames such as the Charlotte Sting, the sister team of the Hornets.
There was a another women's league at the time, one that played in the winter when the NBA played. The WNBA is a summer league. This took away the competition from the NBA and also allowed the women to play in the European leagues during the winter.
To Do Today: Find Out About Women's Basketball
1. Call my local college, high school or professional organization and buy tickets to a game.
2. Get enough tickets to take some young girls so they can see what women can do.
3. Get enough tickets to take some young boys so they can appreciate what women can do.
4. Prepare myself to be awed!
The Joy of Winning in Women's Basketball... And YES, Women Can Jump!
Accepting No Boundaries in Women's Basketball
the Catch Phrase for the Women's Basketball Magazine
- Women's Basketball Magazine
- Keep up on all the news.
- Women's Basketball Magazine
- Keep up on all the news.
- Women's Basktball Hall of Fame
- This is a great site for the history.
- Women's Basktball Hall of Fame
- This is a great site for the history.
Iowa: The Center of the Women's Basketball Universe?
Well, in Girls' Basketball History Anyway...
I sent an email to John Molina asking his permission to use the picture of the All American Redheads in this lens. I got back this, which confirms what my parents told me, that Iowa was very important to the history of women's basketball. He has also confirmed how difficult it is to get the definitive history of women's basketball. Thanks to him and others like him, including my dad, it will get better."Good day and thank you so much for writing. I always enjoy hearing from others on the history of the game and truly loved it that you got your dad to help record and save some of the history. So few do that.
Iowa. What can be said. It was the center of the universe as far as I am concerned when it came to Girls High School Basketball. There are even some books (hard to find) on the topic. Iowa higher ups did try to do away with girls basketball and got a lot of flak for it. It was because of people like your mother, that it did not happen."
John Molina,The Women's Basketball Expert :
"Iowa. What can be said. It was the center of the universe as far as I am concerned when it came to Girls High School Basketball. There are even some books (hard to find) on the topic. Iowa higher ups did try to do away with girls basketball and got a lot of flak for it. It was because of people like your mother, that it did not happen."
American Women Win Olympic Gold for 4th Time in a Row in 2008
How Mom Saved Women's Basketball in Durant, Ia
Dad Tell Us How
Arrowsmith Printing An American History Part 5
Fritz Arrowsmith tells us about a time when his wife, Marjorie, wrote an editorial that saved girl's basketball for the town of Durant, Iowa. At the time girls basketball, at the inter school level only existed in small towns and a couple of colleges in Iowa. He mentions the 3 court ball that his wife played. Girl's basketball was rare then, and his facts may not be totally correct, but again we get a glimpse into small town life at midcentury. For more information about the history of women's basketball women's basketball go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women's_basketball or http://www.womensbasketballmuseum.com/ http://www.ncweb.com/biz/sherock/history.html
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John Molina, Women's Basketball Expert:
"I am in CT. Many here feel we are the universe of womens basketball. Maybe at the college level, but at the high school level, we bow to our friends in Iowa."
The All American Red Heads: America's Premere Women's Basketball Team 1936-1986
Is Dunking the Ball Good for Women's Basketball?
I am conflicted on this. One the one hand I think that women should do anything they can. Height really isn't the issue. Remember little Mugsy Bowls won the Slam Dunk Contest one year!
However, I like that women are more into the speed and fundamentals. I worry that concentrating on dunking will lead to more hot dogging and ego.
Women's Basketball in the Movies.
Love and Basketball (New Line Platinum Series)
Amazon Price: $5.79 (as of 12/10/2009) 
ABC News Nightline Women Just Do It
Amazon Price: $14.95 (as of 12/10/2009)
2002 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship - Oklahoma vs. Connecticut
Amazon Price: $24.99 (as of 12/10/2009)
Any Purchase Here Will Contribute to Heifer International: The Pay It Forward Entrepreneurial Charity
Great Books on Women's Basketball
In These Girls, Hope Is a Muscle tells the story of Amherst, MA and the talented and superior girls' basketball team that had to over come the conditioning of the town and learn that they could be aggressive on the floor and feminine at the same time.
Counting Coup Is told by a male journalist who had taken a year to live on the Crow Reservation in Montana where he was going to write the story of race and basketball in this town.
After seeing one girl play and watching one full practice, he dropped his original intention and changed the story to center on the girls' team.
These two team and two towns were about very different circumstances, but they show us so much about girls and basketball.
