NFL
By: Edwin Duodu
A couple of days ago, Sarah Thomas made history. Once this year’s Super Bowl rolls around, Thomas will be one of the officials working the major event. For years the position was a predominantly male occupation, coming in the form of white people working as NFL officials. However, the NFL slowly integrate African Americans into becoming officials and taking on larger sports roles. Since then, women have been continuously in the conversation regarding obtaining roles in any sports positions. We aren’t answering the main question as to why women haven’t been offered more game officiating opportunities in the past? Sarah Thomas’s recent breakthrough may be able to make life more comfortable in the future.
Six years ago, Thomas made a breakthrough for women by becoming the first to be a permanent official in the NFL. Although that took place, why did it take so long for a woman official to be on the field for the most significant event in football? To be a referee, one can argue that there isn’t much that separates a man and a woman from performing at a high level. In his article, Mike Freeman noted, “Sarah Thomas earning Super Bowl officiating bid is a crucial moment in sports history,” how women are discriminated against.
He states, “There’s no reason for a woman to not have worked a Super Bowl until the year 2021 other than sexism. Game officials don’t need to be world-class athletes or have super physical strength.”
Freeman makes an excellent point here. For someone to use that argument against a woman trying to become a referee or official would be severely flawed. Thomas worked four postseason games before being honored with the right to call a Super Bowl match finally. Since the Super Bowl is taken place during the postseason, what makes her qualities different from a male official? The NFL presents men with the opportunity to officiate the largest event in football history. Rutgers Newark Women’s Head Coach Ashley Cieplicki weighs in on how Thomas’s breakthrough may offer more roles for women in the future.
“It’s still a battle and still a struggle because everything is still predominantly filled by males. We’re still making strides, slower than I would like, but something like this will continue to help us grow,” Cieplicki states.
Major sports leagues have neglected women for too long. However, Thomas may well be the hope that inspires a change. When we think of people who essentially level the playing field, we have to include Sarah Thomas in that discussion. Cieplicki believes that her impact will extend not only throughout the NFL but also throughout other sports.
“It’s monumental, a huge accomplishment, and something that will become normal. The roles are getting bigger in the NBA and NFL, and it’s becoming apparent that we need more women. Moving forward, there will be more,” Cieplicki said.
More women will occupy the roles of referees, coaches, and owners of a league in the future. Sarah Thomas’s accomplishment was a huge one, and people will notice just how instrumental she was for a change. It’s only a matter of time.
