IT STOPPED BEING A GOOD POLICY WHEN IT STARTED BENEFITING YOUNG MEN, I GUESS: Pa. school sports group may revisit cross-gender play.

The association removed the previous rule prohibiting cross-gender [sic] play from its bylaws in 1975, although individual schools can still ban the practice, according to PIAA associate executive director Melissa Mertz.

But this year, the association joined a couple from Pittsburgh who asked a judge to overturn the 38-year-old ruling, citing the competitive imbalance boys were causing in their daughters’ field hockey contests. . . .

Mertz said last week the PIAA board had not decided how it would respond. Lawyers for the association are expected to discuss the matter with board members at a meeting this week.

She did say, however, that the association was wary of establishing such a policy because it could lead to lawsuits alleging violation of the state’s Equal Rights Amendment, the same amendment that was cited to strike down the previous PIAA policy.