Standing Tall: A Memoir of Tragedy and Triumph
Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 12/10/2009)
Don't Let The Lipstick Fool You: The Making of a Champion
Amazon Price: $15.84 (as of 12/10/2009)
In These Girls, Hope is a Muscle
Amazon Price: $10.04 (as of 12/10/2009)
The Complete Guide to Girls' Basketball
Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 12/10/2009)
Counting Coup: A True Story of Basketball and Honor on the Little Big Horn
Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 12/10/2009)
Title Nine Turned the Tide for Women's Sports
- Title Nine on Wikipedia
- Today's women athletes owe a lot to Title Nine, the legislation that required schools to give equal access sports for females. Some people objected saying that girls just weren't as interested, but that was somewhat circular as there were no sports for them to show interest in. However, since Title 9 more and more girls have participated in and benefited from sports.
Enter My Salon
There is more where this came from. I hope you enjoy these, comment, rate and vote!-
Arrowsmith Printing: Entreprenuership in Small Town Iowa in Mid /Century
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In 1948 Fritz and Marjorie Arrowsmith took their 2 children Micheal 7 years and Margo 6 months and moved half way across Iowa with no car, $100 in the bank and $6500 in debt. The printer and former high school journalism student took on the job of re...
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"A" is for "Arrowsmith"
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I began this journey as a lens master on June 21, 2008. I started with the story of how my parents began their first small business. That first lens reached a top rank of 188 overall and 14 in business, and then started back down, getting as low as...
Support Women's Basketball
Comments about basketball and the lens welcome! Stars are great for both!
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Reply
- aj2008 aj2008 Nov 30, 2008 @ 4:03 am
- Another interesting lens Margo!
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Reply
- Margo_Arrowsmith Margo_Arrowsmith Oct 7, 2008 @ 11:13 am
- As soon as I finished by Giant Squid application (two weeks tops!) I am going to start a group on Women's Sports. I am sure there are lots of great lens and will be more!
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Reply
- OhMe OhMe Oct 7, 2008 @ 10:58 am
- I played 2 court girls basketball for Pendleton SC from the time I was in Elementary School until we moved to Ala. in the 9th grade (1963). I love basketball and loved playing and was so disappointed when my dad told me that girls basketball wasn't allowed in the state of Ala. I had to be satisfied playing just intramurals. I often said that before I died, I would convince the state of Alabama to re-instate Girls Basketball. Of course, they later did but it was too late for me so after college I moved back to Pendleton and Coached the high school team for a couple of years. I found out very quickly that I wasn't meant to be a coach even though I loved the game. I just love the video. Give your dad a hug and tell him it is from a SC gal who appreciates what his dear wife did for the game of girls basketball.
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Fetching RSS feed... please stand byAbout Margo Arrowsmith
Lensmaster Margo_Arrowsmith has been a member since June 21 2008, has rated 2,023 lenses, favorited 120, and has created 129 lenses from scratch. Margo Arrowsmith donates their royalties to Squidoo Charity Fund. This member's top-ranked page is "Heifer International: The Pay It Foward Entrepreneurial Charity". See all my lenses
My Bio
For Arrowsmith Printing 9/22/08
I was born into a small business, I believe that small business and entrepreneurs are the backbone of America and what has made us great. They are what made us great and will save us in these unsure times. I have never wanted to have a great job. Well, better a great one, than a boring dead end one, and I have had both. But I have never really wanted a job at all.
Don't get me wrong, I am a hard worker. I have worked a full-time job, a part time job and a private practice all at the same time for a lot of years in my past. It isn't the work, its the working for someone else. Never wanted to do that, and I don't understand those who want to do that.
When I was six months old my parents bought their first small town weekly newspaper in Iowa. This was back in the day, back when small town newspapers were not just advertising sheets. Perhaps there are still some of them that are real, I hope so.
So I came by this perverse nature naturally. My path to self employment has been different than theirs, but it has always been my path, my direction.
Growing up in Iowa, in the fifties, I also grew up politically conservative. By the time I was 30 I was radically left. Today? I am proudly liberal and what that means will be clearer as we progress.
However, I have had conflicts about 'taking advantage of people'. I now know that employing people is not automatically taking advantage of them, but it took a while for me to learn that nothing is intrinsically good or bad. Well, almost nothing.
I have educated myself in business, I have a small business and I have used EFT and other energy clearing methods to help me clarify the old conflicts and move forward.
My mission here is to provide a forum for people who want to work independently through one person businesses or through employing others and for whom the betterment of human kind is an important value. My lenses are about offering good products, teaching people about betting their lives, and using the money they make for their pleasure and the benefit of others.
That is how I see business and if you have a similar vision I invite you to my blog www.creatingbusinessenergy.com
Margo Arrowsmith
Raleigh, North Carolina
Mother and Grandmother
Clinincal Social Worker, Coach and Internet Marketer
Interfaith Contemplative Minister
Student of life, business, the human spirit that motivates us to be our best in all circumstances.
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by Margo_Arrowsmith
For Arrowsmith Printing 9/22/08
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