Football a snap for female center

Christen Bain, 14, has taken the shots that come with playing football and proved herself to her teammates. [Times photo: John Pendygraft]

Christen Bain is no bench warmer on her team. She is in the middle of the action, winning games and respect.

By ERIC VICIAN

© St. Petersburg Times, published December 16, 1999

Mike Gould was not surprised to see Christen Bain at the Dunedin Junior Falcons' first football practice this season. Bain, a 14-year-old Dunedin High freshman, had been a cheerleader for the Junior Varsity Pee Wee football team in 1998.

The surprise for the six-year youth league coach was the conversation that followed.

"She came up to me and said, "Coach, where are the Pee Wees?' " Gould said. "And I said "The girls are over there.' And she said, "No coach, I'm playing football.' "

This, however, is not your typical girl-football-player story. On a team that went 9-5 and made the playoffs, Bain was neither a token bench warmer nor a placekicker. She was in the middle of the action on just about every play.

Christen Bain is 5 feet and 110 pounds. [Times photo: John Pendygraft]

On a team made up mostly of 12 to 14 year olds, with a maximum weight of 143 pounds, Bain played center.

Bain chose the position herself after playing the first few games at tight end.

"I can't catch that well," she said.

So Gould, unhappy with his offensive line, decided to give Bain a shot at snapping the ball. It was a decision he said he talked about with her parents, Tammy and Bob, and never regretted.

"It was probably the best experience by having her on the team," Gould said.

Tammy Bain encouraged her daughter's desire to play football from Day One.

"To me, I can't sit there and say no," Tammy Bain said. "She's not out getting in trouble. I know where she is four nights out of the week. I've got to be supportive."

Gould said the vast majority of the league was compassionate toward Bain, including her teammates and other parents. But things didn't start out that way.

"It was kind of different," said 14-year-old quarterback Tom McGee. "I didn't really expect a girl to play football. At first, I thought she would do bad. I was afraid to hit her (in practice drills). When I hit her, she took it and got back up. She was good at it."

Bain, who highlighted her season with a 31-yard run on a center-eligible play, had to prove herself worthy to her opponents as well. For the most part, she stood her ground, said Gould, but if a situation arose where she needed help, she turned to her teammates.

"I thought the guys would hassle me," Bain said. "I have two guards around me and if a guy says something to me, they hit him for me."

Bain, whose 9-year-old brother, Robert, played on the flyweight team, escaped the season without any major injuries. She said her 5-foot, 110-pound frame suffered only a few bruises and a minor knee ailment.

She decided to strap on the pads after she and about 10 friends spent a season as cheerleaders. Bain said they really didn't have as much fun as they expected and they all pledged to try out for the team this season.

Bain was the only one who followed through. According to Gould, several other girls have played on the line in the Suncoast Youth Football Conference in the past but most either quit or saw limited playing time. Bain's success has Gould expecting as many as four or five female players next year.

Bain said that next fall she wants to try out for the Dunedin High team. She actually wanted to this year, but missed the sign-up deadline, according to junior varsity coach Mark Nash.

If Bain follows through next fall, Nash said he would not have any problem with her playing. He has been coaching for 10 years and has never seen a girl play anything other than kicker in high school, but Nash wouldn't mind letting Bain become the first.

"It's kind of a tough situation," Nash said. "As a coach you are still faced with playing the best player and it would be the same for her."

Nash said his only real concerns are logistics. Bain would need to change in the girls locker room (which is inside the school, away from the stadium field house). He also said her weight might be a factor going against bigger players.

"Realistically, I would expect there to be some friction (with the boys) early, until they realize she is serious," Nash said. "I would expect them to show her the same respect."

Bain's season ended when the Junior Falcons lost in the playoffs, 13-0, to top-seeded Clearwater. The ending didn't diminish her enthusiasm.

"It's been a lot more fun than I expected," she said.

Gould echoed that sentiment. He said the biggest problem he faced was that by season's end some of her teammates were growing too emotionally attached to her. Now he looks forward to seeing her handle herself at the next level.

"I look forward to her proving them wrong next year," Gould said. "It's been a ton of fun."

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