Girls in Football : IT ISN’T WORKING OUT : They worry about broken bones more than broken fingernails, not to mention coaches and players with chips on their shoulders. : Freshman at Royal Learns Her Football the Hard Way

While more girls have tried out for football teams in recent years than ever before, they are still not readily accepted by other players.

Amy Martin, a member of the Royal High freshman team this season, was not made to feel welcome any more than Cyndi Bays, who played for the Royal sophomore team in 1984.

“Everyone really wants to pound her,” linebacker Brett Myers said of Martin. “Nobody really wants her on the team--I guess because she’s a girl.”

Said Martin: “They say football is a boy’s sport. I didn’t go out for it because I wanted to prove myself. I went out for football because I wanted to play. I just want people to understand that.”

What should be clear to Martin is that at 5-4, 102 pounds, proving herself will be difficult.

Defensive coordinator Richard Fuentes, who coaches the 15-year-old defensive tackle, said he is not sure why Martin joined the team. He said her lack of aggressiveness was the cause of an early-season injury. When she tried to avoid contact during a hitting drill, Fuentes said, Martin fractured her left arm.

“If you shy away from the hit you’re going to get hurt,” Fuentes said. “Some days she’s out here for attention. Some days she’s out here to learn. The teaching is there. It’s up to her to accept it.”

Coach Tom Sullivan refused to talk about Martin, looking at Fuentes and saying: “You handle it, coach. I don’t have anything to say.”

Martin said she has had trouble adjusting to her role with the football fraternity.

“The guys are always saying, ‘Get that make-up off,’ ” Martin said. “On the field, they expect me to be one of the guys.”

What advice did Bays have for future female football players?

“If they’re going to play football, they’d better stick through it all the way,” she said.