12 Year Old Girl Banned for Being too Good

http://msn.foxsports.com/other/story/8178466/Girl,-12,-told-she-can't-play-ball-with-boys

Many of you have probably heard the tale by now of the 12 year old girl, Jamie Nared, who happened to be banned from a local league for dominating. If not, I have included a link to the story so you can even enjoy more reading. The league had the audacity to pull out a mixed gender rule to get her to comply and naturally the media has completely run with it and turn this into a story of sexism.

Now, while I in no way condone the league's actions of pulling out a law that had no relation to the actual problem, both sides are equally guilty in this situation.

In plenty of various sports leagues children dominate the competition. I remember in my little league we had plenty children that would dominate their league. Thus the league would give them an opportunity to improve their game and compete at a higher level. I find it hard to believe higher competition leagues are not giving this girl a chance to play, this is indeed an out of school league we are talking about so you would have to believe some league would be jumping at the opportunity to bring this girl in even if just for the press alone. So why doesn't she move up? So her parents can play on her image, get her press, and amplify that she was better than the boys. If she is truly aspiring to improve her game she should be more than willing to take her game to another level, not continue to be a big fish in a little tank. While being banned from the league was unjust this girl should look to further opportunities and almost see this as a compliment that the league feels she should be playing with better competition.

On the other side, I am certain other children have attempted to protect their egos and have continued to dominate in their league while passing up the opportunity to actually get challenged (god forbid). To pull out this rule is indeed rather sexist, you are depriving her of her freedom of choice. Hopefully this girl isn't stymied by her gender from participating in future male basketball leagues.

Also, the argument that the boys play differently when a girl is on the court is really their own problem. Jamie herself has agreed to put herself on the court with boys, if they continue to get embarassed it is hard to believe pride would not kick in to get them to elevate their game. Which brings up the other side of the argument, but having an overpowering player such as this, it is a benefit to the boys to try and improve their game. But this was an enjoyable after school league, so I can maybe let that point slide and understand playing for enjoyment... in which case why would it matter if she was dominating?

My suggestion, set statistical boundaries that require children who are dominating to take their game to a more competitive league. I am sure the league did not want to turn this into an issue of gender and found it rather disheartening when they read headlines of a girl who ruled the boys was forced out of the game simply because she was a dominating female. Regardless this was a necessary move for the league no matter the gender of the player.