Caroline Pla just won her fight to get back on the field . Pla has been playing football since kindergarten , and for the past two years , the 11-year-old has been holding her own on the gridiron . Her playing time with the Catholic Youth Organization ended after last season when the Archdiocese of Philadelphia enforced its `` boys only '' policy for football , sidelining the All-Star guard and defensive end . 'More than able to hold her own , ' girl gets boot . Members of a panel selected by the archdiocese voted to continue the boys-only policy as written . Despite the panel 's recommendation , on Thursday Archbishop Charles Chaput ordered the archdiocese to allow girls to play CYO football , according to a statement . `` The Archdiocese will allow for co-ed participation in CYO football , effective in the 2013 season , '' the statement said , adding that the rule was provisional and will be reviewed in future seasons . `` The Archbishop is grateful for their time and prudent counsel , '' Archdiocese of Philadelphia spokesman Kenneth A. Gavin said in the statement , adding that the recommendation was only one factor in the decision making process . `` All possible factors were considered including the expectations of coaches , parents , and pastors , common current practice , legal circumstances and the CYO policies of dioceses around the country . '' Caroline was walking home from school when her mother caught up with her to tell her the news . `` I was screaming , jumping and laughing , '' she said . `` I 'm just really excited and surprised . I was n't expecting this ( news ) . '' Caroline expressed appreciation for all the support she received around the world , without which , she said , `` I do n't think the rule would have been changed . '' She also thanked Archbishop Chaput , saying that `` it was his decision in the end . '' Caroline 's mother , Seal Pla , said she was pleased with the decision , which came after her daughter mounted a fight , rallying support from around the nation . After her pleas to the archdiocese were unsuccessful , Caroline decided to call an audible . With the full support of her team , Caroline and her mom started an online petition at change.org to encourage the archdiocese to allow girls to play football that had more than 108,000 signatures as of Thursday afternoon . The publicity surrounding her plight also caught the attention of talk show host Ellen DeGeneres who invited her to appear on the show . `` I 'm just so excited . This is a positive step for the Catholic church , '' her mother said , catching her breath . `` Caroline was never going to give up , even if they said no . '' `` I wish I had that much determination , '' she said . Inspired by her older brother , George , 14 , Caroline started playing Pop Warner flag football at age 5 and was hooked . Once she got too big to play Pop Warner , she signed up to play tackle football with the CYO in fifth grade . Two games into Caroline 's second season , head coach Chip Ross received an unexpected call from Jason Budd , deputy secretary for Catholic education for the archdiocese , who oversees the football program . Not wanting to disrupt the season or ostracize Caroline , Ross and her parents kept the news under wraps and pleaded with the archdiocese to let her finish the season . After a week of corresponding with Budd , including sending a letter of support from the family 's church pastor , an extension was granted . There are 46 football programs , each with junior varsity and varsity teams , under the Archdiocese of Philadelphia CYO . Of the nearly 2,500 participants , Caroline is the only female player . The coaches waited until the end of the season to tell Caroline and her teammates that she was off the team . Though Caroline says she 's never been hurt -- and has laid her share of licks on the boys -- the archdiocese said in a statement that the decision to give Caroline the boot was for her and other girls ' safety . According to the archdiocese , budget cuts and personnel changes allowed Caroline to slip through the cracks , and she actually should 've been denied the opportunity to play when she initially applied in fifth grade . When she first stepped on the field , the boys on Caroline 's first CYO team were uncomfortable lining up against a girl , said her former coach , Jim Reichwein . Those concerns dissipated once Caroline showed she was tough enough to take the rough and tumble of the game . `` We did n't make a big deal about it , '' said Reichwein . `` Anyone who went head-to-head with her ended up on the ground . After a week , ( her gender ) was laid to rest . '' While waiting for Caroline to return from school , Seal Pla said her daughter taught her a powerful lesson . `` Always fight for what you believe in the right way , with respect and persistence , '' she said . Football season is still a while off , but when the time comes , said Caroline , `` I 'll be ready . '' Read the latest news on CNN.com .
Philadelphia Archdiocese reverses course , says girls can play football , provisionally . Girl played 2 seasons of tackle football before archdiocese enforced boys-only rule . Change.org petition asking Archdiocese to reconsider garners 108,000 signatures . Comment: