Controversy pushes girl off coed hockey team

[The Straight Story]

Controversy pushes girl off coed hockey team

For 12-year-old Kayla Watkins, the public humiliation was too much.

...

“To play hockey you shouldn’t have to go through what I went through. I was just looking to have friendship and play the game I love.”

The controversy that seized the Toronto Ice Dogs PeeWee “A” club — minor hockey’s lowest level of competitive play — emerged last month at a parents’ meeting called by George Atis, who has a child on the team, but is not part of the coaching staff.

The Thornhill lawyer drafted the agenda which included this item: “Kayla Watkins — Player Ability Limitations and Suggested Options.”

“It is now 14 games into the season and I have noticed that Kayla’s play has not improved,” the agenda reads. “It is at the point where many of the team members do not want to play on this team if this situation is not addressed.”

http://www.thestar.com/iphone/Sports/article/910773

[T Wolf]

1. As the father of daughters, I faced this kind of prejudice their entire childhoods. Fortunately, in

our small town, a very influential family had four daughters in sports, so they fought for (and obtained) equal access and equal support from the community and school.

And he is a republican!

Funny thing - the girl's teams have historically been far more successful than the boys.

[Johonny]

2. Parents are the bane of youth sports.

[gratuitous]

3. She's not improving enough for one of the parents?

Kick her off! This isn't some game, boys and girls, this is "A" club PeeWee hockey! If you're not serious, go home. Some people claim that all we care about on the Toronto Ice Dogs is winning. Well, we call those people Lu-u-u-u-u-zerz! Send lawyers, guns and money. We have to get this "situation" resolved.