#11- Sanctioning

Lacrosse is not a sanctioned sport at high schools in Utah. Why? As players and coaches this is frustrating. This means that we are a club sport, so we have to fundraise for everything. We have to find a place to play and practice on our own which can be challenging and expensive. We have to buy our uniforms and gear and then on top of all that we still have to pay a team fee. Sanctioning lacrosse would allow us to play at the high school, get gear and uniforms from the school, and be more supported in our sport.The Salt Lake Tribune ran an article about utah officials considering sanctioning. The Deseret News ran an article about the debate of sanctioning the sport in Utah. “Lacrosse, considered a high school club sport in this state because it is not sponsored by the Utah High School Activities Association, has grown exponentially over the last few years. Its popularity is evident all along the Wasatch Front.From Cache Valley to the southern end of Utah County, there are currently 39 Utah boys varsity teams and 41 JV squads, as well as 30 girls varsity programs and 17 JV teams participating under the umbrella of the Utah Lacrosse Association.” With this many teams and players involved it only seems fair to start sanctioning the sport. “So much interest in the sport begs an obvious question: Why is lacrosse not sanctioned by the UHSAA?” As a player this is the question that is constantly in the back of our minds. So for it to really start being considered it exciting for the lacrosse community. They then go on to say, “Part of the reason is a moratorium currently restricting the state association's board of trustees from making any changes.The UHSAA is under a self-imposed sanctioning freeze, which was put into effect nearly four years ago as schools struggled to finance the existing 20 sports and three activities of drama, speech and theater."We have nearly 90,000 participants in those things that we already sponsor and our member schools were a little hesitant at that time bringing on more activities," said Rob Cuff, the executive director of the UHSAA. "All of that takes dollars out of some budgets and, at the time, schools were losing money." The moratorium does not have a set expiration date. Rather, if the ADEC, a committee of athletic directors that serves as a filter for the board of trustees, is presented with a compelling and organized proposal about adding a sport, ending the moratorium could be put to a vote. "We haven’t said nobody can approach the board," Cuff said. "What we’re saying is, (the moratorium) would have to be lifted in order for you to be approved." Nearly a decade ago, the ULA did approach the board of trustees with a proposal to add lacrosse. At the time, the girls program was not ready and the board did not want to add one program without the other. Since that time, the sport has been gaining popularity among both girls and boys, and the ULA is exploring its options. "We have had conversations with the UHSAA on what sanctioning would mean," said Josh Elder, the former commissioner over boys high school lacrosse with the ULA. "Sanctioning has both pros and cons." Cuff, Elder, and Thatcher each cited benefits and challenges that would come from sanctioning lacrosse and from maintaining the status quo.” The most crucial requirement for any sport looking to join the UHSAA is adhering to its handbook — a 130-page document that outlines the guidelines and interpretations for all sanctioned sports and activities. "That’s one of the pros or cons, however you want to look at it, in joining our association," said Cuff. "All of our bylaws would have to be abided by if a sport is added. "Those rules include, among many additional items, limited team membership (students can only play on one team of a particular sport during the high school season), the age rule (students are ineligible after they turn 19 or play four years), scholastic expectations (a minimum 2.0 GPA and no more than one F) and all transfer rules. As it stands, the ULA presides solely over girls and boys high school lacrosse in much the same way the UHSAA governs. It has an executive director in Lisa Schmidt, program coordinators over girls lacrosse and boys lacrosse, a handbook of regulations, and a board of directors that dictates policy.” o