A Game that No One Wants To Play
Roxbury Cheerleaders and Girls Basketball Players are getting ready to adjust to Title IX’s expectations.
by Alyssa Fane
Girls cheering for girls; a new concept for Roxbury’s sports teams. This year Cheerleaders will be cheering for both girls and boys basketball due to Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972.
Title IX prohibits discrimination based on gender in any program that receives federal funds. Title IX covers all aspects of sports including coaching, locker rooms, equipment, and promotion. It was decided that cheerleaders are a promotional tool, therefore they should be available for both girls and boys basketball.
The decision to have cheerleaders at all games has upset many. Cheerleaders are now split between girls and boys games, and at first weren‘t welcoming to the change. The girls basketball team isn’t thrilled about the change either. Varsity Basketball Player Alisa Fersch stated “Personally I don’t want cheerleaders cheering at our games. I think they will be distracting.”
The adjustment will difficult, and interesting to watch play-out as the season moves along.