Girl fights to play in Catholic football league

February 22, 2013 at 5:24p.m.

DOYLESTOWN, Pa. (AP) — An 11-year-old girl who’s been playing football since kindergarten wants Philadelphia’s Roman Catholic archdiocese to overturn a boys-only rule.

Caroline Pla has played the last two years in a Catholic youth league in suburban Bucks County.

But the archdiocese let her know last year the league doesn’t accept girls.

At least a few dioceses around the country let girls play football, and about 1,600 play in U.S. high schools.

The Women’s Sports Foundation argues that co-ed sports foster mutual respect among boys and girls. And the foundation says contact sports are safe for pre-adolescents.

Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput says he’ll review the football policy this spring, after hearing from a panel of parents, coaches and doctors.