Pa. student with crutches can play on soccer team

[Sean 094]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/P/PA_SOCCER_PLAYER_CRUTCHES_PAOL-?SITE=NYBIN&SECTION=HOM

I don't know enough about cerebral palsy, and especially this case, to make a sure opinion on this. There are different degrees of cerebral palsy, and there is no picture of this kid's crutches that I can find.
But is this a case of political correctness - not wanting to offend the kid - winning out over safety of the other players? The kid already allegedly broke the finger of an opposing goalkeeper because of his crutches.

[falcon.7]

Having cerebral palsy greatly limits your mobility, even with crutches. And when I say "greatly limits", I mean GREATLY LIMITS. I don't understand how he can physically play to begin with, nevermind be a viable player. People I know with cerebral palsy have difficulty getting around their own house, nevermind any sort of physical activity.

But that aside, the NFHS is clear in the rulebook that they don't want anything metal or hard on the field of play unless its padded. So unless he pads the crutches (which are metal), that would seem to be a safety violation right there.

And if he does decide to take advantage of the situation and "accidentally" use the crutches to his advantage (trip an opponent, reign in a loose ball), how would that be viewed from a rules standpoint? To me at least, there is a list of issues that need to be explicitly addressed so that players, coaches, and officials are clear on how to deal with this unique situation.

It appears from the article, that in a rush to make decisions and get their name in the paper the different authorities which have ruled back and forth on his eligibility have not sat down and actually tried to figure this thing out.

I say let him play (high school soccer is supposed to be about learning and participation), but make sure before he does that you let everyone know what the requirements are from a safety perspective, and what the limits are from a rules perspective. Because as much of a feel-good story it is, you know that someone somewhere is gonna find something to gripe about (or worse yet, sue) unless you address the issues.

I give the kid credit for not letting a chronic medical condition like that govern his life and dictate what he can and cannot do.

[macheath]

from the AP story:

For the past two seasons, the PIAA had allowed Calderoni to play using the padded metal supports, which he is not allowed to raise above his waist.

But his eligibility was revoked after a junior varsity game last fall in which the opposing Haverford goalkeeper broke a finger. He said Calderoni tripped him with one of the crutches.

Calderoni, his teammates and coach all claim it was "incidental contact" that led to the goalkeeper's injury. But PIAA Executive Director Brad Cashman decided Calderoni posed a danger to other players.

Here's a link to the story that worked for me; above one didn't.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/P/PA_SOCCER_PLAYER_CRUTCHES_PAOL-?SITE=NYBIN&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Can't see how letting a player participate with "padded metal supports" can be safe. And wonder how the Haverford goalkeeper feels about it.

Thought experiment: if the kid didn't have cerebral palsy, but just an injured leg, would anyone even consider letting him play with padded metal crutches? Kind of answers itself. They clearly are trying to avoid a lawsuit on disability issues; the kid says later in the story that he hopes to become an activist on cerebal palsy issues.

Society should make all possible accomodations for people with disabilities. But there isn't any way this can be construed as safe play. Wonder if a ref refused to do the game if he or she would get sued, or not get assignments? Since the state high school association has said its ok for the kid to play, could a ref still refuse? (Yet another reason, if one needs it, not to do high school matches.)

Falcon says:

I say let him play (high school soccer is supposed to be about learning and participation), but make sure before he does that you let everyone know what the requirements are from a safety perspective, and what the limits are from a rules perspective.

Falcon, what would you consider those "requirements" and "limits" to be?

[Gary V]

Aw jeez, the Oklahoma kid with a walker grew up and moved to PA.

Incidentally, in the old OK case, a judge required a referee to work a match in which the kid played. And they had to modify how handling would be called - normally anything in contact with the hand (such as walker or crutches) becomes an extension of the hand.

I'm all for rights for the disabled. They were put away from society far too long. But your rights end when my danger begins. What's next, we let blind people drive because we don't want to discriminate against the disabled?

[Yellowshirt]

My daughter is deaf.....wonderful kid, an amazing kid, but nonetheless deaf.

There are certain things she cannot do because of her deafness. I would never, ever think of forcing someone to change the basic rules of an organization/game/activity to incorporate her....that ain't right.

For example, they have tryouts for choral groups....she can't sing to well (but then again neither can I !)....should they change for her? No I don't think so.

This is political correctness run amok.

We all have limits in life...accept them and move on.

[falcon.7]

Falcon says:

I say let him play (high school soccer is supposed to be about learning and participation), but make sure before he does that you let everyone know what the requirements are from a safety perspective, and what the limits are from a rules perspective.

Falcon, what would you consider those "requirements" and "limits" to be?

