PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — The South Dakota High School Activities Association is further honing its policy on transgender student participation in athletics after several unsuccessful attempts during the 2015 legislative session to void the policy.

The association's board of directors met Wednesday to discuss revisions to the rules. The policy provides a way for transgender students to request to participate on the sports team that reflects their gender identities.

Board members directed further revisions to the policy presented at the meeting, in part based on concerns from legislators.

Association Attorney Lindsey Riter-Rapp says the policy is necessary because the trend in the law is to provide protections to transgender students.

Member Dan Whalen opposes the policy. He says the association has focused on legal protections for schools at the expense of fairness in athletics.

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