What are the various summer leagues policies on swimmers and gender identification

[Anonymous]

My biological son now is identifying as female (16). My husband and I are divorced and my child can choose between Colonial league (my husband's pool) or NVSL (through me) since my child splits their time. How is this handled with the various leagues? What are the policies? And can anyone point me to the regs?

[Anonymous]

The NVSL rule book is notably silent on this topic.

[Anonymous]

I skimmed through the NVSL handbook but I didn’t see anything there that addresses this. It might be covered in their reference to USA Swimming rules, who themselves seem to defer to USMS rules which state:


“ 2. Athletes who identify as trans female are eligible to compete in the female category provided that the following conditions are met:

• Hormonal therapy appropriate for the female gender has been administered continuously and uninterrupted in a verifiable manner for a sufficient length of time, no less than one year, to minimize gender-related advantages in sport competitions.
• Documentation is available showing testosterone serum levels regularly measured during the last twelve months that are below 5 nmol/L. In the event of an eligibility question or protest, the athlete is responsible for providing such documentation.
• Verification of testosterone serum levels applies regardless of when the gender transition occurred and whether or not the athlete has undergone gender confirmation surgery. In the event of an eligibility question or protest, the athlete will not be required to provide any specific health or medical information other than the specified hormone treatments and levels.

Athletes who identify as female who do not meet the above requirements may participate in the female gender category, with their times removed from the results. In other words, the athlete is not eligible for official times, places, points, records, Top 10, or other forms of official recognition.”

I could be wrong though

[Anonymous]

You might consider an email to [e-mail].

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The NVSL rule book is notably silent on this topic.

I know three kids in the neighborhood that identify differently than their birth gender, how is this not addressed? I am being serious. How do high schools deal with it?

[Anonymous]

a 16 year old biological boy is going to cream biological girls. Gender is a huge advantage in swimming. Note the 15-18 all star free style swim times- 18 kids swim. the boy who came in 18th would have taken first place swimming as a girl
https://www.mynvsl.com/results/26586?back=dt

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:a 16 year old biological boy is going to cream biological girls. Gender is a huge advantage in swimming. Note the 15-18 all star free style swim times- 18 kids swim. the boy who came in 18th would have taken first place swimming as a girl
https://www.mynvsl.com/results/26586?back=dt

I don't disagree with you at all. But there should be a policy out there, written. There are definite biological advantages, the same way all stars tends to be dominated by the 19 years olds that swim in 15-18. But there is a rule there.

[Anonymous]

If your child doesn’t want to swim with the boys team, the only fair thing is to not swim competitively at this time.

[Anonymous]

In our league, the child can swim in their chosen (for lack of a better word) gender's events, but will be scored in their biological gender's events. So your trans daughter could swim with the girls but will appear on the meet results as a boy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In our league, the child can swim in their chosen (for lack of a better word) gender's events, but will be scored in their biological gender's events. So your trans daughter could swim with the girls but will appear on the meet results as a boy.

Sounds logical

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In our league, the child can swim in their chosen (for lack of a better word) gender's events, but will be scored in their biological gender's events. So your trans daughter could swim with the girls but will appear on the meet results as a boy.

Which league?

Does that work both ways? Could my trans son win events they didn't swim in? That seems really awkward.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In our league, the child can swim in their chosen (for lack of a better word) gender's events, but will be scored in their biological gender's events. So your trans daughter could swim with the girls but will appear on the meet results as a boy.

How does that work? For a race, each team gets three lane. A swimmer whose swim wasn't being scored would mean the team is forfeiting that lane. It also seems unfair to score them against a heat they aren't in because racers look to the side to pace themselves

[Anonymous]

USA Swimming has guidance. If this is a new transition, they would not be allowed to swim in the new gender for a competitive meet. But they can probably swim in a B meet in with their preferred gender. Contact your team reps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In our league, the child can swim in their chosen (for lack of a better word) gender's events, but will be scored in their biological gender's events. So your trans daughter could swim with the girls but will appear on the meet results as a boy.

This is probably the fairest approach

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In our league, the child can swim in their chosen (for lack of a better word) gender's events, but will be scored in their biological gender's events. So your trans daughter could swim with the girls but will appear on the meet results as a boy.

How does that work? For a race, each team gets three lane. A swimmer whose swim wasn't being scored would mean the team is forfeiting that lane. It also seems unfair to score them against a heat they aren't in because racers look to the side to pace themselves

That's a good point.

And this is why we need to have honest and respectful conversation about how when we open things up to trans female, we MAY be displacing biological females. And we need to ask ourselves if thats ok.

That's not to demonize the trans community or suggest that they shouldn't be their authentic selves. But also that their decisions and actions dont happen in a vacuum.

In this scenario, I think the athlete should swim with their biological peers