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Message: [QUOTE="BBallF, post: 4492529, member: 10435"] I wrote a lengthy post under another thread about the spate of injuries. Some are insidious, such as ACLs or a dislocated patella, when there is no contact. Perhaps they are the result of specialization, 365 days a year of basketball, the attenuation of muscles and ligaments, or perhaps not. Others, like Dorka's , Azzi's, Caroline's, Aaliyah's nose, Ines' stitches, or Nika's concussion, are the result of contact. I think the amount of contact allowed under the basket is disgusting and leads to injuries because it encourages unbridled physicality. I also think it is emblematic of a deeper problem that is years old and that is the embedded unconscious sexism of referees and administrative officials in leagues, which simply put is "They are girls, they can't hurt each other." It happens at the youth and high school levels and it happens at the college level too. This"let them play "attitude isn't basketball at all. Two quick examples. Azzi's injury. The ND defender deliberately pushed Aaliyah into her. There is no issue about it . She pushed her flat out. Dorka's thumb. Go back and watch the play. It was a deliberate hack straight down to a hand that had a serious fracture last year designed to prevent a shot not trying to block it. These may seem subtle because there wasn't blood but they are far from it. Here are various non- policed patterns of physicality extant today: Restriction on freedom of movement particularly during cuts, fouls on the person not the ball, low bridges on box outs, pushing, holding and the like. If more whistles have to be blown for a while, so be it. The women will adapt to the officials as they do in each game. The officials seem to start every season with tight calls and then after a game or two it's the same old slugfest. The rules need to be revisited as well. Any intentional foul, not just to the head, is an intentional foul and should be called. The sport needs change to protect the players. It's reached that level. [/QUOTE]

Verification: First name of men's bb coach