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Kelvin, the only true harm inflicted upon the girls in Michigan was the fact that their seasons were scheduled around the boys, which perhaps made some girls feel like second-class citizens and, for outdoor sports, subjected them to bad weather.
The MHSAA's trial attorneys did not present sufficient or compelling proofs, even though such proofs exist. There are tremendous advantages to having boys and girls play the same sports in different seasons: the best coaches, officials and facilities are available to both boys and girls. For talented basketball players, the fall season gave them an advantage because they had the undivided attention of college recruiters, since no one else was playing.
The MHSAA, though, gave the girls the "lesser" season in every sport, which was wrong. In the case of outdoor sports where weather is a factor, particularly in northern Michigan (eh, Mick), the spring season is short, cold and miserably wet.
As an official, I enjoyed working a full schedule of girls basketball in the fall, followed by a full schedule of boys basketball in the winter. Now I won't be able to work as many games. No big deal.
For the high school boys and girls, though, many will have worse coaches, worse officials, and worse practice times.
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