Sports

The Public Schools Athletic League (PSAL) is facing increased scrutiny and a possible lawsuit from dissatisfied parents who feel that the way the girls’ soccer season is organized violates Title IX, a regulation stating that males and females must receive equal opportunities in public school sports. In New York City, unlike anywhere else in the state, girls play soccer in the spring, while boys play during the fall. In most other parts of the state, both boys and girls play in the fall.

Some parents from Stuyvesant and Beacon High School have proposed switching the girls’ soccer season from the spring to fall. Many parents are distraught because college coaches usually scout for talented athletes in the spring. For the most part, soccer recruiting occurs at events sanctioned by private club teams. This is not an issue for boys, who can play for club teams during the spring because their PSAL season is in the fall. But because the girls’ PSAL season runs during the spring, girls who play for club teams often have scheduling conflicts.

For example, sophomore Adrienne Hanson, who plays for a private travel team, decided not to try out for the school team because she felt that balancing the two would be impossible.

Many girls on the Stuyvesant soccer team also play on travel teams, but coach Adam Goldstein believes the relative leeway he gives players can solve the problem. “Sure, the girls may miss a few practices here and there,” Goldstein said. “I understand the situation, and the important thing is to compromise.”

Parents have also proposed the switch because they think that girls have worse facilities than boys do. Occasionally, the girls have a hard time finding a place to practice. However, the boys also face facility problems. “Sometimes we would have to go all the way to Brooklyn,” said Goldstein, who also coaches the boys’ team in the fall. He recalls several instances when the boy’s team was given nothing more than “a patch of turf” for practice.

Many girls believe that playing in the fall would be problematic. For one, there is already a referee shortage in the PSAL, and if both boys and girls play at the same time the problem would only be worsened. “It’s also difficult to find good coaches,” sophomore Ali Greenberg said. PSAL coaches must be licensed teachers, making a quality coach hard to come by. Since Goldstein coaches both teams, one of these teams would be left without a coach should the seasons switch.

In addition, many girls play different sports during the fall season. “I’m happy about playing during the spring season because I have football during the fall,” said sophomore Cassandra Lee, who is the only female player on the football team. Other players who would be faced with similar conflicts include junior Morgan Browning, who participates in cross country track in the fall, and sophomore Marantha Dawkins, who plays volleyball.

A switch would offer girls who play on club teams more exposure to college scouts, and it would also reduce scheduling conflicts between club and school soccer. On the other hand, it would force boys’ and girls’ teams to compete for space, referees and coaches, while some players may have to choose between soccer and another fall sport. As of yet, the brewing lawsuit has not been filed.