• The Daily Coach
  • Posts
  • 'Play Like a Girl': Sarah Fuller Means More Than Just Football

'Play Like a Girl': Sarah Fuller Means More Than Just Football

Fuller’s message before and after the game was simple: “Play like a girl.”

December 03, 2020

Last weekend, Sarah Fuller, a senior from the SEC champion Vanderbilt women’s soccer team, made history. She kicked off in a football game, becoming the first woman ever to take the field in an NCAA Power 5 conference game.

Fans and celebrities like Sue Bird, LeBron James, Hope Solo, Billie Jean King and Dak Prescott tuned in and offered their support across social media.

Fuller’s message before and after the game was simple: “Play like a girl.” It was written on the back of her helmet and on the COVID-19 masks of her parents in hopes of inspiring the next generation of young women.

“It’s just so exciting that I can represent the little girls out there who wanted to do this or thought about playing football or any sport, really,” Fuller said.

Representation is vital. Seeing is believing. If young women can look on their screen and see someone who is like them succeeding in a sport they were told to never imagine playing, it can inspire them to achieve even greater feats.

Fuller did not simply stop at making history. She went a step further and brought some senior leadership to the moment.

At halftime, Fuller gave a speech encouraging her new teammates to be more enthusiastic on the sidelines. She explained that cheering and passion would only help foster momentum that the team desperately needed being down 21-0. After this speech, Fuller said, “I had coaches come up to me and say 'I’ve been wanting to say that for a while now.’”

There are so many important takeaways from Fuller’s historic moment:

  1. Be brave. Your courage has the power to inspire a generation

  2. Visibility is essential. Ability does not discriminate.

  3. Do not let others put you in a box. Expectations are meant to be challenged.

  4. Fear can hinder success. Don’t let your fears stop you from speaking up and leading when you know it is the right thing to do.

While Fuller participated in just the one kickoff last weekend, she truly left an indelible mark on the Vanderbilt program and the entire sport of college football.

And who knows? She might even get a chance to score some points this weekend when her team plays No. 9 Georgia.

Please forward and share this email with your friends and family.