A high school girls’ field hockey team in Massachusetts has chosen to forfeit a match to avoid competing against a team that includes a biological male player. This decision by Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High School follows a 2023 incident where a female player lost teeth after being struck by a shot from a male player on an opposing team.
In a press release, Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School District Superintendent Bill Runey explained that the decision was made by the team’s coaches and captains, citing safety concerns, as reported by the Daily Mail.
The district’s school board had previously approved a policy in June allowing players or coaches to opt out of competitions against teams that include members of the opposite sex.
“Our field hockey coaches and captains made this decision, and we notified our opponent accordingly. The district supports this decision, as there are times when safety must take precedence over victory,” Runey said. He acknowledged the forfeit could hurt their chances of winning a league championship or qualifying for the playoffs but expressed hope that other schools would follow suit to prioritize safety and fair competition for female athletes.
According to the Boston Globe, Somerset Berkley, a school with a male player on its current team, won Division 1 titles in 2018 and 2019 with two male players. Dighton-Rehoboth Athletic Director Matthew McKinnon confirmed that the team also plans to forfeit its game against Somerset Berkley scheduled for October 8.
In November 2023, during a state playoff game against Swampscott High School, Dighton-Rehoboth faced a male player, Sawyer Groothuis, who struck a shot that injured a female player, causing serious facial and dental injuries. The player required hospitalization following the incident.
The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) states in its handbook that schools offering a single team in a sport cannot restrict eligibility based on gender, except to comply with Title IX requirements.