Incidentally, in the old OK case, a judge required a referee to work a match in which the kid played. And they had to modify how handling would be called - normally anything in contact with the hand (such as walker or crutches) becomes an extension of the hand.

Like what Gary said - modified rules on handling and such. From a safety perspective, I guess sufficient padding so that if someone got whacked by one of the crutches they wouldn't feel it the next day. Common sense stuff.

Thought experiment: if the kid didn't have cerebral palsy, but just an injured leg, would anyone even consider letting him play with padded metal crutches? Kind of answers itself. They clearly are trying to avoid a lawsuit on disability issues; the kid says later in the story that he hopes to become an activist on cerebal palsy issues.

...never thought of it that way. If you don't let him play, people would say you're breaking the law by not giving equal treatment to a person with a disability. But if you let him play you run safety risks, and the possibility that someone will come up with a compelling argument that the crutches are and advantage. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

[RichP]

I have a hard time believing this can be safe for the player with crutches, unless those around him are extra careful, which is not really letting the others play as freely as they should. Totally inappropriate at the HS JV or varsity level, unless his play is reserved for "garbage time" with the cooperation of the other players.

My local AYSO has a special program called VIP for players with disabilities. Something like this is far more appropriate.

[Alberto]

I have a hard time believing this can be safe for the player with crutches, unless those around him are extra careful, which is not really letting the others play as freely as they should. Totally inappropriate at the HS JV or varsity level, unless his play is reserved for "garbage time" with the cooperation of the other players.

My local AYSO has a special program called VIP for players with disabilities. Something like this is far more appropriate.

Agreed the player should not be playing at a varsity or jv level in high school. There are programs out there for kids with special needs such as the AYSO program and Special Olympics.

[Nacional Tijuana]

I have spina bifida, which has some things in common with CP, but is not rooted in the brain (though at times, SB patients can present with mental retardation). Stuff like this makes me sick. I can't speak for someone with a mental disability, but when opportunities like this are being offered to me, I find it patronizing like nothing else in life. Folks with crutches and wheelchairs (such as me) were simply not meant to participate 100% in life. We NEED to do things differently, for our own safety and the safety of those around us. Sure, that can limit us socially, as can people that make our disabilities to be more severe than they are. But that's what happens in life.

In high schools, especially public, there are all sorts of opportunities that the disabled can take advantage of without dragging down able-bodies. Why not be a member of a planning committee or some such thing? Just because Americans have equal right to pursue happiness in life doesn't excuse us from accepting differing standards of life.

I live in PA (PIAA Dist. 7). I shall be interested to see how this all turns out. Hopoefully the PIAA will go the high road and stand up against the PC behavior that has helped set disabled people back through the years.

May the best players play.

[Sean 094]

Nacional Tijuana,
That's just it. It isn't playing out anywhere now but on the field. The PIAA directors overruled their own top man (the executive director), who ruled the kid ineligible after he hurt the GK with his crutches.
I live in the PIAA, too, which is not known for making sensible decisions all around.

[Nacional Tijuana]

Neither of the links worked for me and my admittedly wonky computer. I'd be curious where exactly this occurred/is occurring.

[Sean 094]

Out East. The player is a junior at Strath Haven.
The player he injured is for Haverford.

[Nacional Tijuana]

Ahhh, Strath Haven I have seen, I think. Seems they made it to Hershey one year. I need to get out to a WPIAL playoff, just to see what it's like.

[NVRef]

I recently was AR for an AYSO all-star U-19 tournament. A player on one the teams had an amputated leg and played with crutches that were padded. The team came from outside our area and the ref crew was not familiar with the rules that were used for this player in his region. Our ref team and tournament officials agreed to let him play but we did not discuss how the crutches could be used ahead of time (due to a lack of time between games for a pre-game and no concerns expressed by the CR I assumed he had an idea of what he would accept). So here's what happened ...

The player on crutches played as a striker and upon the first pass to him he stopped the ball with his crutches and would control the ball on the ground with either his foot or crutches. At first I thought that should be a handball but upon further reflection I thought that this should be allowed. It was obvious you do not have the same control with crutches as you do with your feet. This worked for everybody and when you see them play it is clear that using the crutches does not come close to making up for the reduced mobility of player.

Later there was atleast one ball sent his way about waist height and maybe above the waist. He knocked this ball down with his crutches and I thought to myself that I would definitely call that a handball. There was nobody around so it was not dangerous. I held my flag down and chose to let the CR make this decision and he kept his whistle down.

Later a cross came in to the box and the player stuck his crutch out definitely above the waist and deflected the ball into the goal. There were no players close enough to consider it dangerous (similar to a high kick). We had already set a precedent that this was OK and allowed the goal to stand. The other team was upset but kept it very quiet mainly I believe because they did not want to seem insensitive. The crowd was cheering loudly for the player. After the game they did ask tournament officials for a ruling but I do not know if they officially protested.

