I would like to correct a small error in your recent article, "Somerset Berkley Field Hockey: Mixed gender topic off limits for focused Raiders."

In it, towards the end, you stated, "In the first field hockey season after the rule change, male participation dropped to zero. It is currently at zero, Jennifer S. Grassel, PIAA Assistant Executive Director, said on Thursday."

That is not entirely correct. My son is a dedicated male field hockey high school player in Downingtown, Pennsylvania, attending Downingtown West High School. He is a goalkeeper and is on Downingtown West's field hockey team. Though he is not officially "rostered" through PIAA, he has attended every single training, practice and game for West's season since tryouts in August and is considered a non-playing member of the team.

I would greatly appreciate if you would bring attention to the commitment and dedication non-playing males have in this sport due to their state's rules. Knowing that he would never play one minute in goal for West or represent his team in their jersey on the field during a game, Toby has still trained and practiced with them all season long and has cheered from the sidelines every game. What other athlete would do this, knowing that their state has restricted them from ever playing? I think it is quite commendable on my son's part.

I'd love for you to highlight that this is what boys who have a passion for this sport that they are not allowed to play are up against in Pennsylvania.

It is very unfortunate that the United States is the only country to deem field hockey as a "girls sport" and not have male or co-ed opportunities for play between the ages of 12 and 18. Boys can play coed field hockey on under-12 teams, and there are many adult co-ed teams for the over-18 age group, but boys like Toby and the two boys you have written about are pretty much locked out of playing between 12 and 18.

Also, I can tell you that Toby does have the opportunity to play club field hockey on an all boys team, Band of Brothers. These boys come from several states, Massachusetts down through Virginia, to play together in tournaments that welcome all-boy teams. They don't get to practice together because of the distance between them, but they are welcome at various boy-friendly venues. In fact, they just played this past weekend and they played against all girl teams and they didn't win the tournament. Went 1-1-1. It is only at the high school level in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and Virginia, to name a few, that boys are shut out of ever representing their school in their sport on the field.

Makes me sad for my son. He loves, loves field hockey.

Liz Peck

Downingtown, Pennsylvania