FHSAA Amends Draft Rule Requiring High School Girls to Disclose Menstrual Period
Gainesville, Florida. – The Florida High School Athletic Association has changed a draft rule that would require high school girls to disclose information about their menstrual cycles, the organization said.
The FHSAA is set to hold an emergency meeting on Thursday to discuss a new draft of the EL2 pre-test form that student-athletes must complete before participating in high school sports.
In the original project, girls who wanted to become student-athletes were asked the following questions.
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– Did you menstruate?
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“At what age did you have your first period?”
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“When did you have your last period?”
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“How many periods have you had in the last 12 months?”
According to the form, the medical examination will be “completed each year before participation in interscholastic athletic competitions or before the commencement of any practice, trial, training, physical fitness, or other physical activity.”
Florida lawmakers sent a letter to the FHSAA on Tuesday criticizing the inclusion of these issues.
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“These new reporting requirements will be highly invasive and no girl should be forced to reveal her bodily functions to someone who is not her mother, father, guardian or doctor,” the letter said.
The letter asks FHSAA officials why these issues are being considered and whether students can participate in organized sports without completing this part of the form. Lawmakers also called on the FHSAA board of directors to respond by March 7.
However, Thursday’s FHSAA meeting now includes a new version of the proposed form – omitting the four questions regarding the student-athlete’s menstrual cycle.
“The filing of the full FHSAA EL2 form with participating schools has raised concerns and questions from parents, school district administrators, school board members, and coaches regarding student-athlete health privacy…” the FHSAA wrote. “Therefore, this recommendation provides an appropriate medical history to a qualified medical practitioner and gives schools the medical clearance needed to allow participation in athletic competition while protecting student-athlete privacy.”
Parent
The new version of the EL2 form is attached and can be read at the end of this article.
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texasstandard.news contributed to this report.
