OSSAA passes policy on transgender athletes in Oklahoma

Red Oak softball has made the state tournament its second home for the last few years, but the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association is moving that home back to Oklahoma City.

The OSSAA approved a one-year agreement with ASA Hall of Fame Stadium to host the fast-pitch and slow-pitch softball state tournaments at its Tuesday board meeting, where the organization approved several policies — including a historic policy on the eligibility of transgender athletes, playoff ticket increases, and a new drone policy.

Red Oak has appeared in both fast-pitch and slow-pitch softball state tournaments for each of the past four seasons and head coach Casey Butcher said he looks forward to getting his players back to the home of the Women’s College World Series.

“There’s nothing like playing at Hall of Fame,” Butcher said. “The tradition’s rich, it’s somewhere the kids like to play because of the history. And nothing against Firelake, but it’s just a better setup.”

The last two championships were held at The Ball Fields at Firelake in Shawnee.

Hall of Fame Stadium recently hosted the Women’s College World Series and is under a $20-million renovation project paid for by Oklahoma City, ASA and private donors.

The facility already upgraded to wider concourses and more concessions windows, but upon the completion of the new renovations — which will include more bathrooms, new player locker rooms, coaches offices, training rooms, and a 3,000 square foot hospitality room — the WCWS will call Oklahoma City its home through 2035.

“That’ll be neat for the kids to see,” Butcher said. “This is better for the kids because the facilities will be top-notch and it’ll be exciting.”

The OSSAA also voted to keep the Class 6A and 5A basketball state tournaments at Oral Roberts University’s Mabee Center with a three-year agreement. Classes B-4A state championships will continue to be played at State Fair Arena in Oklahoma City.

Tickets, video and prayer

The OSSAA also approved a $2 ticket increase for football and soccer playoff games before the semifinals.

McAlester has appeared in the football playoffs each of the last nine seasons — including an appearance in each of the last four state semifinals, and a state runner-up finish in 2013 — but athletic director John Homer said he doesn’t think the price increase will keep Buffs fans from showing to playoff games in droves.

“I don’t think it’ll have much bearing on it,” Homer said. “It seems what’s effected the turnout in the playoffs is when they started playing them online.”

According to multiple reports, the OSSAA increased ticket prices by the same amount earlier this year for all state tournaments, semifinals and championship games in football and soccer.

The main reason behind the most recent price hike is to help make up for the OSSAA facing a financial deficit for a second consecutive year.

Video recording issues also came up at the OSSAA meeting, but McAlester will not have to worry about the iPad-based video system it purchased in the middle of last season.

The OSSAA approved a policy prohibiting non-military drones at sporting events, unless a school uses them at practices. Officials at games where a drone is being used may suspend the event to remove the drone to prevent risk of injuries or distractions.

The new policy does not apply to McAlester’s video system — as it uses iPads to show video of assignments to Buffs on the sidelines during the game — but Homer said the system has been banned in other states.

The board also updated its prayer policy by removing a 1992 legal reference, but the organization still does not allow public prayer or invitation to pray before playoff events. Prayer at regular-season games is still left to the schools, while teams and students can also pray individually.

Trans athletes

Oklahoma became the 36th state to adopt a policy for transgender athletes, leaving 14 states without a policy — including four on Oklahoma’s borders: Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico and Texas — according to www.transathlete.com.

The OSSAA policy, which goes into effect on July 1, requires male-to-female athletes to complete hormone therapy for at least one year prior to competing in female sports.

Female-to-male athletes can choose to compete in either male or female sports, but must play in male sports if they are taking testosterone and must continue participating as that gender in all OSSAA sports.

The policy requires transgender athletes to submit proof to their school of care by a licensed physician, as well as documentation for any hormone treatment and length of time it must be administered by a licensed physician.

Transgender athletes will also remain anonymous to the OSSAA, but a school must notify the organization if a transgender student is participating.

If a school claims a student is ineligible to participate, an anonymous appeal can be made to the OSSAA board.

By Adrian O'Hanlon III Sports Editor, writer, McAlester News-Capital, McAlester, OK. Copyright 2015 www.mcalesternews.com. Provided by AP Exchange.

The Gayly – June 14, 2015 @ 1:15pm.