During a girls’ tournament last month, a Highlands High volleyball player pelted a Hiwassee Dam High player in the forehead with the ball during a return.
The Hiwassee Dam player, a biological girl, suffered severe head and neck injuries, resulting in long-term concussion symptoms, including vision problems. The girl has still not yet been cleared to play again by her primary care physician or a neurologist.
With a 5-1 vote, the Cherokee County Board of Education declared the event a “safety issue” and canceled all remaining games against Highlands High.
The perspective of a longtime coach swayed Cherokee Board Member Joe Wood:
“I’ll never put a child in a position to be seriously injured,” Wood said.
“I think the odds (of injury) in these non-contact sports aren’t high. But in particular, in this meeting, a coach of 40 years said they’d never seen a hit like this. That was really what sealed the decision, at least on my part.”
Biological boys playing against girls on the volleyball team is dangerous and unfair, as these Cherokee Board Members correctly pointed out. This fact is supported by studies (and common sense).
The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research also confirmed male dominance in the sport. The jump height and explosive power of males are significantly higher than those of females, according to scientists.
Source: UPDATED: HS Volleyball Player injured by Transgender Competitor in North Carolina