Horrific moment female high school volleyball player suffers serious head injury after transgender girl in rival team smashed '70mph' ball at her head and struck her
- During a girls' volleyball tournament last month, a Highlands High volleyball player who was biologically male, pelted a player in the forehead with the ball
- The Hiwassee Dam player, a biological girl, suffered severe head and neck injuries, together long-term concussion symptoms, including vision problems
- It's estimated that the ball was moving at 70mph - and was described as 'abnormally' fast by one bystander
Footage of a North Carolina girl's high school volleyball match has emerged in which a player suffered a serious injury after a transgender "girl" spiked a ball at her opponent, striking her in the head.
The physical injuries suffered by the female student-athlete at Hiwassee Dam High School were to her head and neck, but the action has since had far-reaching implications for how the game is played in the state after news spread how the offending shot had been played by a biological male.
The Cherokee County school board has subsequently voted 5-1 to forfeit all matches for its schools' women's volleyball teams against Highlands School, for whom the trans player appeared for, as a result of the incident.
It's estimated that the volleyball was spiked at 70mph - and was described as 'abnormally' fast by one bystander.
During a girls' volleyball tournament last month, a Highlands High volleyball player, seen right, who was biologically male, pelted a player in the forehead with the ball
A transgender girl, seen right, could be seen spiking a ball at her opponent striking her in the head
The board appeared to dance around the controversial subject of trans people playing sports for the teams whose sex they were not born into.
Indeed, the board did not refer to any players' sexuality but instead cited concerns over safety.
'The County will not participate in any volleyball games, varsity or junior varsity, against Highlands due to safety concerns,' the minutes from the board's meeting read.
The athletic director from Hiwassee Dam High School, David Payne, was present at the meeting commented that 'a statement needs to be made that it [was] unfair and unsafe' for teams to compete against Highlands.
The Hiwassee Dam player, a biological girl, seen left, fell to the floor after being hit on the head
The girl can be seen sprawled out on the floor of the court. She suffered severe head and neck injuries, together long-term concussion symptoms, including vision problems
He noted, however, that there were 'mixed feelings' from players and parents involved.
'There is a competitive advantage and a safety concern for certain teams — it's not the same for all teams,' Vice Chair Jeff Martin added. 'I can tell you that the board wasn't searching out this kind of thing. It was brought to our attention based on safety concerns.
'The biggest thing for us, especially after seeing the video of the injury, we felt very strongly that it was a safety concern,' board member Jeff Tatham said. 'I think most of the board members also felt like there's a competitive advantage issue.'
'The county will not participate in any volleyball games, varsity or junior varsity, against Highlands due to safety concerns,' the board declared.
Teammates rushed to the girls' aide following the powerful shot which floored her
The game came to a halt whist team medics rushed to the side of the high school athlete
The Hiwassee Dam female player is still suffering from long-term concussion symptoms including problems with her vision and has not been cleared to play.
A 2015 study of volleyball players explained how males are significantly more effective than females at 'attacking' the ball toward their opponent's side.
The body of males also allows for greater momentum and power on jump ball returns.
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