AP

Girls’ football lawsuit to gauge interest in school teams

Apr 28, 2019, 9:55 AM

Female football player Sam Gordon walks the red carpet ahead of the first round at the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 25, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The question of how many girls would play football for an all-female high school team if given the chance took center stage Friday in a Utah lawsuit filed by a teenage female football star.

More than 400 girls have joined a league that 16-year-old Sam Gordon helped create, more than enough to get started in schools, lawyer Loren Washburn said. “The school district has an obligation to meet student demand,” he said.

The districts, though, argue it’s tough to gauge whether there’s enough interest around the state to create a roster of competing teams for something completely new.

“There are no other high-school girls’ tackle football teams,” said Rachel Terry, an assistant Utah attorney general.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Dustin Pead ordered the two sides to negotiate the language of a survey to measure interest. That’s a key question under Title IX, the federal law that bars sex discrimination in education programs that receive federal funds.

Football is particularly important because it’s such a beloved American sport, said father Brent Gordon, an attorney.

“If they had the ability to play football at the high school on Friday nights, with the band there and have everybody fill the stands, how do you think the perception of girls would be on that campus?” he said.

Gordon became a well-known figure after a video of the then 9-year-old girl’s dominant football skills against boys gained widespread attention online in 2012. She, her father and other girls who wanted to play football filed a lawsuit against the three districts and the Utah High School Activities Association five years later.

Gordon appeared alongside past and present NFL greats in a television ad that aired during this year’s Super Bowl. She was also honored by the NFL during Super Bowl weekend with the first ”Game Changer” award for her role in creating the girls tackle football league in Utah.

She and her father point to all-girl “powder-puff” football games that are a homecoming tradition at many high schools. The games attract more competitors than other intramural sports, and yearbook entries reflect the pride girls take in having a chance to play, Washburn said.

Those are typically limited to one game, though, and aren’t usually full-contact, so it’s unclear whether the same numbers would turn out for tackle football, said Mark Van Wagoner, a lawyer for the high school activities association.

Utah does allow girls to play on boys’ football teams, but Sam Gordon said it wouldn’t be safe for her to play against the much-larger male players. Title IX, meanwhile, has a provision for separate teams in contact sports, Washburn said.

The plaintiffs scored a victory last year when a judge allowed girls interested in playing to band together in a class-action claim.

The Canyons School District, one of the defendants in the case, said their schools support both male and female student athletes.

“There are substantial opportunities for all our student athletes to excel on the playing field,” as well as the classroom, said spokesman Jeff Haney in a statement.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

AP

This combo image shows President Joe Biden, left, and President-elect Donald Trump, right. (AP Phot...

DARLENE SUPERVILLE, Associated Press

Biden and Trump will meet in the Oval Office on Wednesday, the White House says

President Joe Biden is set to have President-elect Donald Trump over at the Whitehouse for a meeting in the Oval Office on Wednesday.

8 hours ago

FILE - Trump co-campaign manager Susie Wiles is seen at Nashville International Airport as Republic...

ZEKE MILLER, MICHELLE L. PRICE and JILL COLVIN, Associated Press

President-elect Trump names Susie Wiles as chief of staff

President-elect Donald Trump has named Susie Wiles, the manager of his victorious campaign, as his White House chief of staff.

2 days ago

FILE - The icon for the video sharing TikTok app is seen on a smartphone, Feb. 28, 2023, in Marple ...

Associated Press

Canada orders TikTok’s Canadian business to be dissolved but won’t block app

Canada announced Wednesday it is dissolving TikTok’s Canadian business as much of the West remains locked in a technology battle.

3 days ago

A women looks at damage to a home near SE 84 after a tornado hit the area in Oklahoma City, Sunday,...

Kevin McGill and Jackie Quinn, AP

Oklahoma storms injure at least 11 and leave thousands without power

Severe storms and tornadoes battered Oklahoma early Sunday, tossing cars and ripping roofs off buildings in the middle of the night.

6 days ago

FILE - People peek into a window of a TGI Fridays restaurant to see what they are serving to-go on ...

MATT O'BRIEN, AP Business Writer

TGI Fridays files for bankruptcy protection as sit-down restaurant struggles continue

Restaurant chain TGI Fridays says it has filed for bankruptcy protection as it looks for ways to ensure viability of the casual dining brand.

6 days ago

grace poses with her i voted sticker design...

HOLLY RAMER, Associated Press

Creative ‘I Voted’ stickers branch out beyond the familiar flag design

The designs on the front of “I Voted” stickers are attracting a lot of attention this year.

7 days ago

Sponsored Articles

A surprise gift, wrapped and ready to bring holiday cheer! Whether for Christmas, a birthday, or an...

Western Nut

10 Holiday Gift Ideas to cover everyone on your list

This guide is for you if you need holiday gift ideas that will make a lasting impression. 

Stressed young woman checking bills, taxes, bank account balance and calculating expenses in the li...

The Law Offices of Jordan F. Wilcox

Why you should speak to a Utah lawyer about longstanding IRS tax issues

Hiring a lawyer to navigate longstanding IRS tax issues can make a significant difference in achieving a favorable resolution.

4 construction workers fixing roof against clouds blue sky, install shingles at the top of the hous...

Chipman Roofing

Weather the storms by maintaining your roof

By taking the time to assess your roof's condition and make repairs as needed, you maintain the longevity of your home's stability.

Tax Harassment...

The Law Offices of Jordan F. Wilcox

Feeling intimidated by the IRS? 6 Essential facts you should know.

If you are receiving threatening letters and wage garnishments from the IRS, hiring an attorney can help ensure your rights are protected.

Photo courtesy of Nightmare on 13th...

Nightmare on 13th

Here’s why Nightmare on 13th is the best haunted house in Utah

Fall brings Halloween, and Halloween brings Haunted Houses. There’s no better Haunted House than Nightmare on 13th – here’s why!

USA, Utah, Bear Lake. The deep blue of Utah's Bear Lake contrasts with autumn foliage....

Bear Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau

Experience Bear Lake’s all-year activities

We break down Bear Lake's four-season recreational offerings so the whole family can enjoy their time there any time of the year.

Girls’ football lawsuit to gauge interest in school teams