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April 30th, 2012
08:04 AM ET

Boy kicked off all-girls field hockey team, says he doesn't pose threat to other players

At just 13-year-old, Keeling Pilaro was kicked off his high school girls field hockey team because the school's athletic governing body has determined he is the dominant player on the field. However, Keeling says "there are definitely girls that are a lot better than [him], have more skills and are faster." He talks with Ashleigh Banfield this morning.


Filed under: Gender • Law
soundoff (16 Responses)
  1. Britt Staheli

    I can't believe how many uninformed people have commented on this story. The reason he wants to play on the girls team is because there is no boys team. The reason he wants to play field hockey rather than lacrosse or ice hockey is because he grew up in Ireland where field hockey is also a popular men's sport. It's like telling lacrosse players or ice hockey players to just play soccer, since they're similar. It doesn't work.

    And for everyone acting like he should be ashamed of playing with the girls (and not dominating them) remember that he is 13 and only weighs 85 pounds. The girls on the varsity squad are 4 to 8 inches taller than him and could outweigh him by 50 pounds. Let the kid play as long as he can and have him try to recruit some guys to start a few teams in the area.

    May 11, 2012 at 3:54 pm | Reply
  2. 2sc00ps

    **In a winy voice cracking 13 year old boy voice** "MOOOMMMMMMM!!!!! Would you PLEEAAASE stop emasculating me in front of the worrrrrlllld???! Gosh, I'm NEVER going to get a girlfriend!"

    Divorce your parents, kid. They're doing you no favors by pushing their own political and social agenda and using you as a patsy.

    May 1, 2012 at 10:54 am | Reply
  3. chief

    this has to be the stupidest thing ive heard of......

    April 30, 2012 at 10:33 pm | Reply
  4. deserthiker

    So much for equality.

    April 30, 2012 at 8:43 pm | Reply
    • 2sc00ps

      Equality?

      It's a boy on a girls team. It's not a boy trying to get a job as a hair stylist, or a woman trying to become President of the United States.

      The boy should've never been allowed on the team in the first place. They brought the drama on themselves. All parties, (even the 13 year old) should be ashamed of themselves.

      May 1, 2012 at 11:15 am | Reply
  5. James Cohen

    Put your son in ALL BOYS hockey team where he belong!

    April 30, 2012 at 5:09 pm | Reply
  6. Fred

    So this "Boy" can't cut it on a GIRLS team? BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

    April 30, 2012 at 3:56 pm | Reply
  7. JPS

    And he plays girl's field hockey why??? Is he not able to play sports with boys his own age? I mean there is soccer and lacrosse which are very similar to that sport. I can't imagine where he lives and goes to school there are only girls sports available.

    April 30, 2012 at 2:54 pm | Reply
  8. BF75

    Field Hockey is a girls sport in High School ! Let the kid play football or soccer. Just think of the issues this kids going to have to deal with in the future playing on a girls HS team. Why on earth would he want to do that? or is it his parents trying to prove a point? Where has all the common sense gone?

    April 30, 2012 at 2:24 pm | Reply
  9. Belz

    these parents are using this kid to make an issue, the boy should be removed from the houshold

    April 30, 2012 at 2:22 pm | Reply
  10. missalex01

    Really? He can't play with the boys because????

    April 30, 2012 at 1:50 pm | Reply
  11. Jack

    Why does he not play on a boys team? Don't get me wrong... I think it is cool! If he is a distraction, it's because he looks like the little boy from the orig. Willy Wonka..... Movie

    April 30, 2012 at 1:41 pm | Reply
  12. city guy

    he's a boy. go play on a boys team not an "all girls" team. WTF

    April 30, 2012 at 1:40 pm | Reply
  13. Juanita

    Is this Mom serious?! An attorney, really? For her SON who wants to play GIRL sports? Why not just make the Olympics a competition where athletes can compete against all genders. This is ridiculous! Where is this boy's father?

    April 30, 2012 at 12:04 pm | Reply
  14. 2sc00ps

    Ok – so many things wrong here. First of all lets start with the fact that his "man" card is pulled for eternity because he's fighting to play on a GIRLS FIELD HOCKEY TEAM.

    Let's further revoke the beloved "man card" because his mother punks him out and says "there are definitely girls that are a lot better than [him], have more skills and are faster." I mean, wow Mom, thanks for making him look like a punk in front of the world.

    Finally, WTH is wrong with you people?! Boy Scouts are for boys. Girl Scouts are for girls. Ice/Roller hockey is for boys, and Field Hockey is for girls. Does he violate the uniform code when playing or does he wear a skirt too? MAN THE HECK UP! Try out for the football or baseball team and use your physical prowess (which mommy says you obviously lack anyway) or join the Math league.

    And MOM... STOP empowering your SON to be a little GIRL. JFC SMH.

    April 30, 2012 at 11:47 am | Reply
  15. Mandeq JAMA

    It's an all girl team why does it matter if he was the dominant player? He broke the rules right there!

    April 30, 2012 at 8:37 am | Reply

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