Boy Field Hockey Star Wins Appeal to Play on Girl’s Team
Thirteen-year-old Keeling Pilaro scored a huge goal Tuesday night, May 15, when he won the right to play on the South Hampton High School girl's varsity field hockey squad in Suffolk County, Long Island. "I was jumping up and down; I was so excited when I heard," the boy told the Associated Press after the decision was announced by an attorney for the athletics committee. "I can play!"
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The teen grew up playing field hockey in Ireland where it's a popular for boys and men. In the United States, the sport is played almost exclusively played by females, although there is a men's national team.
In late April, Pilaro was banned from particpating in the fall 2012 season because school officials determined he was too dominant a player. His mother, Fairley Pilaro argued to 1010 WINS, "He is not a physical dominating presence on the field by any stretch. In fact, he's far below the girl's varsity height and weight." The youngster is 4-foot-8 and weights 82 pounds. He is the team's leading scorer.
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Pilaro's attorney appealed the decision to Suffolk County's mixed-competition committee, which evaluates players who want to compete on teams of the opposite sex. Fox News reports that a number of girls have been allowed to play on boy's sports such as football, but Keeling is the first boy to play on a girl's team.
According to the committee's handbook, "The purpose of the Mixed Competition Committee is to determine on an individual basis whether or not participation by a particular male student on a sport team organized for females in a district would 'have a significant adverse effect upon the opportunity of females to participate successfully in interschool competition in that sport.' "
Last week, Chris Clements, the national men's coach for USA Field Hockey, told AP he believed the committee should allow Pilaro to play. "Maybe by the time he gets to be a senior, it could be argued that there is a difference, but I would say right now he fits in just fine."
Pilaro's attorney said he was considering filing a federal civil rights lawsuit if they had not won the appeal.
What do you think? Should boys be allowed to play on girl's teams? Please let us know in the comments below.
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