Should Women's Football Teams Play "Back-to-Back"
Seasons?
Julie Wicher and a few of her teammates wanted to address
one of the questions at the forefront of everyone's mind,
from players to coaches, owners and management: Should women
play back-to-back seasons of football if they have the chance?
 Julie
Wicher, Running Back
Sacramento Sirens
Player Perspectives, August 2003
Like several teams making the transition from a different
league into the IWFL, the Sacramento Sirens were faced with
the obstacle of playing back to back seasons. As a part of
the WAFC in 2002, we (the Sirens) began training camp in April
2002 and concluded the season after the championship game
in December. After getting just a couple weeks off over the
Christmas and New Year holidays we began training camp once
again in late January 2003 and the IWFL Spring season started
up in early March.
For those that love playing the game of football and never
want it to end, the thought of playing in a Spring and a Fall
league may sound very appealing. I for one was sad to see
the 2002 season come to an end and initially wished that we
were going straight to the next season with no break at all.
Every morning I wake up with a different ache; my back, my
ankles, my knees. I never felt this way the first season I
played so why do I feel this way now? I have also had numerous
injuries this season. Although these injuries were all minor
and never kept me out of playing in a game, they have never
ceased from hurting. I could sit here and make excuses about
why this is occurring. Maybe it’s because I’m
getting older, maybe it’s because I was in better shape
last season, maybe it’s because in the Spring the sun
is hitting me at a different angle than in the fall which
throws my chakra out of equilibrium. I believe the bottom
line is I’m just worn out. Like machines that are run
constantly, at some point you need to turn them off for a
while or they will eventually burn out. When a machine breaks
down you can go out and buy a new one or replace bad parts.
The latter may be true to some extent with your body but not
necessarily feasible or desirable.
Because the Sirens have been playing virtually non-stop for
14 months now, I feel like we have a pretty good grasp on
all the pros and cons that are associated with the task of
back to back seasons.
 Robin
Grove, Offensive Tackle
Sacramento Sirens
Player Perspectives, August 2003
“I love being with my teammates throughout the yea,
it really has made us much closer because of the time we spend
together. I for one liked the back to back, although there
is no way I would go for a 3rd in a row, my body needs the
rest. Another downside is not being able to train in the non-existent
off-season. No time to lose weight, bulk up or condition without
wearing yourself out! Resting injuries is important too. I
love being out on the field as much as possible and there
is nothing like 23 games in one year to do that for you! I
have had my share of problems; turf toe since February (gets
worse every day until I can rest it in the off season) and
my knees are sore when they weren’t before. I don’t
feel as fresh as I did coming into Summer 2002.”
 Michelle
Kahler (Half Back)
Sacramento Sirens
Player Perspectives, August 2003
“I mentally need a break as well, mostly because this
sport is on top of all our full time job and other family
time…. It would be different it this were our full time
job… but with reality as it is, time off would be great.”
 Kellie
Kirkpatrick (Free Safety)
Sacramento Sirens
Player Perspectives, August 2003
“I have noticed this season that injuries are more
frequent. I think that having a break this year is key for
getting people healthy again as well as fired up for games
the way we were towards the beginning of the season. You don’t
realize how much playing on the team means to you until you
are not our there on Tuesday and Thursday nights for a few
months. The need to play builds up the longer you are away
from it and I think that it will be good for our team to remember/experience
that feeling.”
 Leilani
Limary (Quarterback)
Sacramento Sirens
Player Perspectives, August 2003
“For me, it has been difficult to be in it all of the
time 110%. It feels as though this has been going on forever.
After the first season I built up a true desire to be out
there when it was time to come back in the fall. You begin
to miss everything and the excitement of getting back out
there gets to you. You train harder, lift more, focus better.
Because you don’t take any of it for granted. It still
leaves a bitter taste in your mouth not to have that physical
outlet, close relationships with other players, knowing that
you will see your coaches and teammates at least twice a week.
We didn’t have a long time to forget those little things
(referring to the newly installed offense). In that respect
I feel as though we were able to grow faster and accomplish
more than if we would have waited a full year to come back.”
 Gina
McCann (Defensive Line)
Sacramento Sirens
Player Perspectives, August 2003
“Oh most definitely my body feels the back to back
seasons. Even about half way through this season, I was just
hitting the “worn out” point. Yes, I love football
and I so live playing, but let’s face it, it does take
its toll on your body and at a certain point, your body says
“hey stupid, I need a rest!” I have dealt with
more fatigue injuries” this year personally…and
I think that the ream, as a whole, has also. That is why all
athletes take a break, the NFL included, to give their body
that much needed break.”
 Ayako
Miyata (Defensive Back)
Sacramento Sirens
Player Perspectives, August 2003
“On the field, I think it was helpful to play back-to-back
because everything we learned last year stayed fresh in our
minds and we were able to take advantage of it and improve
our game. I feel much more confident in myself on the field.
However, as much as I love to play, I know that I would like
a break. It’s easier for me to focus on weight training
and working on different cardio/sprint workouts to try to
make myself stronger, quicker, and better, during the off-season.
Once the season starts and we start playing game, it seems
to be difficult for me to keep up with my training on our
off-days. I also feel that we’re more prone to injuries
if we don’t give our bodies a rest! You can’t
heal properly and recover if you don’t.”
 Margie
Wells (Offensive Guard)
Sacramento Sirens
Player Perspectives, August 2003
“My body can’t wait for a break, but my head
hasn’t quite figured out how I’m gonna survive
without doing all of this every week. I look forward to a
few extra nights a week with my family. I guess what I am
trying to say is…back-to-back seasons has been hard,
it has been exhausting, it has been a sacrifice, but it has
been rewarding, it has been uplifting, it has been amazing…
and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
Julie
Wicher (Running Back)
Sacramento Sirens
Player Perspectives, August 2003
“I have heard there are players that are considering
playing back to back season for different teams, i.e. playing
for the IWFL in the Spring and then the WPFL in the Fall.
This to me seems like an even more daunting task. Besides
the factors of fatigue and injury, you now have to consider
learning a whole new offense/defense along with learning to
adapt to a new coaching staff and or system. As mentioned,
back to back seasons was somewhat beneficial to the Sirens
because in the Fall we installed a new offense. By the end
of that season we were just beginning to get all the kinks
out, so with only a short break we were able to continue where
we left off only weeks before. This is different for players
that are switching to entirely different teams. Financially
playing back to back seasons may be straining, especially
if you have to pay team fees or buy different helmets or equipment
for both. Another consideration is your level of loyalty to
your team/teams. If the seasons overlap who takes priority?
As for me, I love playing football but I know that at some
point I need to draw a line. My mind and heart are always
in it but the body does not necessarily agree. Although I
would like to pretend that I am still a kid with the feeling
of invincibility, the reality is that if I want to continue
this amazing journey long term I need to allow myself time
to recover and recuperate from the past year of constant impact.
Sometimes it seems like a catch 22. On one hand, people want
to play as much and as often as they can now because they
feel like in a couple of years they may be too old or warn
out to continue. On the other hand by playing too much you
put your body through constant fatigue and it will break down,
thus bringing your career to an end sooner than you’d
planned. I see it as a fine line to walk. I have to now consider
longevity over immediate gratification. I will miss playing
football over the next few months while in the IWFL off-season,
yet I know that once January rolls around I will be able to
return refreshed and injury free; something I have not felt
in quite some time .”
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