A female in Massachusetts suffered severe facial injuries after a male opponent stuck her with the field hockey ball during a playoff game last week.
The incident occurred during a match between Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High School and Swampscott High School. Video of the incident was shared on social media and has since sparked significant backlash against the state’s policy which allows males to compete against females.
In the video, the male played for Swampscott, who is seen wearing the number 2 jersey, prepared to hit the ball into the net, but rather struck his female opponent in the face, knocking out two of her front teeth and causing significant injuries. The surrounding female players on the field can be seen looking on in horror and shock, while the injured player screams in agony.
Dighton Rehoboth’s Superintendent, Bill Runey, explained in a letter to parents obtained by WCVB, “Last night, a female field hockey player for the Dighton Rehoboth Regional High School girls’ field hockey team sustained significant facial and dental injuries when she was struck in the face by a shot in the third quarter versus Swampscott in an MIAA state playoff contest.” Runey said that the “shot was taken by a male member of the Swampscott girls’ field hockey team.”
“This injury required hospitalization. The player, her family, teammates, and coaches remain in my prayers,” the letter added.
In a statement to WCVB, Runey also called for action from the state, and asked the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) to “facilitate some conversations to have some middle ground in terms of player safety.”
The MIAA states that “no student shall be denied in any implied or explicit manner the opportunity to participate in any interscholastic activity because of gender.” If a school offers a girls’ and boys’ team for a particular sport, administrators could bar a male student from competing on the female team; however, if there is a “single team” for a sport, such as field hockey, the school is required to allow either sex to compete on the team, in compliance with Title IX.
“For any male athlete that’s participating in a female sport, there are zero restrictions,” he said, adding “Seeing the horror in the eyes of our players and coaches upon greeting their bus last night is evidence to me that there has to be a renewed approach by the MIAA to protect the safety of our athletes.”
“While I understand that the MIAA has guidelines in place for co-ed participation under section 43 of their handbook, this incident dramatically magnifies the concerns of many about player safety,” Runey wrote.
