A girls’ basketball team in Massachusetts made headlines by abandoning a game because of the participation of a transgender athlete on the opposing team. The forfeit occurred during halftime, with the scoreboard showing a 10-0 lead for the opposing team. The incident has since sparked debates and discussions over inclusivity and fairness in sports.
Collegiate Charter spokesperson Casey Crane wrote in a statement, “On February 8, the coach of the Collegiate Charter School of Lowell Girls’ Basketball Team decided to end a game at halftime after watching a third player injured in the game with KIPP Academy.” The individual who injured three of KIPP’s players was biologically male but identified as a female.
According to Fox News Digital, the player was 6 feet tall and had facial hair. Officials from Collegiate Charter School stated that the team opted to forfeit because the other players were concerned about getting injured. As a result, the team could potentially miss the playoffs, which were just a few days away.
“The bench was already depleted going into the game with the 12-player roster having four players unable to play,” the School’s spokesperson Casey Crane stated. “When the coach saw three more go down in the first half, leaving him with five players, he made the call to end the game early. The upcoming Charter School playoffs were looming, and he needed a healthy and robust bench in four days,” she added.
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Crane wrote, “Once the third was injured, the remaining five expressed concern to him about continuing to play. The players feared getting injured and unable to compete in the playoffs.”
“In an effort to maintain safety for his team, he decided to forfeit. The Charter School supports this decision and reiterates its values of both inclusivity and safety for all students. We take the standards set by the MIAA and our Board of Trustees seriously and strive to uphold them on and off the court. We also follow the guidance from the MIAA and state laws regarding equity and access for all student-athletes,” explained the School’s spokesperson.
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A video from the game showed the shocking moment where the taller, bulkier transgender player forcefully ripped the ball from another player’s arms, causing her to fall. The player from Collegiate Charter could be seen struggling to move and visibly writhing in pain.
The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) guidelines address gender identity in sports teams, highlighting the principles of inclusivity and fairness. Section 43.3.1 states, “A student shall not be excluded from participation on a gender-specific sports team that is consistent with the student’s bona fide gender identity.”
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The handbook specified that a student cannot be listed on a team roster to gain an unfair advantage. “It is a recommended best practice that schools communicate with their opponents as necessary about the gender-specific needs of their team to promote inclusion,” said the handbook.
KIPP Academy Massachusetts executive director Rhonda Barnes spoke to Fox News Digital. According to her, the academy’s goal is to allow every child to be accessible to create the future they want.
He emphasized that every student had the right to participate in all sports based on their gender identity or expression. “We condemn harmful comments being made online toward members of our community and will continue to let our organization’s vision, mission, and principles guide our actions.”
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