@jess_ganga[/author_info] [/author]
With sports, the perception and thought is that men’s and women’s sports are on a different playing field and that it’s the male sports which receive the majority of the public’s attention.
In professional sports, the notion that people focus more on male coaches and athletes and that people find women sports to be “unimportant” may as well be true.
When the USA Women’s National Soccer Team won the World Cup this past summer, Sports Illustrated writer Andy Benoit tweeted that women’s sports are not worth watching in general. This tweet sparked a lot of backlash and people were furious that he would say that.
The negative response Benoit received (his tweet has since been deleted) reflects the change of attitude the public has on women and sports on a professional level, but at the collegiate level, it seems that the perception of women’s sports is a bit different.
At The College of New Jersey, both male and female athletes are regarded in the same way, according to head coach of the TCNJ field hockey and lacrosse teams, Sharon Pfluger.
“Both the male and female sports at TCNJ are treated equally and have always been,” Pfluger said. “It is great to see every sport highlighted as we have so many outstanding student-athletes at TCNJ who work diligently to achieve success.”
Pfluger has been a coach at TCNJ for 31 years and was an athlete at the school during her time as a student at the former Trenton State College. She was able to shed light on women’s sports and being a female coach. Before asking her questions, there was an assumption that, even in college, women would be viewed differently than men.
Pfluger proved that that is not the case at TCNJ and that men and women are looked at more for their talent than their gender, something that Pfluger believes to be important.
“I think that hard work is highly respected regardless of gender and I believe that is true here at TCNJ,” Pfluger said.
Pfluger is the definition of a hard worker, winning 21 out of 27 possible New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) titles in field hockey and her lacrosse has earned 11 NCAA Division III Championship.
This month, Pfluger earned her 1,000th coaching win, making her the first coach in NCAA history to achieve this milestone. Even with the win, Pfluger’s perception on coaching has remained the same.
“My perception of coaching has always been the same,” Pfluger said. “My job is to work very hard to teach our student athletes everything I know about field hockey and lacrosse, while teaching them how to work together and get the most out of their hard work. I hope that the lessons taught and the strength they develop while participating and competing in our programs help them in all facets of their lives when they graduate.”
Some of her athletes play both field hockey and lacrosse, which take place during two different seasons (fall and spring respectively. It’s conceivable that the women playing lacrosse would be perceived differently since they have men playing the same sport during the same season.
Pfluger believes that’s not the case.
“Our combo field hockey and lacrosse players are highly respected in both seasons,” Pfluger said. “They juggle a very intense academic and athletic schedule all year and they do an outstanding job at it. Everyone who follows our programs closely knows the dedication and commitment that those student-athletes have for both sports and TCNJ. “
Pfluger also believes that her perception as a female coach has never changed throughout the years and that people admire her hard work and dedication to coach, not because she’s a women, but because she cares so much about the job and her players. Pfluger hopes that her athletes have taken away something during the time on her team.
“I have always felt that anyone making the decision to be a coach is making a strong statement saying that they accept the responsibility to be a role model,”Pfluger said. “I hope that the players who I have been so fortunate to coach take something with them that they has helped them grow.”
As a coach, Pfluger has been recognized nationally for her success and her work ethic. Something important to note is that she is one out of two female coaches that is featured in the NCAA Hall Champions’ Legends of the Game display. Pfluger, is grateful for the honor, but she always makes sure to point out the successes of other coaches, showing just how humbled she is.
“There are so many outstanding collegiate coaches, not only in the sports I coach, but in so many others and I am beyond humbled by this honor,” Pfluger said. “To be considered among the coaches within that group is something I feel very special to have even been considered for it. I still cannot believe it and I will be forever grateful for such an honor.”
Besides being a successful coach with numerous honors and awards, Pfluger is also a mother who’s children have attended or are attending TCNJ. One thing Pfluger is proud of is that her children are able to attend a school where women’s sports are highly regarded along with the athletes themselves.
“I feel I had a warm-up to parenting well before I had my own children and I am so happy my three children were able to grow up in the college environment at TCNJ around so many outstanding young women,” Pfluger said. “They have benefitted immensely through this experience.”
There is no argument that Pfluger is a beyond successful female coach, but and regardless of her gender, shows where hard work and dedication can get you.