Parker Tirrell and Iris Turmelle could play on their school sports teams Monday if their schools submit a written agreement allowing them to participate on female sports teams while a federal lawsuit is ongoing.

Tirrell, a 15-year-old soccer player from Plymouth Regional High School, and Turmelle, a 14-year-old who will soon join Pembroke Academy, recently learned from their schools that they were barred from playing on female sports teams due to a law signed by Governor Chris Sununu on July 19.

Taking effect on Sunday, this legislation requires students to provide a birth certificate to prove their sex to join female sports teams for grades 5 through 12, As transgender girls, this rule effectively bars Tirrell and Turmelle from playing.

In response, Tirrell and Turmelle, with their families, filed a federal lawsuit in the United States District Court in Concord, arguing that the law infringes on their equal protection rights and violates Title IX by discriminating against them based on their sex and transgender status.

Following the lawsuit, a video conference was held on Friday with Judge Landy McCafferty, the chief judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire.

Attorneys representing both sides agreed to submit a joint stipulation by Monday by 10 a.m., which would allow Tirrell and Turmelle to participate in sports while the litigation continues.

Judge McCafferty also ruled that this arrangement would shield the school districts from liability during this period.

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The lawsuit filed by Tirrell and Turmelle filed by the GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders, the ACLU of New Hampshire, and the Boston-based law firm Goodwin, names nearly two dozen defendants in the lawsuit including Frank Edelblut, the commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Education, members of the state’s board of education.

Pemi-Baker Regional and Pembroke school districts and their respective school boards are also named in the lawsuit.

The families had asked the court for a preliminary injunction that would allow their children to play. Tirrell also asked for an emergency order in hopes that a judge would issue an initial ruling before Plymouth soccer practice begins on Monday at 6 p.m.

If the joint stipulation is not filed by the deadline, the court will schedule a hearing to consider a temporary restraining order shortly after noon on August 19.

By Wednesday, the parties must file a proposed briefing schedule for the preliminary injunction motion. This schedule will outline how and when the arguments for the preliminary injunction will be presented.

Sruthi Gopalakrishnan can be reached at sgopalakrishnan@cmonitor.com