Just let the girls play, man
Once upon a time, in a magical place called Pasadena, a 13-year-old had a desire for football. This teenager had amazing hand-eye coordination and, once during a game, the teenager intercepted the ball and scored the winning touchdown. This heroic football player, despite what you may assume, is not a boy. She is, in fact, a girl.
Ella Wood helped the Sequoyah School football team this past fall have an undefeated season with a 8-0 record. However, what would a “fairytale” be without an evil villain? Although the team was undefeated, the Foothill Sports League deemed every game a forfeit because the team had a girl playing.
So let’s make this clear, Foothill Sports League: The player who is a key component to the team’s perfect record is the reason why it should forfeit? Even if she wasn’t a key player, she should still play. I’m sorry I thought this was 2013, not 1913.
Although it is nice to know that her teammates, their parents, and her coach were supportive of her — We all know how sports parents and coaches can be. At soccer games, I could hear my dad yell at me from his folding chair on the sidelines — it is still shocking that the league won’t let her play.
According to an article in the Los Angeles Times, the league has created a girls team for the spring but, as of now, only two have signed up. If enough girls don’t sign up, the team will fall apart. The league put the school on probation and will vote whether or not the team will be able to play again in the fall.
As one of Title IX’s biggest supporters, I would have understood if the league created a girls team for funding. However, that isn’t the case here. In the article, the president of the league Jorge Avila said, “ The league has decided to stay with the status quo, as we offer all genders the opportunity to play basketball, volleyball and flag football.”
But what if the girls’ team doesn’t get enough players? What are you going to do then Avila? Deny a girl, who lives in a country where there are co-ed P.E. classes, to play on a team with boys?
Growing up, I played soccer for six years and ran cross-country and track and field in high school — which was co-ed, by the way. From my participation in those activities, I learned teamwork, tolerance, patience and how to live a healthy lifestyle. Although I don’t play soccer or run cross country with a team anymore, those skills I learned have undoubtedly helped me become a leader and work well with others within the activities I participate in today.
It’s criminal that girls are discriminated against in sports. No girl should be denied the skills I have learned from playing sports.
I wish I could say that Wood lived happily ever after playing football for her team, but until society stops being unreasonable, this story will never have a happy ending.
