A high school girl playing field hockey had a really bad day when a male opponent accidentally shot the ball at her face, knocking out her teeth and causing significant facial injuries. The incident occurred during a playoff game between Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High School and Swampscott High School in Massachusetts. The male player from Swampscott wound back his stick to take a shot, but instead, he hit the girl right in the face. It was a loud ‘thud’ followed by the girl screaming in pain and falling to the ground. The players on the field were shocked and the staff from Dighton-Rehoboth quickly came to help the injured player. The girl had to be hospitalized and lost two teeth. The superintendent of Dighton-Rehoboth, Bill Runey, expressed his concern for the player and called for a change in the rules of the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) to ensure player safety. The MIAA currently allows co-ed participation in sports, but Runey believes there should be some restrictions to prevent incidents like this. He wants the MIAA to review their rules and find a middle ground. The athletic director of Swampscott Public Schools, Kelly Wolff, supports the male player’s right to participate and believes he should have the same opportunities as any other player. The MIAA released a statement stating their support for all student-athletes and their commitment to creating a safe environment. They mentioned the Massachusetts Equal Rights Amendment, which prohibits gender discrimination in scholastic sports. However, they also stated that student safety alone has not been a successful argument for changing the rules. In conclusion, this unfortunate incident highlights the need for a balance between inclusivity and player safety in co-ed sports.