Family: Archdiocese of Philadelphia won't let 12-year-old girl play football

Chester County, Pa. (WTXF) - She just wants to play football. A 12-year-old Chester County girl is being sidelined from the game she loves. The 7th grader can't play on the team because it's against the rules set by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.The Catholic Youth Organization football league is for boys only.

FOX 29's Chris O'Connell has the story.

To say she comes from a football family would be an understatement.

"My whole family. My husband's been coaching," mom Suzanne Choi said. "My son and now he's a freshman at Bishop Shanahan. He's on the varsity roster."

That's why when other 8-year-old girls were playing with dolls, Brooke Choi picked up the pigskin.

Over her 4 year career in the Bert Bell Youth League for the Downingtown Whippets Brooke--number 36--has become the only female ever to have won two championships. Her position offensive line "woman."

However, when Brooke went to sign up for her local Catholic Youth Organization, she was told by the Archdiocese no girls allowed.

"I was enraged. We thought they were past all of that," her mom said.

The CYO banned girls from football back in 2014. A spokesperson could only confirm a CYO rep has been in touch with the family about the policy.

With just 3 weeks to go in the season, Brooke was made honorary captain to the team she hopes to join next year.