Two teams of 11 or 12 players, trying to get a ball into an end zone, slamming into each other with full force.ย
Allison Power is pushing down barriers โ and the opposing team โ at the same time.
At 16, Power is the only female player on the Avon View Avalanche football team.
At first, people were hesitant to the idea, which only made her want to do it more.
โI try to do a new sport each year, and I like rough sports like rugby, so I thought, โwhy not try football?โ I went to one of my friends on the team and said I might try it,โ Power said.
โThey said I couldnโt play football because Iโm a girl, so Iโm like โ watch me.โ
Power said she was interested in football because of the intense physicality, the roughness of the game.
โI talked to some of my friends and they told me when the first practise was going to be, so I showed up,โ she said. โThe coaches gave me the look, like, โis that a girl trying out?โโ
This is Powerโs first season with the football team, but sheโs been active in other sports including rugby and soccer.
โOn team sports I get competitive. Iโm rough on soccer, but I can get called for that,โ she said. โIn rugby and football, itโs more encouraged.โ
One of her teammates chimed in, saying, โYou get to hurt people,โ with a laugh.
โI like it, itโs been a good experience, Iโm treated like one of them, which is what I wanted,โ she said. โFootball is rough, but you have the gear to help.โ
Power said most of the other sports sheโs involved with are either exclusively for girls or are not team based.
ย
Part of the team
โAt the beginning of the year, some people were saying I shouldnโt be on the team because Iโm a girl, but Iโve proven them wrong,โ she said. โI feel that everyone appreciates me on the team now.โ
Power is still learning some of the ins and outs of the game, but is hoping to continue with the team in the future.
โMy teammates are really helpful and are great at answering any questions I have and my coaches have been supportive as well,โ she said.
Connor Caldwell, 14, a wide receiver on the team, said Power brings a lot of spirit and positivity to the team dynamic.
โItโs nice to have a girl on the team,โ Caldwell said. โShe told me that someone had told her she couldnโt be on the team because she was a girl, and she did it especially for that reason.โ
Sheโs also good at the game.
โShe also finds that she likes it a lot and itโs all around good times,โ he said. โSheโs not one to point out what you did wrong, but sheโll tell you how you can do it better.โ
Jordan Card, offensive line coach with the Avalanche, said Power has become a huge asset for the team.
โA lot of girls donโt play physical sports, some play rugby, but football is seen more as a guyโs sport,โ Card said. โSheโs like any of the guys out there, sheโs part of the team. Thereโs no difference whatsoever.โ
Card said he wouldnโt be surprised if she moved up to the starting line-up if she continues to excel.
โShe can hit really hard,โ he said.ย
Two teams of 11 or 12 players, trying to get a ball into an end zone, slamming into each other with full force.ย
Allison Power is pushing down barriers โ and the opposing team โ at the same time.
At 16, Power is the only female player on the Avon View Avalanche football team.
At first, people were hesitant to the idea, which only made her want to do it more.
โI try to do a new sport each year, and I like rough sports like rugby, so I thought, โwhy not try football?โ I went to one of my friends on the team and said I might try it,โ Power said.
โThey said I couldnโt play football because Iโm a girl, so Iโm like โ watch me.โ
Power said she was interested in football because of the intense physicality, the roughness of the game.
โI talked to some of my friends and they told me when the first practise was going to be, so I showed up,โ she said. โThe coaches gave me the look, like, โis that a girl trying out?โโ
This is Powerโs first season with the football team, but sheโs been active in other sports including rugby and soccer.
โOn team sports I get competitive. Iโm rough on soccer, but I can get called for that,โ she said. โIn rugby and football, itโs more encouraged.โ
One of her teammates chimed in, saying, โYou get to hurt people,โ with a laugh.
โI like it, itโs been a good experience, Iโm treated like one of them, which is what I wanted,โ she said. โFootball is rough, but you have the gear to help.โ
Power said most of the other sports sheโs involved with are either exclusively for girls or are not team based.
ย
Part of the team
โAt the beginning of the year, some people were saying I shouldnโt be on the team because Iโm a girl, but Iโve proven them wrong,โ she said. โI feel that everyone appreciates me on the team now.โ
Power is still learning some of the ins and outs of the game, but is hoping to continue with the team in the future.
โMy teammates are really helpful and are great at answering any questions I have and my coaches have been supportive as well,โ she said.
Connor Caldwell, 14, a wide receiver on the team, said Power brings a lot of spirit and positivity to the team dynamic.
โItโs nice to have a girl on the team,โ Caldwell said. โShe told me that someone had told her she couldnโt be on the team because she was a girl, and she did it especially for that reason.โ
Sheโs also good at the game.
โShe also finds that she likes it a lot and itโs all around good times,โ he said. โSheโs not one to point out what you did wrong, but sheโll tell you how you can do it better.โ
Jordan Card, offensive line coach with the Avalanche, said Power has become a huge asset for the team.
โA lot of girls donโt play physical sports, some play rugby, but football is seen more as a guyโs sport,โ Card said. โSheโs like any of the guys out there, sheโs part of the team. Thereโs no difference whatsoever.โ
Card said he wouldnโt be surprised if she moved up to the starting line-up if she continues to excel.
โShe can hit really hard,โ he said.ย