Runey Calls for Change in High School Sports

Dighton-Rehoboth School Superintendent Bill Runey expressed his reservations about boys playing on girls teams at Tuesday’s school committee meeting.

“I feel like change absolutely has to happen,” Runey said. “I know when girls play against girls, injuries are going to happen. When boys play against boys, injuries are going to happen. I think the severity of the injuries when a boy gets the chance to play against girls, it’s too much of a risk for us not to try to determine a legal method for either restrictions on boys or to eliminate boys being able to play on girls teams.”

Earlier this month, a player for the Dighton-Rehoboth High School girls’ field hockey team sustained traumatic facial injuries when she was struck in the face by a shot in the third quarter versus Swampscott in an MIAA state playoff contest. The shot was taken by a male member of the Swampscott girls field hockey team.

Runey explained the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association handbook has a legal note explaining how the Massachusetts Equal Rights Amendment makes the participation of males on female teams legal.

“A male student was legally allowed to be on the field participating against our girls,” Runey added. “I have tremendous respect for females playing sports. I just think it’s an unfair advantage and a risk when boys are allowed to play against them.”