Tammy Ryan can deal with the aches and pains because of her love for the game.

Ryan is one woman who has taken up the male dominated sport of football.

While it’s still seen as a male sport, Ryan and other women who enjoy football are now getting the opportunity to take the field. Ryan will suit up for the Kentucky Valkyries this year, a women’s football team that will play in Russellville this year as part of the Women’s Professional Football League. Although the regular season doesn’t begin until August, the squad has already begun practice.

&#8220Growing up, I played all other sports and wanted to play football,” said Ryan, who grew up in Russellville and now lives in Bowling Green. &#8220But it was told to me that ‘Girls don’t play football.’ So when the opportunity came up, I went right out for it.”

Ryan, who plays on the Valkyries’ offensive line, actually did have an opportunity to play football before, but found it in Germany. While in Germany because her then-husband was stationed there, Ryan played for the Bamburg Lady Bears.

But that was back in the early 1990s Š when Ryan was in her 20s. Now Ryan will turn 38 this month and the game is just a little different for her now.

&#8220Yeah, when I get home, it takes me a day or so to recuperate,” Ryan joked. &#8220The aches and pains seem to be worse now. But they’re worth it because I get the opportunity to play.”

Ryan had a long layoff from the game before her career resumed last year with the Kentucky Force and current Valkyries coach Thomas O’Boyle.

With no opportunities to play football, Ryan spent plenty of time coaching various Little League and high school athletics teams.

But it still didn’t compare to being out on the field.

O’Boyle said there’s plenty of women who are like Ryan and want the opportunity to play football. But many also assume the stereotypes of football are true.

Some think they can’t play because they are too small.

&#8220Plenty want to play, but they assume they aren’t big enough,” O’Boyle said. &#8220You have to explain to them that if they’re 120 or 140 pounds, they’re going to play running back or wide receiver – not on the line.”

Or as Ryan said, &#8220There are teeny, tiny girls to one up. It’s just like regular football. There was one player who was only 100 pounds and never had played. I hit her and knocked her to the ground. But she ended up being one of the best players because it’s all about your heart.”

The rules in the WPFL are also the same. It’s typical 11-on-11 football that most people are used to seeing. The WPFL has 15 teams across the country.

While some of the players have experience with the game, others need some coaching on the intricacies of football and that’s part of what practice has included three months before the season starts.

&#8220We do a lot of physical training and teaching now,” Ryan said. &#8220Because a lot of them don’t know a whole lot about football since they never played. But since the opportunity is there now and they were told before that they can’t play, they want to play now.”