Boy on Girls' Field Hockey Team Gets National Attention

The debate over Keeling Pilaro, a Southampton eighth-grader who was to play a third season of field hockey with the Lady Mariners varsity team, has gone national.

When the decision, made on an appeal, was handed down Tuesday, newswires lighted up. And espnW's "The Word" had a debate over whether boys like Keeling should be permitted to play on traditionally girls' teams.

Keeling started playing with the Southampton girls after his family moved back to the United States two years ago from Ireland, where boys learn field hockey in gym class. In Ireland, he belonged to his school's team and competed in a league.

"I see it as a girls' sport," said Fox Chapel High School Field Hockey Coach Michele Fisher. "They work very hard at their skills. They work very hard at training, and I don't think it's right that a boy can just come in and take it."

ESPN.com columnist Jemele Hill agreed, arguing that Title IX, a 1972 federal law, was established to give girls more opportunities in sports, not boys.

But espnW writer Sarah Spain sees things differently. She said that opportunities opened up by Title IX need to go both ways, and not only favor female athletes.

Keeling, who turned 14 years old this month, was the team's lead scorer over the past two seasons, despite competing with high schoolers. He will enter in the fall.

He is 4 feet and 9 inches tall and weighs 82 pounds, according to his mother, Fairley Pilaro, who said she will not fight for her son to continue playing on the girls' team after he has a growth spurt and could pose a safety issue for other players.

Watch the espnW debate at espn.go.com.