State Sports Official Seeks to Clear Way for Team to Wear Yarmulkes

In an effort to end the controversy surrounding an Orthodox Jewish high school basketball team’s decision to wear yarmulkes during games, a California Interscholastic Federation official said he will ask for rules clarifications at state and national levels.

Dean Crowley, the federation’s southern section commissioner, said rules pertaining to religious head wear need to be more fully detailed to prevent repetition of several recent incidents in which members of the Valley Torah basketball team claimed that they were harassed by officials for wearing yarmulkes during games. Problems arose even though the school showed officials a letter signed by Crowley granting the players permission to wear the cloth skullcaps.

“This should have never happened,” Crowley said.

Orthodox Jewish males are required to always wear yarmulkes, symbolizing a constant recognition of God.

Crowley’s action was prompted by a Times story Sunday in which Valley Torah players and staff members told of the frustration and embarrassment they have endured in order to practice their faith.

Support for the school “has been fantastic,” said Carlos Ramos, secular principal and athletic director at Valley Torah. “We’ve gotten calls from so many people in the community backing us. They’re all saying the same thing, ‘What is the big deal about playing (basketball) with yarmulkes?”

On two occasions this season, Valley Torah was ordered by officials to remove the yarmulkes or risk forfeiting the game. The team complied the first time, in a season opener at Calvary Baptist in La Verne, but refused the second time, in a Dec. 19 game at Whitney High in Cerritos. After a 40-minute delay, the referee reluctantly proceeded with that game.

Two days later, at Manoogian High in Canoga Park, officials made Valley Torah players affix their yarmulkes with tape rather than the metal clips that are normally used. Officials reportedly were motivated by safety concerns in all the incidents.

Crowley said the officials overstepped their authority by disregarding his letter permitting Valley Torah to wear yarmulkes.