During a North Carolina high school volleyball competition, a transgender girl was captured on camera throwing a ball at an opponent and striking her in the head, resulting in a serious injury.
The female student-athlete at Hiwassee Dam High School suffered injuries to her head and neck, but the incident has had far-reaching effects on how the game is played in the state after word spread that the errant shot was taken by a biological man.
As a result of the event, the Cherokee County school board decided 5-1 to forfeit all matches between its schools’ women’s volleyball teams and Highlands School, for which the transgender woman played.
During a girls’ volleyball tournament last month, a biologically male Highlands High volleyball player struck another player in the head with the ball.
On the right, a transgender girl could be seen throwing a ball at her opponent and hitting her in the head.
The board appeared to skirt around the contentious issue of transgender athletes competing for teams whose sex they were not born into.
In fact, the board did not mention the sexual orientation of any players, instead citing safety concerns.
Due to safety concerns, the County will not participate in any varsity or junior varsity volleyball games against Highlands, according to the meeting minutes.
David Payne, the sports director from Hiwassee Dam High School, was present at the meeting and stated that “a statement must be made that it is unfair and dangerous” for teams to compete against Highlands.
The female Hiwassee Dam player, pictured on the left, slumped to the ground after being struck in the head.
The girl may be seen splayed across the court’s floor. She sustained severe head and neck injuries, as well as persistent concussion symptoms, including visual issues.
He added, however, that the athletes and parents engaged had “mixed feelings”
Vice Chair Jeff Martin added, “There is a competitive advantage and a safety risk for certain teams, but not for all teams.” I can assure you that the board was not actively seeking out this type of information. It was brought to our attention out of concern for our safety.
Jeff Tatham, a member of the board, stated, “After viewing the video of the injury, we felt very strongly that it was a safety risk.” I believe the majority of board members felt there was a competitive advantage concern.
Due to safety concerns, the county will not participate in any varsity or junior varsity volleyball games against Highlands, the board declared.
Her teammates raced to her rescue when a strong shot knocked her to the ground.
The game was stopped as team doctors rushed to the high school athlete’s side.
The female Hiwassee Dam player is still experiencing long-term concussion symptoms, including vision problems, and has not been cleared to play.
Males are significantly more effective than females at ‘attacking’ the ball towards the opponent’s side, according to a 2015 study of volleyball players.
Male anatomy also permits greater momentum and force during jump ball returns.
In recent months, the issue of transgender athletes competing in women’s sports has emerged as a contentious one, but the allowed parameters vary.
This year, Penn swimmer Lia Thomas, who began competing in women’s collegiate swimming a year after transitioning, brought the issue to the forefront.
This year, the issue was brought to the forefront by Penn swimmer Lia Thomas, who began competing in women’s collegiate swimming a year after transitioning.
Thomas broke several women’s records, much to the dismay of several of her teammates, and the NCAA and US Swimming bodies were criticized for allowing her to compete.
The NCAA requires one year of testosterone suppression treatment.
In USA Volleyball leagues, males’ testosterone levels must be within normal female reference ranges for at least six months.
Several states have even enacted legislation mandating that athletes compete in sports according on their biological gender.
Since then, the professional swimming association FINA has virtually banned trans women from competing in the sport on the grounds that they must have began their transition before puberty, which is unlawful or very impossible in the majority of the United States.
18 states had banned transgender students from participating in girls’ sports by the summer.
Ohio, for instance, approved a law requiring students accused of being transgender to submit a doctor’s note describing their sexual anatomy, testosterone levels, and genetic composition.
In New Jersey, Republican legislators have proposed the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, which would require female student-athletes to certify their genitalia in order to compete.
Sen. Michael Testa, the bill’s sponsor, compared genitalia checks to random drug tests administered to college athletes and said he did not foresee any issues with angry parents accusing girls of being transgender.