Fifth-grade Catholic youth team forfeits season rather than kick girls off

[rug]

After fours years playing as girls and boys together, St. John's 5th grade CYO basketball team was told in January 2017 ago that the girls can no longer play.

Des Bieler
February 12, 2017, 9:44pm

For several years, a Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) basketball team in New Jersey had included a pair of girls. But recently the squad, now in the fifth grade, was presented with a difficult choice: Drop the girls, per the archdiocese's rules, or forfeit the season.

The team's decision was unanimous. It was also courageous and inspiring.

Before a game Friday against a squad from another parish, the youngsters from St. John the Apostle decided to forgo their final two games, plus the postseason, rather than play without two longtime teammates. "It's not fair that we get to move on but they can't," one of the boys said afterward.

"It has a big impact on me because it shows that they care," one of the girls told NJ.com. "I'm part of them just as they're part of me, and they don't want to break that bond, just like I don't want to break that bond.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-catholic-boys-basketball-team-forfeits-20170212-story.html