Carle Place's Ryan Leary can play both soccer and football, state rules
Carle Place High School senior Ryan Leary will be allowed to play soccer and football this fall after winning his appeal to the New York State Education Department on Friday.
Leary, a 16-year-old star athlete, filed a petition on Sept. 25 that sought a stay on the school’s ruling that he could not play both sports if he wanted to play wide receiver in football.
“I’m thankful I’ll have a chance to compete on the soccer field again,” Leary told Newsday on Friday night. “I missed playing soccer and being around my teammates. After everything that happened, I’m just excited to be back on the field. I didn’t fully realize that I was almost stripped of a chance to step on a pitch ever again.
“This whole thing has made me realize that I can’t take my time here for granted. Once I stepped on the pitch today at practice, I realized that I have to cherish every moment I have left this year. I’m ready to get back to work and hopefully help to bring another county championship back to Carle Place.”
Leary practiced with the soccer team on Friday and then went to football practice.
“I was pretty excited,” said Patrick Leary, Ryan’s father. “I feel great about this because it validates everything we’ve been feeling and everything that’s been going on.”
Patrick Leary said he wasn’t sure when Ryan would be back playing in an actual soccer game and was waiting to hear back from the school.
Neither Nassau County nor the state has a rule that prohibits playing two sports in the same season.
Leary was told by district superintendent Ted Cannone on Aug. 21 that he could play both sports only if he was just the kicker for the football team, citing safety concerns.
Leary chose to play football while remaining hopeful he eventually could return to the soccer team.
“The district acknowledges and respects the decision of the NY State Department of Education and will act accordingly,” Cannone said in a statement to Newsday on Friday.
Leary helped lead Carle Place to a state Class B title in soccer last season and also was the kicker for the football team. He hoped to play both sports again this fall and asked football coach Paul Selhorn if he also could play wide receiver. Leary said he initially was told yes by Selhorn and athletic director Justin Block.
“[Carle Place High School] is hereby directed to allow Ryan Leary to participate in football and soccer during respondent’s fall season for the 2025-2026 school year,” commissioner Betty Rosa wrote, in part, in her decision, which was obtained by Newsday.
Leary and his family took several steps to try to get him back on the soccer pitch. Patrick Leary and his wife, Karin, attended two school board meetings in hopes of getting the decision reversed. They wrote a letter to Cannone, who responded by saying the district would not change its decision. Then they filed the petition with the state.
Leary has excelled on the football field this season as a wide receiver and kicker. He has 15 catches for 361 yards and four touchdowns for the Frogs (2-2). He also has 12 carries for 133 yards and two touchdowns and has totaled 21 points kicking extra points and field goals.
The soccer team is 2-6-2 without Leary, who scored 17 goals for the Frogs last season.
The soccer team’s next game is Saturday against Wheatley, but it’s unclear if Leary will be eligible to play.
Leary also is a standout for the varsity basketball and track and field teams.
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