Girls Can Play Football in Gooding

GOODING, Idaho (KTVB)-- The Gooding Recreation District unanimously voted Wednesday evening to allow girls to play fifth and sixth grade tackle football. The league originally banned the girls from playing.

"No one has ever said anything about girls not playing until this incident this week," said Joleen Toone, Gooding Recreation District President. At Wednesday's meeting in Gooding's ISDB Round Building the board decided to reverse the rule and let girls play. The two girls will be allowed to play once they submit a registration form, a physical and $25. The rules for the Magic Valley Youth Football League say girls can play, so Coach Smokey Legarreta let 11-year-old Waycee Irish and 10-year old Justice Prince sign up. Other teams in the Magic Valley also have girls on the roster.

However, the Gooding Recreation District, which runs the team, had a rule: no girls in fifth and sixth grade tackle football. Gooding Recreation District Director Kent Seifert had told youth football coach Smokey Legarreta to remove two girls from his team after Legarreta allowed them to join despite the local ban. Seifert declined to comment on the ban. The two girls said they want to be able to participate.