She’s the (wo)man: How an all-girls futsal team pulled me out of my slump

“Joining a team sport was the confidence boost I never knew I needed.”

A year ago, if you asked me to join a team sport, I’d have flashbacks to PE class and respectfully decline with the excuse that “it’s just not my thing.” One day your parents are dropping you off at swimming lessons they deem vital for when you find yourself stranded in the middle of the ocean. The next, you’re in your twenties and realise you don’t have any hobbies.   

But I’ve recently embarked on a journey to reclaim my inner spark. This includes trying out activities that seem completely out of my comfort zone. So when some of my coworkers proposed starting an all-girls futsal team two months ago, I knew I had to say yes for the purpose of self-discovery. And with the Matildas breaking records at the Women’s World Cup, there’s no better time to try something new.

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Our team was conceived like all great ideas are: through daydreams and disorganised chaos, of course. For a while, it was just a frivolous thought floating around in our group chat. A group chat consisting of women with no prior futsal experience but a burgeoning desire to show up the patriarchy. 

Getting a team together to play a sport we didn’t know how to spell, let alone know the rules of,  was no easy task. But after weeks of recruiting, aligning schedules, ordering cute team T-shirts and launching our Instagram, She’s the Man United FC was born. Duke Orsino (Channing Tatum) could say just about anything to make me want to chase my dreams but indeed, “Some are born great, some achieve greatness”. We were going to see out the entire season and achieve something. 

Arriving at my first game, I was surprisingly calm and couldn’t have been more excited. With an assortment of rap songs playing through my AirPods (this is the hype music of all esteemed athletes right?), I was ready to put the rules I’d learnt on a quick Wikihow search to the test. 

Let me tell you, watching some ‘how to’ videos on YouTube is nothing like the actual thing. I was so preoccupied with the planning stage, I entirely overlooked the playing part. But once I was on the court, I was surprised by my instincts and determination to give it my all. 

Tragically, but as expected, we lost. 15 nil. Sure, we may have accidentally kicked the ball into an opponent’s stomach multiple times (sorry), but it wasn’t about dominating. Watching how we put ourselves out there, cheering on our small wins and laughing our way through the mistakes was rewarding enough. It was all about newfound camaraderie, confidence in the unknown and embracing new experiences.  

I’m the type of person who associates feelings with specific places and memories. I left the court wondering how one game of futsal could make me feel so empowered. I used to be someone who resisted the unexpected and new social situations. But as I continue playing and improving, I’m becoming more convinced this is what I’ve been missing out on. 

When we want to nurture zest in our lives, it can come from the most unlikely places. All it takes is an open mind, or perhaps a funny group of gals willing to leave their dignity on the bench for 40 minutes. 

So what if I can’t kick straight and panic every time the opposing team approaches me for the ball? I’m learning to chase experiences that make me feel this exact way more often. Now, I’m one step closer to knowing where to go in search of it.

For more on joining a sports team, head here.