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An eight-man high school football team in California forfeited a playoff game which officially ends its season. The school cited a controversial policy after making its decision.
Santa Maria Valley Christian Academy has chosen not to continue its postseason run. It will not play its previously scheduled matchup vs. Cornerstone Christian.
This is the latest of many high school football forfeitures seen throughout the state of California this fall. Most, however, have stemmed from rule breaking.
There’s been a recent crackdown on illegal transfers. Teams discovered to have played with ineligible players on the roster are being barred from competition.
It’s impacted both the cheaters and some of their rule-following counterparts. The case of Santa Maria Valley Christian Academy, however, is much different.
The high school is choosing to forfeit its upcoming football game.
The eight-man team went 7-1 in the regular season. It will not get the chance to continue success on the field due to school policy, says Los Angeles based sports reporter Tarek Fattal.
Santa Maria Valley Christian Academy refuses to compete against teams with female players.
We have a policy in our school that boys are not to touch girls. And that is a policy to protect our young men and to respect our young ladies mainly. That policy extends over onto the athletic field, specifically football… So, our policy is we will not play a team that has a girl on its roster
-Valley Christian Academy Superintendent Joel Mikkelson
In 2023, Mikkelson further explained that policy, which was put in place five years prior. He insists the move was not made out of “arrogance” or “pride.” Rather, the school wants to “treat women with gentleness and respect.”
“We want our young men to apply that to the football field… Football is a violent game, and accordingly we want them to operate within the rules of football and hit people well. And we don’t want them to do that to a young lady.”
-Joel Mikkelson
The rule relates only to contact sports. Valley Christian has suited up against teams with female players in basketball and baseball. It does not make it any less controversial.
The decision has sparked a major reaction.
Social media users were quick to chime in with their opinions. Most disagree with the school’s outlook.
“This has got to be one of the dumbest things I’ve seen in high school sports,” wrote one follower. “Seriously, very poor leadership at this school.”
Another echoed those sentiments by saying, “Adults don’t really care about kids, man.”
Cornerstone Christian’s female player appears to be a senior kicker that is also a member of the Crusaders’ soccer team.
She worked hard to earn a spot on the football roster. Valley Christian will not play her.
It officially ends the Lions’ season, and the careers of veteran players. That is not the only reason the decision is controversial, though.
The school previously settled a Title IX discrimination lawsuit in 2023 due to the same policy.
Cuyama Valley had a girl playing receiver… Her guardian filed a lawsuit… including a Title IX violation for discrimination and/or hostile environment.
Cuyama Valley’s female player took part in a scrimmage against Valley Christian Academy in March 2021… “Only once her helmet was removed could Defendant Valley Christian… see that Plaintiff was, in fact, female.”
Two days later, according to the lawsuit, Valley Christian Academy informed Cuyama Valley “that they made the decision to uproot their entire football schedule to avoid playing” against the female player again.
“In Defendants’ eyes, Plaintiff, as a woman, was too frail and weak to compete in a ‘man’s sport.'”
This most recent cancellation is the latest in a long list. The school has been ruffling feathers for years.
Just two months after that previously mentioned settlement, Valley Christian Academy forfeited a game with the same reasoning for a fourth consecutive season.
The year prior, it gave up a league title opportunity with a similar forfeiture.
The impacts continue to be seen in 2025. Despite the negative impact on championship pursuits, as well as the outside perception, it does not appear the school’s outlook will change.