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Texas teen Mackenzie McCollum was barred from playing on her school's volleyball team because she was pregnant - and was retaliated against when she fought back against the discrimination.
Mackenzie found out she was pregnant, and still wanted to participate on the volleyball team. The administration of Arlington Heights High School in Fort Worth, Texas told her family it was their strict policy to obtain a written doctor's note to clear pregnant students to play. (They never provided physical evidence of that policy to Mackenzie's family, though.) Her physician sent in a note, which they rejected, and a second one, which they deemed acceptable.
But after the school allowed her to play on the team, her coach not only cut her playing time (and none of the other players') but also disclosed her pregnancy to all of McCollum's teammates.
The US Department of Education is now investigating the school for Title IX violations.
Additionally, the assumption that pregnant women shouldn't play sports is not only wrong - it's paternalistic. What makes the school or a coach more qualified than McCollum and her doctor to decide what level of activity is appropriate?
It's troubling when school officials reveal their ignorance precisely when a student most needs sensible support. Pregnancy is NOT a state of incapacity. McCollum's future will be more challenging, but she is no less of a student or an athlete than she was last year. Like any high school senior, she should not stop doing the things that are central to her self-worth, identity, and--yes - physical and emotional health.Athletes do, have, and will get pregnant (even when it's not convenient). Early last year the NCAA issued rules protecting pregnant college athletes from losing scholarship support after reports of athletes hiding their pregnancies. (see the full policy here.)
It's worth noting that the comments on ESPN's site are horrendous - many are shaming the young woman and disparaging her family. Several seem to be coming from McCollum's high school and/or community members, who are calling her "Easy Mac" and suggesting the family is out for a "pay day." And that's what retaliation looks like.
Related: ESPN, Pregnant athletes don't have to sit out
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I love it when my hometown makes the news! oh, wait.
regarding requiring a doctor's note to allow her to continue to play, i'm somewhat sympathetic to the school in this instance. they're not assuming that she *shouldn't* play or asserting that they know better than her doctor, they're covering their asses legally in case she has a miscarriage or the baby has a birth defect. schools are so strapped for resources (the school my fiancé works at is friggin' RATIONING PAPER) that i understand why they want to make sure they avoid liability. parental permission slips and medical clearance are required at schools for a whole array of things already, so this doesn't seem outside the norm.
her gym coach, on the other hand, is an absolute ass for disclosing her pregnancy, and should be severely disciplined, if not fired. and her neighbors need to shut the hell up. whenever i hear about assholes disparaging a young woman like this, i want to go through their dirty laundry and post a big sign in their front yards with all their secrets on it for everyone to read. people in glass houses, etc etc etc.
Maybe the school just doesn't want to get sued in case something happens to the student while playing. We are warned not to take our students out to eat, or have coffee (in case they suffer from a food poisoning, or trip over something and decide to sue.) We are not even allowed to meet with students (and these are college students, mind you) anywhere outside of campus because this might give grounds for any kind of lawsuit.
So I would not necessarily assume that the coach was acting out of chauvinism.
I saw the piece this weekend and that's my thoughts. Is there an injury waiver she can sign because I'd be worried she take a nasty fall and sue the hell out of us.
I understand why they needed the doctor's note, but I really wonder why they rejected the first one.
Also those comments on ESPN were the "most stupidest" things I've ever read (quote is from one of the comments).
Many of them argue that it didn't matter if the coach told because most of the team members supposedly already knew. I'm pretty sure that unless she actually announced it in front of him and the whole team first, he was not allowed to say anything.
There are a lot of things that went wrong here but instead of adding my 2 cents to what was already covered, I just want to throw up 3 cheers to Mackenzie's rocking awesome mom!!!!! I literally wanted to cheer every time she spoke!
Yes, her mother is awesome.
I kind of see the girl's side but also the school's side. No way should she be disparaged for being pregnant; on the other hand I can certainly understand the skittishness---what if she fell, had a miscarriage or other injury and then sued the school? This is what administrators think of first. I think if she wants to play on a team, that's fine---but the school is within their rights to ask her to sign a waiver of damages or claims for injury should a mishap occur.
I agree with baddesignhurts on this. The coach, the adult and authority figure had no right blabbing to the team. And even if he did know, is it at all appropriate that he, the authority figure, is talking with his young team about their teammate's pregnancy? Ugh. I'd ask, well what kind of example is that setting, but given the neighbors despicable behavior, maybe it's a moot point.
Probably the biggest upside to me was that I am duly impressed by ESPN's coverage. They were very much advocating for the young woman's rights and not criticizing her or being judgmental about her pregnancy.
the school wasn't wrong for requiring a doctor's note...but they were wrong for rejecting the first one (of course unless there was some legit reason for nixing it, like no signature or something).
the coach should've known better than to tell all the other girls...coaches know that personal matters are personal, and while yes, most players are urged to go to their coaches about personal matters because as part of the coach-player dynamic there's a level of trust, its meant to stay between player and coach. player...singular. the coach not only aired her personal business to a group of people (it doesn't matter who they are), but he broke any trust that the player may have placed in him. i'm amazed that the girls teammates would still want to play for someone like him (although, i'm really not amazed...young girls are so bombared with conflicting ideals that its a wonder that any of them manage to have their own opinion).
i personally think the coach should be fired. a good coach treats their players with respect and looks out for their best interests. this coach took a player and hung her out to dry...which is wrong on so many levels.