Ohio considers sanctioning lacrosse, archery

Lacrosse and archery could become sanctioned high school sports in Ohio, but student-athletes may have to wait a couple years.

Ohio High School Athletic Association Commissioner Dr. Dan Ross spoke with members of the media during the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association awards luncheon this week. According to the Plain Dealer, Ross said boys and girls lacrosse has been recommended by the Emerging Sports Committee, and the sport could be sanctioned by the spring of 2017.

The newspaper reported that the number of club teams in the state is close to 147, while the number needed for sanctioning is 150.

Archery could also be on the horizon. From the Plain Dealer:

Like bowling, which was adopted in 2007, Ross sees archery as an opportunity to increase participation numbers at schools. He said 90 percent of bowlers do not participate in other sports at their schools. He noted the popularity of archery in schools from Trumbull County to Byesville to Antwerp.

“If you want to keep kids connected, you offer more sports,” Ross said. “Archery is one of those.”

As lacrosse and archery move closer to sanctioning, Ross said other sports will move up in the pecking order. He specifically mentioned indoor track as one of those sports that could get a closer look in the coming years.

As far as sports that are not close to becoming sanctioned, Ross named boys volleyball, rodeo and wrestling, according to the Plain Dealer.