Player with Down Syndrome kicked off team by rigid age limit

Link Source: Yahoo Sports


By Cameron Smith

For two consecutive years, the most beloved member of the Hobbton (N.C.) High football team was Brett Bowden, a student with Down Syndrome who would suit up and cheer during every varsity game, eventually earning the right to lead the team onto the field and run a touchdown play after every game. He even scored one official touchdown in a game.

In other words, Bowden was everyone's favorite player, even though he rarely ever played. Yet Bowden's place on the varsity sideline was also a weekly rite of passage that meant just as much to the teenager and his family as it did to his teammates.

Suddenly, all of that was taken away from the teenager in August, when he and his family learned he wouldn't be able to officially be a part of the Hobbton team for his senior year for a very simple yet rigid reason: He's now too old.

According to Greenville ABC affiliate WWAY-TV3, WRAL.com partner HighSchoolOT and other sources, Bowden recently turned 19, an age which the North Carolina High School Athletic Association deems too old to participate in high school sports. While the organization has reached out to express "understanding" about how Bowden's situation has left members of the Hobbton community heartbroken, it also insisted that nothing could be done to circumvent the NCHSAA age regulations.

"Brett don't see that he has Down Syndrome," Bowden's mother, Pat Bowden, told WWAY. "Brett wants just to be one of those guys, out there dressed, thinking that he is a football player, feeling like he's a football player."

In an effort to clarify its official position, North Carolina High School Athletic Association Commissioner Davis Whitfield released a statement about Bowden's varsity eligibility on Wednesday.

"I want to be clear that the student-athlete has not been 'kicked off the team,'" Whitfield said in the statement, which he emailed to Prep Rally directly. "Brett Bowden could still be a part of the team, lead his team on the field, wear his jersey and be with his teammates, including some of the post-game activities he has done in the past.

"The only thing that he cannot do now that he could do before is dress out in full uniform, since a student must be eligible to be dressed for a contest. He is over the age limit based on the eligibility rules, and this State Board of Education policy is one we are not allowed to set aside."

The Hobbton community clearly doesn't think the NCHSAA's decision is acceptable, and it has the Facebook posts to prove it is not alone. After learning of Bowden's ineligibility, the teen's younger sister, Taylor Bowden, set up a Facebook page last Friday entitled "Let Brett Bowden Play." After a handful of photos of Bowden in action and an explanation of why Bowden should be able to remain a member of the Wildcat team was posted, the page took off. As of Tuesday night, nearly 6,200 Facebook members had "liked" the page, with hundreds leaving their feelings about the NCHSAA ruling in posts on the page's wall.

The Facebook drive's popularity hasn't been a surprise to Taylor, who said that the community has always rallied around her brother.

"The whole community loves Brett," Taylor Bowden told WWAY. "Eveyone comes to the football games to watch him. When he goes out there and warms up it's the best time."

Another of Bowden's teammates called the senior his inspiration, saying that every time Bowden leads the Wildcats onto the field he's driven to play as hard as possible to do Bowden proud.

Whether he ever gets the chance to feel that way again is now in the hands of a state organization which will have to decide whether bending the rules for one clearly worthwhile cause is acceptable, or whether doing so would open the door to more problems for other North Carolina schools going forward.

Re: Player with Down Syndrome kicked off team by rigid age limit

Although I do agree that a rule is a rule- I think an exception could be made since he never actually plays. What harm could wearing a uniform do?!

If it was an insurance issue- I could understand. I was thinking the reasoning was going to be that he was too old to be covered by the school's insurance policy- but there's no mention of that at all. And again- he doesn't even play!

I feel badly for the boy

Message edited 8/11/2011 3:38:56 PM.

Re: Player with Down Syndrome kicked off team by rigid age limit

I think that if he is still enrolled in high school, he should be able to play.

Re: Player with Down Syndrome kicked off team by rigid age limit

Re: Player with Down Syndrome kicked off team by rigid age limit

I'd be inclined to alter the teams uniform, just his uniform, slightly, so he could still feel part of the team.

Re: Player with Down Syndrome kicked off team by rigid age limit

Tough call....

I think if they made an exception for him to play they'd be having to make an exception for others as well. So while part of me says "oh just let the kid play" where do you draw the line?

A rule is a rule I guess....

Re: Player with Down Syndrome kicked off team by rigid age limit

Wonder if Title IX regulations come into ply here.

With cheerleading a sport and not a club they are probably more strict with eligibility rules.

Re: Player with Down Syndrome kicked off team by rigid age limit

Re: Player with Down Syndrome kicked off team by rigid age limit

Re: Player with Down Syndrome kicked off team by rigid age limit

Re: Player with Down Syndrome kicked off team by rigid age limit

This really is a tough call.

I think that if he's enrolled in HS, he should still be able to play.
If has graduated, well, then, I guess a rule is a rule and it does stink.

Re: Player with Down Syndrome kicked off team by rigid age limit

It's tough, but there's part of me that sticks to the "rules are rules" side in this case..

*it doesn't say he "never" plays, it says "rarely"..so although i understand the difference, he would be the only 19 year old to play? where do you draw the line?

*for a previous poster who talked about him being able to play bc he was still in school, if you are classified you can attend school until 21..so that would also be an issue

*they're not saying he can't be there, and still be a part of what he was, it seems they're saying it just can't be "official" anymore

Re: Player with Down Syndrome kicked off team by rigid age limit

Although I think the rule is ridiculous- I agree he shouldn't be allowed to play.

I work with developmentally disabled teenagers. Although they have the mindset of preschoolers, they still need to follow conventional rules for teenagers (for example kissing teachers is inappropriate- which can be difficult to say to a very affectionate 14 year old with Down Syndrome). But in the end they should still be treated like any other teenager. In this case, I think this boy should be treated like any other 19 year old- he can't play.

Re: Player with Down Syndrome kicked off team by rigid age limit

Re: Player with Down Syndrome kicked off team by rigid age limit

Re: Player with Down Syndrome kicked off team by rigid age limit

this breaks my heart to read.


as someone who has a brother with down syndrome, I couldn't possibly see the harm in letting this boy continue cheering on and supporting his schools team. It's innocent and gives this boy a sense of belonging.

There should be an alternative solution for this. Maybe letting him just wear the jersey, instead of full uniform. Or giving him his own honorary numbered jersey.

I do agree that "a rule is a rule", but whenever I see a story regarding a down syndrome child I always tend to take the defensive and think " what if this was happening to my brother".