Marple goes to bat for athlete with turban in flap with PIAA
District appeal results in PIAA waiver for Sikh student
NEWTOWN » A Marple Newtown High School soccer player forced to sit on the bench earlier this week will be rejoining his teammates on the field.
The student, a member of the ninth-grade soccer team who wears religious headwear in observation of his Sikh faith, was informed this week by a PIAA referee he could not wear it while playing. The district advocated on his behalf and the association has granted a waiver for this school year.
The incident occurred Sept. 26, when the freshman team played an away match at Conestoga High School. Early in the game, the official informed the student he was not permitted to wear his turban while playing. Despite coach Mike Snow’s “vociferous objections” to the referee’s ruling, he did not reverse his decision, said school board Solicitor Mark Sereni.
“The referee indicated our student needed to remove his headwear, and if he refused to do so, he was not permitted to take his place on the field,” he added. “Therefore, he was relegated to the sidelines.”
The name of the referee was not made public.
Snow immediately contacted Marple Newtown Athletic Director Chris Gicking, who spoke with the PIAA. Gicking also conferred with Conestoga’s athletic director and his assistant, both of whom agreed the student should be permitted to play while wearing his turban.
The referee cited a 20172018 NFHS (National Federation of State High School Associations) soccer rule that states “hats, caps and visors” are “illegal equipment.” The regulation provides an exemption for religious medals, noting they must be taped and worn under a player’s uniform. The rule does not have a similar exception for religious headwear, nor does it specify any process for requesting a waiver.
The ref’s ruling was additionally frustrating, said Sereni, as a recent Marple Newtown graduate wore similar headwear while playing for his high school team in PIAA-sanctioned matches.
Sereni noted the district “had no reason to believe the referee’s ruling was motivated by any anti-religious or other discriminatory animus.” The solicitor contacted PIAA and as a result, the waiver was granted.
“The district concluded our student, coach and athletic director were clearly in the right and we communicated up-the-chain with PIAA,” he added. “We wanted to protect the constitutional rights of our students and their families.”
Marple Newtown School Board President Kathy Chandless noted she was “extremely proud” of the efforts of the district personnel.
“They have ensured our student will not miss another game,” she said. “On behalf of the school board, I want to thank everyone who supported our student’s right to religious expression and thank the student’s family for entrusting the district to promptly right this wrong.”
The situation is outlined in a statement on the district website, mnsd.net.