A Philadelphia girl whose fight to play football earned her national attention and even an appearance on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" is now pushing to allow other girls to have the same opportunity she once did.
Caroline Pla, 13, made headlines in 2013 when she asked the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to allow her to play in the Catholic youth sports league. Pla had played football in a Catholic Youth Organization(CYO) in suburban Bucks County when she learned an overlooked boys-only rule would be enforced.
Caroline’s family learned that girls weren’t allowed to play CYO football for “safety reasons.” After learning she was banned from the league, Caroline started a petition on change.org and reached out to the media.
Archbishop Charles Chaput later allowed Pla to continue to play football while noting his approval was conditional and subject to review.
“They saw me play, I put them on their butt and they’re like 'Alright, she can play,' and now they treat me like them,” she told Ellen of her experience joining the team.
In 2014, she played her final season in CYO, which runs through 8th grade, for the Doylestown Romans. She also learned however that the provision allowing all girls to play CYO football had expired.
In July, the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference's Education Department announced no contact sport, which includes football, wrestling and rugby, would allow co-ed participation.
Wanting other girls to get the same chance she did. Pla emailed Archbishop Chaput last month, asking him to reconsider the decision to end co-ed football. Pla also plans to create another petition.
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Archbishop spokesperson Kenneth Gavin told NBC10 aside from Pla, no girl has played or even asked to play CYO football in the last two years.
Gavin also told Philly.com the decision to allow Pla to play was provisional and an exception to the rule.
