Down Syndrome boy banned from playing soccer as 12th man
Soccer officials have banned an under-14s team from letting a boy with Down Syndrome play as an extra 12th man on their side.
Marc Stillhard, 16, has played soccer since the age of six. The sport-loving teen has physical and intellectual implications as a result of his disability.
His mother is begging the North Coast Football association to rethink their decision and allow her son to take to the field and finish the season on a high.
'With all the will in the world Marc will never make a difference to the outcome of the game. He just wants to play, he loves sport,' she told Daily Mail Australia.
Soccer officials have banned an under-14s team from letting Marc Stillham, who has Down Syndrome, from playing as an extra 12th man on their side
The sports-loving teenager (pictured playing cricket) has played as a 12th man on the soccer team for the last two years without any issue
For the last two years, Marc has played for the the Yamba Breakers, on NSW's North Coast, down two age groups with a bunch of his supportive friends.
Mother Enid Reichler-Stillhard said the North Coast Football (NFC) association had initially agreed with a coach's suggestion to let Marc play as a 12th man rather than have him substituted on and off the field.
'Every week the coach would go to the opposing team and ask if it was alright for Marc to play as a 12th man. Everyone said yes, there was never a problem,' she said.
'In two years that's been happening, the spirit of the game has won.'
But recently, a parent with an opposing team took issue with the rule-bend, filing an official complaint. Rules state that only 11 players are allowed on the field at a time.
'Rules being what they are, NCF have advised we are not able to continue with Marc on the field as an extra player as this is competitive grade football,' NFC wrote.
Marc's mother has tried reaching out to the association to see if their could be any lenience for her son, but claims she has been met with silence.
'He has enthusiasm in buckets': Mother Enid said her son was loved by all of his teammates, who were horrified at the decision to ban him from playing as a 12th man
North Coast Football (NCF) took to social media to defend the decision, stressing that football was an 'inclusive sport' that involved a 'maximum of 11 players.'
'NCF supported and encouraged his participation by provided (sic) an exemption to allow him to participate in a lower age group with the Club team in which he has many friends,' the association wrote.
Ms Reichler-Stillhard is begging the association to allow her son to continue playing in the regular league as a 12th player, so as to not disadvantage his teammates by taking up one of the 11 spots.
'When you see him run around and kick the ball - mind you he only kicks the ball maybe twice or three times in the game - but when he does, when he hears people say 'Well done Marc', you just see him grow in stature,' she told Daily Mail Australia.
'The joy and the enthusiasm he has for participation is powerful. That's what everyone gravitates towards, he has enthusiasm in buckets.'
Parents of other children on the soccer team said their kids looked up to Marc and his 'amazing sportsmanship'
She said his teammates and opponents were all fully on board with him playing and horrified when he was told he couldn't play as a 12th man, fondly recalling a moment he ran the length of the field to score a goal.
'To watch an opposition team give Marc the ball and trip over their own feet to let him score a goal was one of the best events in my life.'
'To all the parents who are raising amazing compassionate children, thank you.
'I don't think anyone realises how much it means to Marc who gets to feel the achievement of playing and being part of a team and to us as a family getting to watch him have so much fun.'
Team parents took to social media to support Marc, applauding his inspirational attitude to life and love of soccer.
'Marc is such a valuable team member, he brings so much compassion and joy to the game and he will always be a part of our team,' wrote one mother.
'I think the players and opposition are lucky to play with Marc, I know my boys look up to him and he always shows amazing sportsmanship,' added another.
A former coach said having Marc on his team was the highlight of his coaching career, while a rival coach said: 'If watching Marc play doesn't put a smile on your face I'd be seeking professional help.'