Q & A: SHERI ROSS

Sheri Ross has been teaching for 26 years, all but one at El Toro High. As girls’ athletic director at El Toro, Ross is a member and past president of the Orange County Athletic Directors and the California State Athletic Directors associations. She also is a representative to the Amateur Athletic Assn. and has served on the Southern Section executive committee. Ross has been at the forefront of the rise of girls’ athletics.

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Q: If you were to give a grade to girls’ athletics at the high-school level in the county, what would it receive?

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A: I’d give us a C-plus, a B-minus even. We’ve come a long way. I think [girls’ athletics] is making strides, like girls’ water polo, which has been a wonderful success. I think [CIF] is putting off establishing any new girls’ programs because of finances, and that might be hurting us because girls’ golf is ready to take off. I would hate to see any female sports be nixed because of financial problems.

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Q: Do girls’ athletics programs still have a ways to go to catch up with the boys’ programs?

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A: I’m not so sure we want to be exactly like the guys. We’re a separate entity, but we still have some catching up to do. The girls have started to stand by themselves and I think they can continue to do that. I would just like to see us continue to add new sports, get some more girls out there, see more coaches and continue to have female ADs. I think all of those things would help us catch up. When I went to school, I was not taught to be a coach but a teacher. There are some girls that are coming out of college that have been through the playing ranks and have become natural coaches. And that’s what we need more of. We don’t have that now. When I have a coach opening, I do everything in my power to try to find a female. And sometimes it’s not easy.

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Q: How has girls’ sports changed since you started coaching 26 years ago?

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A: Well, we’ve added more sports. But unfortunately we have lost a few too. I understand field hockey is making a comeback. I don’t know if that’s going to be making a comeback [at El Toro], but we lost field hockey. At this school, we lost gymnastics and badminton. And I’m sorry I didn’t fight more to keep badminton. I kind of understand about gymnastics because of the liability problem.

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Q: Do girls’ athletics receive enough respect from those in power?

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A: That’s really hard to answer because I think there are still a few people out there that are from the Good Ol’ Boys era. But I think the girls themselves are showing that they are fine athletes and they can be coached and learn. Scholarship availability is becoming greater and the girls are starting to get more respect. But those from the Good Ol’ Boys era, you’ll never get respect from them. But overall, yes. I think there is respect.

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Q: What is your opinion regarding gender when schools such as UCLA have eliminated programs to provide more balance between men’s and women’s sports. Could that happen at the high-school level?

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A: I hope not. And despite all my education in women’s liberation, I don’t want to see men’s programs eliminated on the basis of having a women’s program. But yet, at the same time, I don’t want to see a girls’ program to be nonexistent because of putting so much money into a male program. When there is an overbalance, a real tip in the scales, I guess [gender equity] is necessary. I don’t like to see that happen. I don’t want to take opportunities away from guys. I would just like to see everyone have an opportunity. That’s what gender equity is to me. We just want the girls to have the same type of opportunities the guys have.

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Q: Are there more girls going out for sports now than in previous years?

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A: We’re seeing more. At El Toro, there are more girls in volleyball and softball. In track and field we’re up in the hundreds. We’re in the 60s and 70s in cross-country. In swimming we’re in the 50s and 60s. So we have a lot of interest. And a lot of it has to do with the coach. Usually these coaches are good at morale building and good at publicity and getting the kids out there. And then when you have success, that’s going to draw the girls.

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Q: If you could get one sport added to the Southern Section roster in girls’ athletics, what would it be?

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A: Golf. I would like to see that happen. And I think it’s real close. It’s a popular women’s sport, and I think we have enough [schools] to do that.