OFSAA Makes Changes to Gender Equity Policy

Remember the name Justine Blainey?

She made headlines in 1985 when she won the right to play on a boys' minor hockey team. Something like three years of legal action, Blainey did reach her goal of playing on a team with boys. She didn't last too long but, as she said repeatedly, her goal was to help other female athletes play at the highest level possible.

And how about Mandy Clayton, a former student at The Woodlands School in Mississauga who wanted a chance to wrestle - even if it meant against boys. Back when she was in school in the 1980s, there were only boys wrestling teams.

I remember writing several stories about her bid to compete - and she was serious about the sport and not just to get close to the opposite sex. But pushing aside numerous appeals, including an investigation by the Ontario Human Rights Commission that eventually ruled in her favour, she was still barred from wrestling for her school.

The board ruled then that "wrestling is not an activity normally engaged by girls".

Her actions eventually forced one of largest public school boards in Canada to provide equal access to athletics for boys and girls. Now, there are wrestling programs for both boys and girls. I can remember debating the issue with the late Andy Gibson and Colin Hood, now retired in Victoria, B.C. - both former executive directors at the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations. Even when we disagreed, we shook hands.

It has taken some time, and pushing, but OFSAA has recently made a sweeping change to one of its policies - the one that had girls only playing on girls teams.

In the past, teenage females were only allowed to play on boys teams when a girls team did not exist. But now, if girls are successful when trying out for a boys team, they can participate even if there is a girls team at the school.

By the way, this has been happening in several school leagues in recent years.

Comments

[Lina]

Good for the Waterloo girl. This must have broken the hearts of OFSAA. It's time that organization wakes up to the real world.

[Albert D.]

I can hardly wait to see when the boys start wanting to play on the girls high school rugby team.

[Mitchell]

I knew it would just be a matter of time until something like this showed up.
All this equity nonsense and political correctness is making me sick to my stomach.

[Derek The Coach]

Does OFSAA not get it.
I have been a high school coach and the things I hear about OFSAA drive me up a wall.
So they don`t like it.
That`s just too damn bad.
When a Human Rights Tribunal in Ontario makes a call, I would go with it and not ask questions.

[Mr. Robinson]

I have seen girls on boys teams for years. You once wrote a story about a girl playing football at Newtonbrook and that got my daughter interested in sports or who knows what she would have done with her time. You also had a story about a girl playing on a baseball team and one on a soccer team. So what`s all the fuss with these schools and why is OFSSA being so out of touch with reality.

[Richard]

I do think it is important that you explain that the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal was about to blow OFSAA out of the water on this and they had no choice but to do what was right and not what OFSAA always thinks is right but turns out to be wrong.

[Pepper]

As a teacher and coach who has no respect for OFSAA whatsover, it's actually quite nice to see them taste a bit of their own medicine. They have been jabbing far too many people with their ridiculous excuse for leadership. Thanks to your paper and others in the media for raising this but you make it seem like OFSAA is taking the initiative when that group was told to make the changes or prepare for a possible visit to the authorities.

[J. MacKay]

Hey Grossman, you're in big trouble now. OFSSAA doesn't like it when you produce items that make them look anything but perfect. Even telling the truth is no good because they want to come across as an organization of angels. On this matter, it's none of their business if a female student who has the backing of her family and school wants to play sports with boys. OFSSA needs to do what's right. They have made so many errors that maybe it is time to focus on corrective matters.

[Toronto School Coach]

OFSAA. Say no more.

[Mr. L.B. Wilson]

I am a retired lawyer and may be looked at as a guy with opinions from ancient time. On one hand, I am not so sure this gender equity move is a good one. Girls should play on girls teams and boys on boys. That's the way it has always been.
But in this new world, I do think that girls and boys have a right to decide and especially if their parents and schools also agree.
From what I read about this on the Internet, the OFSAA organization still thinks they're right and their boss Douglas Gellatly said OFSAA was forced to make the change.
If he's worth anything, he should have seen this coming long ago and if he didn't make the move his organization would be paying big bucks fighting and losing this in the legal courts.
Get this guy trained or get someone who can make the right moves.

[Sheldon]

Isn't there a gender equity problem when girls are allowed to play on boys teams and boys are denied from playing on girls teams?

[Coach]

Great topic. I know of a girl playing on a baseball team, another girl on a water polo team and a girl playing on a soccer team. If these girls are good enough to make these teams then why prevent that from happening? Is it better for them to play strictly on girls teams and make others look inferior. We have some ridiculous thinking going on in athletic associations. Smarten up guys and gals.

[Jones]

Come on, let's get serious.
Gender equity.
Will there also be a competition for gay people too?

[Mr. Abrams]

Reading all the replies and your blog and also checking the web for more, I find it very interesting that OFSSAA caved in. They always like to think they're right. But maybe they saw the writing on the wall and knew they couldn't get away with this anymore. What is surprising is that OFSSAA then goes on to clearly say it's not in favour and yet still went ahead with it.

[Mr. Blake]

I hope I understand this right. Ontario says its not about developing elite athletes. Then why do some schools have elite athlete programs. Who is playing who for a farce?

[Rob]

Heard that guy Gellatly on the radio and he sounds like one pissed off guy who sees things his way only and not to keen at being told to do things the politically correct way.
Good for the girls who want to try out. I am not saying that's right or wrong but nothing wrong with an opportunity. Where would Hailey Wickenhiser be if she didn't gan a chance to play hockey with the guys.
I also don't accept the argument that a girl would deprive a guy a spot on a team. Most of those guys who don't get to play much anyway.

[Mr. T. Lawson]

A very interesting show on the Fan 590 radio station this morning about this topic of gender equity and I thought you were very fair with everyone.
That young lady clearly wants to tackle the status quo system while that OFSAA guy Gellatly sounded very defensive and harsh and blaming everyone but stating the obvious. Maybe his own organization doesn`t have all the right answers.