Transgender Athletes Policy

“Every person has the right to practice sport without discrimination and in a way that respects their health, safety and dignity.  At the same time, the credibility of competitive sport- and particularly high-leveled organized sporting competitions- relies on a level playing field, where no athlete has an unfair and disproportionate advantage over the rest.”

In accordance with NCCA Policies, the Main Line Field Hockey Club policy for transgender athletes is based on the NCAA policy related to transgender student-athlete participation and medical exceptions for the use of banned drugs. The policies below clarify participation of transgender student-athletes undergoing hormonal treatment for gender transition:

1. A trans male (FTM) student-athlete who has received a medical exception for treatment with testosterone for diagnosed Gender Identity Disorder or gender dysphoria and/or Transsexualism, for purposes of NCAA competition may compete on a men’s team, but is no longer eligible to compete on a women’s team without changing that team status to a mixed team.

 

2. A trans female (MTF) student-athlete being treated with testosterone suppression medication for Gender Identity Disorder or gender dysphoria and/or Transsexualism, for the purposes of NCAA competition may continue to compete on a men’s team but may not compete on a women’s team without changing it to a mixed team status until completing one calendar year of testosterone suppression treatment.  Any transgender student-athlete who is not taking hormone treatment related to gender transition may participate in sex- separated sports activities in accordance with his or her assigned birth gender.

 

A trans male (FTM) student-athlete who is not taking testosterone related to gender transition may participate on a men’s or women’s team.

 

A trans female (MTF) transgender student-athlete who is not taking hormone treatments related to gender transition may not compete on a women’s team.

 

The Main Line Field Hockey Club specializes in a female youth athletic development and competes in single-sex USFHA events.  Male student athletes are welcome to participate in clinics, camps, and/or lessons with the MLFHC, but at this time, MLFHC only offers teams and tournament opportunities to female athletes.