Shauna Brown, during her playing days with the Harlequins, says she would have dropped more if she had played a smaller ball. GETTY/Steve Bardens “If women don't kick, defense can dominate”
Not everyone agrees. Gary Street, the England manager who won the 2014 FIFA World Cup, tested a size 4 rugby ball for female players nearly two decades ago.
The results were pretty convincing: size 4 was almost impossible to beat . kick from the sideline. Street believes women's football's next challenge will be to improve kicking tactics.
“Women's rugby is a bit like the good old days when we watched Baa-Baas play, it's the purity of the sport.” Street said. “We don't have to be like men. Kick tennis tires me to death. However, the threat of kicking will continue to develop the game. If you're not going to hit, the defense can always dominate.”
This view is shared by Cathy Daley-McLean, a former England midfielder and assistant manager at the Sale Sharks, who is strongly opposed to the idea of a smaller ball as it could worsen her kicking.
“Over the next five to ten years, the quality of kicks, as well as the number of women hitting the ball, will change a lot,” says Daly-McLean. “I'm happy with its size – I don't think it needs to be changed – but it's one of those arguments that people will always have.”
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