University of Oregon
ACHA M1 • NULL
Date: July 24, 2026
Would Recommend
Tags
Players were repeatedly singled out in ways that left them feeling humiliated, isolated, and excluded from the team environment. Throughout my time on the team, I felt consistently discouraged rather than supported. I was told I would have opportunities to play, but I never felt I was given a fair chance to earn meaningful playing time. In my experience, certain players appeared to receive significantly more attention, encouragement, and development opportunities than others. I also observed what I believed to be inconsistent enforcement of team standards. For example, the required fitness test did not seem to be applied equally to every player. Some athletes who had not met the requirement were still allowed to play, while others who had met expectations were not given the same opportunities. This created the impression that effort and consistency were not the primary factors in playing time. The overall team culture became emotionally difficult for many players, and I felt there was insufficient support when concerns about fairness and inclusion arose. As a result, some athletes did not feel respected, valued, or psychologically safe within the program. The coach often spoke about fairness and equal opportunity, but in my experience, those principles were not reflected in her actions. Decisions regarding leadership roles and playing time often felt predetermined, leaving many players feeling they were never given a genuine opportunity to earn their place. I also found the coaching style to be more critical than constructive. Rather than receiving guidance on how to improve, I often felt criticized without meaningful feedback. The overall environment negatively affected my confidence and motivation. From my perspective, there was little emphasis on player well-being or creating an inclusive, supportive team culture. As a woman athlete, I found the environment to be discouraging rather than empowering. Based on my experience, I believe the program would benefit from a stronger commitment to equitable treatment, respectful communication, and creating an environment where every athlete feels supported and included. If you are looking for a program that prioritizes fairness, player development, constructive coaching, and a positive team culture, my experience did not reflect those values.