The fifth-grade girls’ basketball team that won a tournament against boys’ teams and was denied a trophy will be recognized by their home town in an effort to resolve a growing controversy in Alabama.
The Hoover Park Alabama Parks and Recreation Department (HPRD) announced the resolution Monday after a mother from the Spain Park girls’ team sparked the debate with a Facebook post.
‘What did they do to be disqualified?’ asked Jayme Mashayekh, the mother of one of the girls on the team. ‘Didn’t they pay their dues? Didn’t they level up in the competition? Oh, is it because they’re GIRLS?!?!’
The problem, according to the HPRD, stemmed from tournament rules that differentiate elite teams from recreational league teams, and not from the gender of the eventual champions. Although the Spain Park girls competed against the boys, they were still considered a select or “elite” team, and because of this, they were never eligible for a trophy in the tournament made up of mostly recreational teams.
“Only regular recreation teams are eligible for awards/trophies,” the HPRD statement read. ‘Coaches of ‘elite’ teams are aware of and agree to these rules at the time they apply to participate.’
Championship winner Spain Park poses for a photo to celebrate their win over the boys.
The girls of Spain Park, an elite Hoover team, were reportedly told at the start of the season that they would not be able to practice at the local gym unless they joined the boys’ recreation league.
Despite being an elite team, one that trials to fill out their roster, the Spain Park girls did exactly that, winning the tournament championship before being told they were ineligible for a trophy.
Instead, the hardware was given to the boys’ recreation team they had defeated in the finals.
“So proud of Rylie and his basketball team,” Mashayekh’s post read. It was a hard lesson they learned tonight. They won the fifth grade boys’ recreational league championship, but did not receive the trophy.
‘These girls have played together for 3 years in a competitive women’s league representing Spain Park. They are all fifth graders in the Hoover school system. In the middle (sic) of the season they were told they couldn’t use the Hoover gyms for their practices unless they paid to play in the Hoover rec league.
“They were told to stick together as a team, that they had to level up in the competition and play against the fifth grade boys,” Mayshayekh continued. ‘The girls were in the middle of the pack all season losing several close games by 1 point.
‘Playing the boys was a challenge they faced. It made them better players and a better team. They were told before the tournament that they could play it, but if they won they wouldn’t be allowed to take the trophy.’
The girls of Spain Park, an elite Hoover team, were reportedly told at the start of the season that they would not be able to practice at the local gym (pictured) unless they joined the men’s recreation league .
The HPRD responded in a statement on Monday, explaining that the Spain Park girls and another elite team would be honored at Monday night’s city council meeting.
“Questions have recently been raised about the recognition of teams participating in a youth basketball tournament conducted by the Hoover Parks and Recreation Department (HPRD),” the organization’s statement read.
‘For many years, HPRD has allowed Hoover-based ‘elite’ teams to participate in the tournaments it hosts. These ‘elite’ teams are not wanted by HPRD, they come to HPRD and ask to participate. The members of the “elite” teams are selected by hand. They do not go through the same talent evaluation as those who participate in regular recreational league teams. Therefore, ‘elite’ teams are willing to compete against recreation teams in a different division within their grade level or against teams that are above their grade level to ensure fair competition for all youth athletes. . If an ‘elite’ team participates in an HPRD youth tournament and makes it to the championship round, they are not eligible to receive any awards/trophies. Only regular recreation teams are eligible for awards/trophies. Coaches of ‘elite’ teams are aware of and accept these rules at the time they apply to participate.’
As the organization explained, the rules apply to both the girls’ and boys’ elite teams.
“HPRD has never treated any team differently based on gender or any other factor, except for the ‘elite’ status of some teams,” the statement continued. ‘To that point, in the same recent tournament that has been in question, an ‘elite’ men’s team also won a championship game, but did not receive any awards/trophy. They were not eligible due to their ‘elite’ status. This winning team included the son of an elected official from the city of Hoover, indicating that the same rules apply to all teams, regardless of gender.
“The two ‘elite’ teams that won their grade groups have been invited to attend the Hoover Town Hall meeting on Monday March 6, 2023 so they can be recognized for their recent victories.”
The organization vowed to review its policies to ensure fair competition and procedures, and that those details are “more clearly understood.”
Mashayekh did not respond to DailyMail.com’s request for comment.