Sports teams at SCHS are often divided based on gender or inclusion throughout their competition. Many sports, including boys’ baseball and girls’ softball, stick to traditional gender division, while sports such as badminton and track and field focus on coed competition. Discussions about equality and inclusion, however, continue to change and shape athletes’ experiences.
Badminton assistant coach Yann Chan noted the importance of creating fair opportunities for athletes of all genders on his team. He encouraged gender equality to be incorporated into more SCHS athletics’ programs.
“I think there are always opportunities to have some coed events,” Chan said. “In badminton, you have men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and mixed, so you can take parts of each and put them together.”
In badminton’s mixed doubles, a team consists of one male and one female athlete who compete together. Focusing on strategy, communication and teamwork, senior Danielle Wong believes the format provides a different type of challenge rather than limiting opportunities for female players.
“There may be a misconception that girls who participate in mixed doubles are less skilled, but in reality, it requires a lot of technique and strategy to do well,” Wong said. “Besides a difference in the gender of participants, it is also a chance to experience different types of game play, which I definitely think has a positive impact on the sport.”
Gender preference for many sports can create imbalance in participation, learning quality and audience attention. Freshman Samuel Spalek believes that although some sports attract more athletes from one gender, schools should continue working toward equal opportunities and recognition for all genders.
“As a male athlete in water polo, I’ve had plenty of opportunities, but I recognize that some of my female peers have to work harder to get the same level of funding or prime time game slots.” Spalek said. “ I am aware that the ‘boys’ club’ atmosphere in some sports can sometimes make it feel less welcoming for people who don’t fit that mold. Every team should get the same quality of coaching, the same gear, and equal access to the best practice times on the field or in the pool.”
Coed competition can build an environment that centers more specifically on positive support and belonging.
“It makes the sport feel more inclusive and builds a stronger team spirit because everyone is cheering for each other at the same time. It focuses more on the performance than the gender,” Spalek said.
Badminton player freshman Jayne Chen views competing alongside a different gender as an opportunity to develop strengths while trusting their partner to support other areas of the game.
“As a participant in mixed doubles, I am able to perform better than normal women’s doubles or singles as I’m able to focus on specific skills instead of worrying about all of them,” Chen said.
As organizations like the Olympics introduce more mixed-gender events, local athletics may begin adopting similar formats that encourage equal participation across genders. Chan believes that global competitions play a significant role in shaping how younger generations of athletes view equality in sports.
“Change often starts from the top,” Chan said. “When you see something like the Olympics adding more mixed events, it can trickle down into more sports and more areas.”
The push for equality often involves reevaluating how resources and opportunities are distributed based on gender. Spalek argued that inclusivity must be treated as a fundamental standard in order for a school’s sports culture to improve.
“I just think it’s important to keep having these conversations,” Spalek said. “Sports should be about talent, hard work and discipline, and everyone deserves the same opportunity to compete. The more we talk about inclusivity and equal access, the more it becomes a normal part of our school culture, and that’s how real change in sports begins.”