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Original poster

Teenage female hockey player loses teeth after being hit by shot from male opponent

34 replies

NotSoLittle · 06/11/2023 19:51

Report in the Telegraph:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/sports/hockey/massachusetts-high-school-hockey-female-teeth-male-opponent/

Apparently there's and equal rights amendment in Massachusetts that allows boys and girls at high-school level to participate in sport under the opposite gender [ie sex] if it is not made available to their own.

A female defender was hit full in the face with a shot off the stick of a male player, who was allowed to compete on a girls’ team on the basis that field hockey in Massachusetts is traditionally a female sport.

The injured girl's team captain, has written an impassioned letter to the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA), urging a rethink of state law around male involvement in female competitions.

The athletic director for the team the male was on, "confirmed that the player who had taken the shot was a male varsity student and co-captain but insisted that he had the “exact same right to participate as any player on the team.”"

The MIAA said in a statement: “We respect and understand the complexity and concerns that exist regarding student safety. However, student safety has not been a successful defence to excluding students of one gender from participating on the teams of the opposite gender. The arguments generally fail due to the lack of correlation between injuries and mixed-gender teams.”

The captain of the injured girl's team said: "...How much longer does the MIAA plan on using girls as statistical data points before they realise that boys do not belong in girls’ sports? Twenty injuries? One hundred? Death?.."

Teenage female hockey player loses teeth after being hit by shot from male opponent

An equal rights amendment in Massachusetts allows boys and girls to compete under opposite gender if the sport is unavailable to their own

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/sports/hockey/massachusetts-high-school-hockey-female-teeth-male-opponent

OP posts:
NeighbourhoodWatchPotholeDivision · 06/11/2023 20:42

Lavender14 · 06/11/2023 20:08

I am curious as to what protection the high school were providing to protect players. Did she have a mouth guard and face shield, I couldn't see from the article?

I'm not sure on this, I played hockey in school and some of the girls went on to play at a really high level, they were incredibly powerful on the pitch and I've seen similar injuries with all female players so in this instance I'd want to know what ppe was in place. I'm not sure this is a male specific problem. I know a girl had her skull smashed from a puck to the back of the head and broken teeth on other occasions. These are fairly common injuries for this type of game regardless of player which is why the protective equipment is so important. I'm not sure I see this as a male in female sport specific issue as I do an issue of making sure appropriate equipment is used and maintained correctly.

This chart may help. Check the power difference for the field hockey technique at the right end of the table.

We are fully aware that injuries happen in female-only sport, but the risk to female players is increased when sports are made mixed-sex.

Teenage female hockey player loses teeth after being hit by shot from male opponent
Froodwithatowel · 06/11/2023 20:29

It's a staggering equation to realise isn't it?

Male feelings matter to everyone so very much more than female injuries. Teeth knocked out? Whatevs. At least the one with the penis feels validated .

As he brushes her teeth out of his way.

Theeyeballsinthesky · 06/11/2023 20:12

Men don’t belong in women’s sport - there is no reason at all fir any man to be on a women’s team except their own personal validation

Lavender14 · 06/11/2023 20:08

I am curious as to what protection the high school were providing to protect players. Did she have a mouth guard and face shield, I couldn't see from the article?

I'm not sure on this, I played hockey in school and some of the girls went on to play at a really high level, they were incredibly powerful on the pitch and I've seen similar injuries with all female players so in this instance I'd want to know what ppe was in place. I'm not sure this is a male specific problem. I know a girl had her skull smashed from a puck to the back of the head and broken teeth on other occasions. These are fairly common injuries for this type of game regardless of player which is why the protective equipment is so important. I'm not sure I see this as a male in female sport specific issue as I do an issue of making sure appropriate equipment is used and maintained correctly.

Theeyeballsinthesky · 06/11/2023 20:01

DH is involved with umpiring in hockey. Many of the The umpires aren’t happy about TW on women’s teams and unclear about what why should do., they have been told that England hockey will issue guidance at some point late next year 🙄 no rush….

Original poster
NotSoLittle · 06/11/2023 19:59

It's mad. Leaving fairness aside, the scope for injuries is too great.

OP posts:
Original poster
NotSoLittle · 06/11/2023 19:57

archived at:
archive dot ph

(in case MN remove archive links)

OP posts:
Original poster
NotSoLittle · 06/11/2023 19:55

The girl needed hospital treatment.
This quote really stood out for me: "...How much longer does the MIAA plan on using girls as statistical data points before they realise that boys do not belong in girls’ sports? Twenty injuries? One hundred? Death?.."
Drives home the point that feelings (especially male feelings) are so much more important than things like safety and fairness...

OP posts: