LEWISTON – Home-schooled students are allowed to play sports for their local public schools, but a rule that has taken some parents and students by surprise says they can’t play for private schools.

The Maine Principals Association, which oversees school sports and championships, says private school teams that allow home-schoolers to play can be forced to forfeit games and barred from tournaments.

Maine has about 4,400 home-schooled students. A decade-old state law gives them access to activities only at their local public schools.

The prohibition against playing for private schools appeared in a memo sent by the MPA last week to private schools in Maine. Some players say they were taken by surprise by the rule.

Michael Stotts, a 19-year-old who’s played basketball for the past seven years for Eastgate Christian Academy in New Gloucester, would have to play for Poland Regional High School this year.

“I don’t think it’s fair for other students like me,” Stotts said. “I think everybody should be able to play basketball.”

His mother, Paula Stotts, has asked her state representative to submit a bill to allow students like Stotts to bypass the MPA rule.