So here is my take:

First - the ref team screwed up :( and should have made it clear that crutches could no be raised above the waist. Controlling the ball with the crutches should be allowed as long as the crutches are kept below the waist at all times. We should have figured this out before the game started.

Second - Let them play! :) The crutches when properly padded are no more dangerous than a shoe with cleats - both could be dangerous if used improperly.

[Tarheel Ref]

This is clearly a case where the competition authority defines the rules of play and what is acceptable within those parameters.

High school standards are (as I understand them and is also stated above) is that the field is an extension of the classroom and therefore the standards are more lenient as to who gets to play under what conditions. A similar situation is that of Muslim female players who play with head scarves...one that I had to address in a middle school game recently. Yes, the head scarf could definitely be a danger...in this case to the individual wearing it...just as the crutches could be a danger to all the players, but NFHS standards lean towards allowing participation over giving the decision-making authority over what is or is not a danger to the referee as done by FIFA.

In my match where the girl wore a headscarf, I definitely felt that it was a potential danger to her, but her coach said her parents (who were at the game) wanted her to play and she had played in some other matches that season wearing the scarf. Since the scarf only was dangerous to her, and the other coach didn't care one way or the other, I certainly wasn't going to be the first ref to say she couldn't participate in a match under the rules set by the NFHS. Had I been working the center for a USSF match, the scarf wouldn't have been allowed. Different authority, different standards.

For HS games, I agree with those who say "let them play." For matches under USSF authority, I agree with the LOTG.

[law5guy]

Folks with crutches and wheelchairs (such as me) were simply not meant to participate 100% in life. We NEED to do things differently, for our own safety and the safety of those around us. Sure, that can limit us socially, as can people that make our disabilities to be more severe than they are. But that's what happens in life.


Just wondering ... have you ever tried wheelchair/quad rugby?

http://youtube.com/v/eKlmviAqMOc
http://youtube.com/v/HhGXacp0P3U

Wow!

[law5guy]

A similar situation is that of Muslim female players who play with head scarves...one that I had to address in a middle school game recently.

Had I been working the center for a USSF match, the scarf wouldn't have been allowed. Different authority, different standards.

For HS games, I agree with those who say "let them play." For matches under USSF authority, I agree with the LOTG.


Tarheel... you should "let them play" in USSF too, or you just might find yourself mentioned in the newspaper... and not in a good way:
http://www.tbo.com/news/metro/MGBS5HV8S7F.html
http://news.tbo.com/news/metro/MGB7V2AGS7F.html

[Nacional Tijuana]

Just wondering ... have you ever tried wheelchair/quad rugby?

http://youtube.com/v/eKlmviAqMOc
http://youtube.com/v/HhGXacp0P3U


I am not a quadriplegic, and therefore unfortunately test off of the scale used to evaluate whether an athlete is eligible for USQRA (and certain other) matches. I used to scrimmmage with a team in San Diego that didn't know any better, and it was a neat little sport. Sometimes I do wish the USQRA would rework the rules so that those of us above the point value boundary would be able to play under certain circumstances. Indeed, it could be done with some thought to the process, but that is another thread.
Here's a link about classification of players. The whole page is important: http://www.quadrugby.com/class.htm

Back on topic, I say have this disabled guy just keep records or something special for the team. That way he can be involved without detriment to the overall experience to everyone on the field. I just hate to see rules being made up as you go along (though in some cases it's inevitable).

[Tarheel Ref]

Tarheel... you should "let them play" in USSF too, or you just might find yourself mentioned in the newspaper... and not in a good way:
http://www.tbo.com/news/metro/MGBS5HV8S7F.html
http://news.tbo.com/news/metro/MGB7V2AGS7F.html

I can't disagree with what you say and it is my general inclination to favor doing whatever possible to allow players that want to participate to do so. I'm not advocating going out of my way (or that anybody else do so) to exclude anybody...just pointing out that different sanctioning bodies have different standards that must be met before the referees can allow somebody to participate.

Although I didn't write about it in my post above, believe me when I say that appearing in the paper as the jackass that didn't allow some girl to play most certainly did run through my mind...and it wasn't gonna be me!

On the other hand, however, what would the outcome be if something had happened where a cleat had snagged that head scarf and snapped her neck or something horrible like that? Then I would've been the jackass that allowed her to play with something that was a danger to herself. Sometimes the situations in which we find ourselves can be no win...but we still have to make the right decision anyway.

[campton]

Flat out, crutches are not saffe IMO, and if the ball hits them (hand ball?)

I feel for the kid, but you cant take the game away from other kids.