Boys playing with Girls

The following story highlights one of the tricky issues associated with gender equity and the problems that can arise when someone tries to rock the boat--the others in the boat fight back.

Times Herald-Record November 07, 2007

Pine Bush — Before the first serve sails over the net today at SUNY New Paltz, before the first spike hits the floor, controversy will overshadow the start of Pine Bush's quest for a state volleyball title. The six-time Section 9 champs will file a protest with the match officials before taking the court against Section 4 (Binghamton area) champ Horseheads in a Class AA opening-round match at 5:45 p.m.
The reason?
His name is Kyle Ray.
He's a 5-foot-8, 140 pound junior, and the starting setter for Horseheads' volleyball team.
And even though state regulations allow him to take the court, Pine Bush is crying foul.
"It's just not fair," said senior setter Kourtney Clark.
"I don't think that boys should be playing girls' volleyball," said coach Lori Kachelmeyer. "They're stronger, they're faster, they can jump higher and they're just physically more advanced than women are. That's just the way it is, and I'm a woman."
Horseheads insists it is merely abiding by state rules, as well as the precedent set by Title IX, which requires equal athletic opportunities for both genders.
"We followed every step that the state required," said athletic director Mike Johnston. "We hid nothing. I don't know what else we're supposed to do."
Horseheads coach Patti Perone said it's a no-win situation.
"If you don't (let a boy play), you're going to get sued. If you do, you're going to be ridiculed," Perone said.
Since Horseheads doesn't have a boys' volleyball team, Ray has the right to play on the girls' team, according to the rules on mixed competition set by the state Education Department.
The regulations also mandate that Ray had to take a fitness test before trying out to prove that he wouldn't have an unfair physical advantage. The test was administered by a panel that included Horseheads High principal Jim Abrams, Johnston, a school physician and a physical education teacher. They cleared him to play.


The story went on from there. I am of the opinion that if we let women play in men's sports then we should allow men to play in women's sport as long as we cap the number for both gender. That means that we can have two or three women on men's team and the same number of men on women's teams. If you do not put a limit, what is there to prevent the women's volleyball team from being an all male team?
Gil-