Sunday, September 19, 2010

Boys in girls sports

The Post-Gazette's Mike White has an interesting piece on boys playing girls sports. It centers on the Greensburg Central Catholic girls field hockey team, which features five boys.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10262/1088700-364.stm

Boys playing girls sports is nothing new. The Washington girls volleyball team has a boys player and there have been the occasional occurrence in other sports. I can also think of a couple boys playing girls tennis over the years.

In most cases, I never felt the boy gave the girls team an added advantage. In the PG story, it's clear the GCC field hockey team has one.

7 comments:

Clairton Alum said...

This is absolutely ridiculous. if they dont have enough girls to field a team then i guess GCC shouldnt have a girls field hockey team. You cannot tell me there is not a significant advantage to putting 5 guys on the field against a team full of girls. I understand there are no rules against this, but how can this be legal/ethical? GCC should be embarrassed of themselves.

Clairton Alum said...

On second thought, I think this is fine. What I think should happen next, however, is Shady Side Academy on 9/23 should dress their entire football team in field hockey uniforms, go out there, and LAY THESE BOYS OUT ON THEIR A$$ES. Turn about is fair play.

Anonymous said...

I believe that there is an unfair advantage if a girls team fields a team with boys on it. I understand the rules that stipulate that a boy/girl can play on the opposite sex's team if there is not one available at their particular school. But let's face it, boy and girl athletes are built different. I feel that if the boys want to participate on the girls' team then they should have to wear the "required uniform". How many boys would play field hockey if they had to wear the skirt or play volleyball if they had to wear the official volleyball shorts issued to the girls? I don't think it should be permitted, or at least limit the number of boys that can be on the girls team. One final thought, what do they do about the pre-game and post-game locker room situation?

Anonymous said...

This is what happens when Government gets involved in anything!!

Anonymous said...

If the girls always preach equality than this is what they get. It's the same as if a girl was to play a guys sport. Let the boys play on the girls team, if the girls want to play on the boys team. That is the definition of equality.

Clairton Alum said...

Anon, you obviously dont have a daughter. Listen, I understand the equality thing, and if a girl wants to be a kicker for a football team then so be it, that is her decision. But I'm sorry, this issue doesnt work both ways. When a girl signs up to play football or any other sport like that with guys she knows what she is signing up for, that is her choice. However, when boys/guys start playing girls sports, those girls didnt sign up for that. I was particularly disgusted by the picture of #48 (Don Antonucci) bowling over a small female goalie for Vincentian. These guys are hockey players, lacrosse players, etc. They have NO BUSINESS playing on that field with these girls, none...and I made my feelings known about this issue to the GCC principal and their administration. I hope an opposing team dresses their offensive line in field hockey uniforms and teaches these boys and this team a lesson.

whs volleyball player said...

I think that it's fair. I can see why opponents would complain, but if they had a boy that was good enough to play with them would they still be complaining? Probably not.

p.s. Nick Cumer owns:)