Smaller goals and fields at the Women's World Cup? No thanks, USWNT players say
DEAUVILLE, France — In the wake of the United States’ record 13-0 win over Thailand in their opening match at this FIFA Women’s World Cup, an opinion piece appeared in the Times of London arguing that the goals and fields used in the women’s game should be smaller than in the men’s to account for the physical differences between the sexes.
At first glance, the story looked like some demeaning retrograde argument penned by a crusty old man from previous era. In fact, it was written by none other than Emma Hayes, the universally respected manager of Chelsea FC’s women’s team.
“There is one obvious reason why women play on the size of pitches and goals that we see now: That is what we were given,” Hayes wrote, noting that the average height of adult females in the United Kingdom is six inches shorter than their male counterparts. “Maybe no one ever thought to question whether it makes sense.”
Hayes went on to point out that women’s basketball players use a smaller ball, and that the hurdles for men in the Olympics stand nine inches taller. Delivered by someone with Hayes’ credibility, it was a thought-provoking argument, even for those that felt she was wrong.
Count U.S. fullback Crystal Dunn in that category. Dunn played under Hayes at Chelsea from 2017-18, but the current North Carolina Courage star said Tuesday that she prefers the goals and pitches just the way they are.
“I had read some of this stuff, yes,” a smiling Dunn said when asked about the comments. “I know Emma Hayes really well, played under her at Chelsea. Those are obviously her opinions. I personally don’t agree with it.”
In explaining why, Dunn cited the performance of six-foot Chilean goalkeeper Christiane Endler, who single-handedly kept La Roja in Sunday’s 3-0 loss to the U.S. by making a series of top-shelf stops. With smaller goals, Dunn suggested, Endler may well have proven unbeatable.
“I think women do some incredible things in this game and I’m always pushing for us to be at our best, and whether you are American or not, I actually want this game to grow so much in all regards,” she said. “So for a goalkeeper to be able to compete at that level and save as many saves as she can against us, I think it’s incredible, and it’s just a testament that the goals are exactly the size that they need to be, the pitch is the size that it needs to be. That’s my opinion.”
Yahoo sports asked Dunn’s fellow defender Abby Dahlkemper if she was surprised that someone of Hayes’ stature felt such fundamental changes were necessary.
“I don’t know her personally at all, so I don’t really have any opinion on that,” she said.
Nonetheless, Dahlkemper sided with her U.S. and Courage teammate when it comes to goal and field sizes.
“Personally, I agree with everything Crystal said,” she added. “You see these breakout players like the Chilean goalkeeper, and that’s just the quality of level that women’s soccer has [reached].
“I absolutely think that they should be the way that they are.”
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