First-ever female QB takes snap in minor football
First for minor football program in Prince Albert, Sask.
CBC News
Posted: Oct 10, 2012 5:45 PM CST
Last Updated: Oct 10, 2012 7:22 PM CST
Prince Albert's minor football league is making history with the first-ever female taking up the position of quarter-back.
Miranda Bellisle,11, is playing quarterback for the River Riders, a pee-wee team for youngsters aged 10 to 12.
"It's a fun position," Bellisle told CBC News during a break in some practice scrimmages. "Except: if you screw up, the coaches get mad at you the most."
Bellisle's performance as quarterback has impressed head coach Wendell Whitter.
"In fact I daresay she's probably one of my best athletes," Whitter said. "I've had a number of girls who have played for us, they tend to want to be in the non-contact positions. [Bellisle] was totally opposite. If she wasn't doing the rough stuff, she was upset."
Bellisle was introduced to the game during the league's spring play and quickly set her sight's on the quarterback position, at the centre of the action.
"Playing with guys I would say is funner because they hit harder and are bigger wusses," she said, with a chuckle.
Whitter notes Bellisle has not only excelled at the position but has won the respect of her teammates.
"I don't find it weird," Landon Borowsky, 12, a linebacker for the team, said. "It's just normal"
Jack Bellefontaine, 11, a wide-receiver, said Bellisle is also good at leading the team.
"She knows all the plays," he said. "So if someone has trouble, we just ask her and she explains it pretty good."
"I hate to use the phrase 'she's one of the guys' but she's just one of the guys," Whitter added. "Yeah she gets dressed in a different dressing room, but on the field they're all the same."
Bellisle said she is keen to continue playing football and may try out for other positions, possibly on the defence.
She is also considering playing on a high school team when she's older.
With files from CBC's Ryan PilonShare Tools
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