Extract from Kicking a Goal for Masculinity: In today’s fast moving society, there are many confusing and mixed messages about how to be a “real man.” This is magnified in sport, be it played at school, community or national level. Many pressures cause some men to conform to unhealthy models of masculinity. This is heightened amongst sportsmen, especially in the contact sports.

Such pressures ask men to override their wise inner voice—as this becomes habitual—some essential part of their humanity dies. This can also be a precursor to later emotional and psychological disturbances, even physical illness.
Ironically, whilst the unspoken rules for sportsmen require them to constantly prove and reprove their manliness on and off the field, many of the off-field activities find them behaving like boys rather than men. This is especially evident in attitudes and activities concerning women and drinking; indeed it is often called “the boy’s club.”
Admittedly modern professional sportsmen are under great pressures; today it’s a demanding full time career. While acknowledging the benefits of some pressure-releasing activities and important off-field bonding, let’s encourage players to choose activities that don’t harm their health, or hurt or demean others. While we are at it, once and for all, let’s also debunk the myth that big drinking equals big men.