“The sheet” is part of a new provincial government edict, enacted Sept. 1, that requires all girls age 12 and up who play school sports in all-female leagues provide declarations that they are biological females. It’s part of the Fairness and Safety in Sport Act, which the UCP touts as promoting a level, safe playing field by ensuring girls play in “biological female-only” divisions. For minors, parents or guardians must sign off on the forms.

As soccer is the sport that kicks off the junior high sports calendar, it has acted like the canary in the coal mine for the new regulations. Postmedia has spoken to parents and coaches of junior-high girls, who don’t want to reveal their names for worry that their teams or girls may be punished. But there are stories of a scheduled exhibition game being filled in by a co-ed squad because there weren’t enough girls to fill a team. There are stories of girls who are refusing to sign the forms. There are parents who simply forget to sign the forms or lose them in the shuffle of paperwork that comes with the new school year. One theme is clear — the new mandate has created confusion with parents.

“There is no comparable requirement for boys to confirm their gender,” said another parent. “Once again, the onus is placed on girls to be monitored and regulated, reinforcing the idea that female athletes are the ones who need to be verified.”

There are 10 schools that fielded girls teams in 2024 that aren’t on the schedule for 2025 in a comparison of this year’s Edmonton Public Schools soccer schedule to 2024,