@FL HS Athletic Association and Periods

[StrawberryBlondie]

Feb 2, 2023 16:14:56 GMT -5 definitelyO said:

Feb 2, 2023 12:05:31 GMT -5 wanderingback said:

To be clear it is relevant to athletics (and to any athlete who has periods) in regards to overtraining and eating disorders discussions. However, FL and many other states are obviously fucked up when it comes to abortion rights and transgender rights, so that’s where the problem is. But medically speaking these are questions that should be asked by medical professionals but schools do not need to know, they just need to know if someone is cleared to play or needs any special accommodations.

yes 100% agree - they just need to know if someone is cleared to play or needs any special accommodations. And I would think the general question of "are your periods regular" could suffice - no need for dates, etc.. for an athletic permission slip.

But in high school age girls, for many, it's probably not particularly regular. Mine certainly wasn't.

[definitelyO]

Jalapeñomel , katespade , Sorry I did not word that right - I agree with you 100%

what I tried to say (but wasn't clear) was that it would be appropriate for the doctor to ask if periods are regular to rule out any medical problems - not that it should be shared with the school at all. The question of regular periods is something a doctor could ask - but no way would that need to be on an athletic release form

[Deleted]

Feb 2, 2023 18:22:17 GMT -5 definitelyO said:

Jalapeñomel , katespade , Sorry I did not word that right - I agree with you 100%

what I tried to say (but wasn't clear) was that it would be appropriate for the doctor to ask if periods are regular to rule out any medical problems - not that it should be shared with the school at all. The question of regular periods is something a doctor could ask - but no way would that need to be on an athletic release form

And in no way should NOT having regular periods be a reason to disqualify anyone from playing sports. I agree that it’s a good thing for adolescents to discuss with their regular physician, but sometimes it’s a completely different doctor who gives the sports physicals (different places hold sports physical clinic nights, so it could be any random doctor).

[jlt19]

Wow, Florida is really keen to win country’s worst state this week isn’t it?

I understand needing a “physical” from your doctor that says you were cleared to play for legal reasons. But that’s it. Note from a doctor.

I don’t know if my doctor asked this when I was in HS but I probably would have lied if I though the truth would prevent me from playing.

[basilosaurus]

Feb 2, 2023 13:50:22 GMT -5 StrawberryBlondie said:

Obvious WTF issues aside, am I the only one who would've legitimately had difficulty answering these questions?

Nope. I remember going 45 then 15 then 45 again. The only time I've been regular was when I was on the pill in my 20s.

I did have friends in ballet without periods. The teacher was pretty involved in making sure her dancers were safe and healthy. But, that's a personal relationship of many years where students felt comfortable, and it was about health, not discrimination. It's "for girls" and not a competitive sport, so it's off the fucknuts' radar despite its obvious physicality and risk for eating disorders which is the fucknuts' cover story. No sports form necessary. 

[aurora]

I was a pretty competitive athlete from age 13-22, and I can't imagine being anything other than horrified at the idea of my (mostly male) coaches knowing anything at all about my period. 100% between me and my doctors. And I am cis and was generally healthy so didn't have any of these other elements to fear.

[mrsslocombe]

Update: they voted to eliminate the menstruation questions 14-2: www.tampabay.com/sports/high-schools/2023/02/09/florida-high-school-athletic-association-sports-menstrual-history-female-athletes-question/

[cattledogkisses]

Feb 9, 2023 14:35:34 GMT -5 mrsslocombe said:

Update: they voted to eliminate the menstruation questions 14-2: www.tampabay.com/sports/high-schools/2023/02/09/florida-high-school-athletic-association-sports-menstrual-history-female-athletes-question/

Good.  And also good to this:

The association’s executive director is recommending that students’ medical forms be kept by their doctor with only the physicians’ signature page submitted to schools, according to the meeting agenda.

Like I said previously, there's no reason why schools need detailed medical information.  All they need to know is that the student has been cleared by their doctor to participate in athletics. 

I usually expect the least out of Florida, so I'm pleasantly surprised here.

[seeyalater52]

Don’t be pleasantly surprised yet. They made the sex at birth question mandatory. And trans athletes are banned from playing in FL public schools so that information does need to be reported and will be used to determine participation.

www.palmbeachpost.com/story/news/education/2023/02/09/fhsaa-meets-on-student-athlete-sex-menstrual-history-questions/69885908007/?fbclid=IwAR1o8uRhnHY9MmEZmRIj9u9YOG2RGT-qxxUyDFAnr8-aZlJb1Dg0rNFsSGI#ldxldat2uy626827dgf

Looks like they decided to cut out the part that cis people objected to and go straight to the point.

[mpm]

Feb 9, 2023 16:10:30 GMT -5 seeyalater52 said:

Don’t be pleasantly surprised yet. They made the sex at birth question mandatory. And trans athletes are banned from playing in FL public schools so that information does need to be reported and will be used to determine participation.

www.palmbeachpost.com/story/news/education/2023/02/09/fhsaa-meets-on-student-athlete-sex-menstrual-history-questions/69885908007/?fbclid=IwAR1o8uRhnHY9MmEZmRIj9u9YOG2RGT-qxxUyDFAnr8-aZlJb1Dg0rNFsSGI#ldxldat2uy626827dgf

Looks like they decided to cut out the part that cis people objected to and go straight to the point.

I hate this. As someone who lives uncomfortably close to Florida, whose state is enacting uncomfortably similar legislation and policies as in Florida, albeit with less national media attention, I’m constantly asking myself whether I need to gtfo or stay and keep my liberal vote here. No @ parents should be put in that position.