New Haven Register
They grimace red-faced and sweaty while going for a full-court drive. They steal, they block, they dribble, they shoot layups and even shoot looks of disagreement to the referee.

But there is one thing that separates this young girl’s basketball team from just about any opponent they’re likely to encounter: skirts.

The team of seventh- through 12th-grade girls is made up of students at Beth Chana Academy, an Orthodox Jewish school based in Orange that also serves the tri-state area and beyond.

BCA Skirts guided by religious principles

New Haven Register

They grimace red-faced and sweaty while going for a full-court drive. They steal, they block, they dribble, they shoot layups and even shoot looks of disagreement to the referee.

But there is one thing that separates this young girl’s basketball team from just about any opponent they’re likely to encounter: skirts.

The team of seventh- through 12th-grade girls is made up of students at Beth Chana Academy, an Orthodox Jewish school based in Orange that also serves the tri-state area and beyond.

Under Orthodox Jewish law, the girls, when in public from about age 9, must wear skirts to at least just below their knees, and be covered from their neckline to their elbows to show modesty.

So rather than abandon the desire to play competitive sports, which there are no rules against in the Orthodox religion, the girls formed a team and wear skirts with their Adidas. The “BCA Skirts” as they appropriately call themselves, know some of their opponents think their on-court dress is a little weird, but say they’re proud of their values, as well as their jump shots.

“Let them laugh, we’ll show them on the court,” said forward Riffy Levin, 14, a sophomore.

While the girls aren’t ready to be part of a formal sports conference — the team is only 3 years old — they play other girls’ teams in a more informal circle, said their coach, Jen Britner of Milford, who is Catholic and teaches English, history and gym at the school.

Britner said that while the girls can’t dribble between their legs and the ball sometimes gets caught in the skirts of those who wear them down to their ankles, there’s often a psychological advantage to the flowing garb.

“They may underestimate them,” Britner said of her team’s opponents.

So far this season, they have a record of two wins and four losses.

The girls’ team from Amistad Academy in New Haven didn’t flinch at the appearance of the BCA Skirts at a recent game, because, like the other teams the orthodox girls play, Amistad is used to their unique look.

Many on the Amistad team, wearing traditional uniforms, said they think the BCA Skirts could move about with more ease if they wore shorts.

“I think they should play in shorts,” said Talitha McKinney, 12

But then, looking at the scoreboard at the end of the second quarter, Amistad player Breiana Lawhorn, 12, brought her teammates back down to Earth. The BCA Skirts were ahead.

“I don’t think it matters because they’re good,” Breiana said of the Skirts. “They’re making baskets like it’s nothing.”

Rabbi Sheya Hecht said the BCA Skirts, likely the only orthodox girls team in the state, is proud of the team. He said it’s generated a lot of enthusiasm, but mostly because it embodies a philosophy he tries to bring to all aspects of life at Southern Connecticut Hebrew Academy, which encompasses Beth Chana Academy and other grade levels.

“To have fun, be challenged and not compromise (religious values) is a very special thing,” Hecht said. “We always say our purpose is to show you can do whatever you want” and live an orthodox life, he said. Hecht said you can do anything with “a little ingenuity.”

Members of the boys’ team wear yarmulkes and fringes that are part of an undergarment and tucked into their attire, Hecht said. While those don’t affect their play, it could theoretically, because if they fell off players would have to pick them up before continuing play. Hecht said they are secured in a way that that is unlikely to happen.

The girls on the BCA Skirts are unwavering in their priorities.

“Even if it does restrain us from playing, the fact that we’re proud to wear the skirts gives us confidence,” said point guard, Shevy Levin, 16, a junior.

Some of the girls said they’ve found advantages to being able to stop the ball with their skirts.

“I’ve grown up with wearing a skirt and I know it’s for modesty; I take pride in showing you can’t compromise on this for anything,” said Shaina Teitelbaum, 16, a junior.

Shaina’s mom, Chaia Teitelbaum, traveled from New Jersey recently on a weeknight to see her daughter, a boarding student, play against Amistad.

“We’re actually thrilled that as religious girls they’re allowed to be in something like this,” said Teitelbaum, a mother of 12.

While the issue of attire or adhering to principles of any orthodox religion doesn’t come up often in professional sports, when it does, there are headlines. Nassim Hassanpour, a teenage markswoman from Iran, was able to take part in the 2004 Olympics in Athens because its one of the few events that allows Muslim women to wear the obligatory head scarf and long coat. Al Ghasara, an Olympic sprinter from Bahrain is a strict Muslim athlete who adheres to traditional Islamic standards of feminine modesty, which means she wears long sleeves, long pants and a hijab — a head scarf.

Some high school athletic departments in the country also have had to face the issue. For instance, the Iowa High School Athletic Association exempts religious medals from its no jewelry rule during play rules, but requires the medals to be taped to the athlete for safety. They also state in the rules that head gear or other clothing that needs to be worn for religious reasons can be allowed by special exception with documentation.

And in one of the most famous instances of an athlete putting religious values before the game, Los Angeles Dodgers star pitcher Sandy Koufax in 1965 did not pitch in the first game of the World Series because it fell on Yom Kippur, one of the religion’s holiest holidays. Instead, Koufax went to shul that day and fasted.

22 Comments

  • Good Job

    Wow. This is a beautiful article. I think all frum girls schools should have physical activity like this one! I’m proud of the school and what they are doing. Keep it up!

  • SS, from the -Pesach Upstate gang-!

    I’m so proud of you, A.H.!!!
    Need a coach? ;)

    Actually at this point, you could prob teach ME some stuff…

  • Jeff Sanders

    Koufax did not go to shul that day, nor did he fast. He sat in the dugout throughout the game.

  • K K

    BCA u guys r awesome!! go shaina and mrs t and riffy and shevy (sry…im not sure whos on the team but i know u guys r b/c u guys spoke…but u guys r awesome!!!

  • cool!!!

    i think its really great that the girls have the opportunity to participate in this great sport. This is something constructive, motivating, invigorating, stimulating, not to mention healthy keeping them busy and of the streets. (although im sure they wouldn’t be on the streets either way cuz they are all great girls) BCA skirts should be an example to all other girl high schools out there.

  • Sholom

    To heck with Halochoh and priorities, at least we FEEL GOOD, right?

    אוי לנו שכל עלתה בימינו

    I’m sure the Rebbe sheps Nachas……………………

  • can you guess

    hey guys….
    i guess it’s good the story didnt cover the rest of the game! huh! lol You guys are the best- when it’s a loss the reff just doenst like us!
    Chana, where happy you joined the team!

  • anon

    Good for you!
    More girls high schoold should encourage girls to play sports. and what a iddush Hashem that they can show that being frum does not equal being restricted.

  • MIRIAM S.

    YO B! HEY, YO B C A, YO B C SISTERS!…MEMBER THE GOOD OL DAYS…PLAYING H.H.N.E…WELL, BAIS CHANA, IM PROUD TO B AN ALUMNUS! BETTER LUCK NEXT GAME!

  • anonymous

    faiga chana, faiga chana, fay faiga chana…that actually looks funnier than it sounds…u rock!!!

  • To cool!!!

    theres no streets to be on in orange conneticut…less u feel like crossing the highways when cars are flying by at 5 0 mph..