Massachusetts High School Hockey Incident Sparks Debate Over Boys Participation in Girls' Sports

High school players and superintendent call for review of Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association rules after a female hockey player suffered significant facial injuries from a shot made by a male athlete competing on a girls' team.

A high school in Massachusetts has come under scrutiny after a female hockey player received significant facial injuries from a shot made by a male athlete competing on a girls' team. The incident shines a light on the state's equal rights amendment allowing boys and girls to participate in sports under the opposite gender if they're not available to their own.
The incident occurred during a play-off game when a female defender for Dighton-Rehoboth High School was hit full in the face by a shot from a male player for Swampscott, causing her to lose two teeth and require hospital treatment.
Kelsey Bain, the team’s captain, has called for the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) to reassess the law around male involvement in female competitions, stressing the emotional and physical toll the incident had on the team and the potential danger it posed for future games.
Despite the outcry, the MIAA maintains its stance that the law, which bans sex-based discrimination and has been extended to scholastic sports since 1979, allows for boys to participate in girls' teams if a boys' equivalent is not available. They argue that there is no strong correlation between injuries and mixed-gender teams.
School Superintendent Bill Runey also voiced concerns over the safety implications of the current rules and regulations, suggesting that changes to the protective headgear might be necessary while highlighting the need for a middle ground that respects both gender equality and safety.
In light of the incident, Bain proposed the creation of a seven versus seven boys league to offer more sport opportunities for boys without endangering female athletes in mixed-gender teams.