Seeking more interest in lacrosse, KHSAA delays decision on sanctioning for 2022 season

While participation in lacrosse is growing in the commonwealth, the Kentucky High School Athletic Association will need to confirm more commitment before deciding to sanction the sport.

The KHSAA’s Board of Control decided Friday it will wait until its next meeting – scheduled for Sept. 16 – before deciding whether to sanction boys and girls lacrosse for the spring 2022 season.

KHSAA rules require 50 schools — 17% of current members — to declare an intention to participate before the organization will consider sponsoring a sport. KHSAA commissioner Julian Tackett reported Friday that 38 girls teams and 37 boys teams have declared an intent to play.

Related: St. X wins third straight KSLL state title 

Tackett noted more schools have teams but may not be committed to playing as a KHSAA sport.

“It doesn’t matter that they’re playing,” Tackett said. “Did their school say they’re playing? There are a number of people … that don’t want us managing their championship. They like what they have going on right now. That’s the problem. You can only rely on schools to accurately enter their data.”

Field hockey is the only KHSAA-sanctioned sport with less than 50 teams committed to participate. Field hockey was sanctioned in 2014 and received an exception to the 50-school rule for Title IX purposes. Tackett noted Friday the KHSAA could move forward with sanctioning lacrosse if 50 or more boys teams commit to playing and fewer than 50 girls teams commit.

Tackett said numbers could increase by the September meeting as athletic directors get a better sense of their enrollments and interest.

“I don’t think the picture you have today … is totally accurate, especially when I look at a 40% turnover in (athletic directors) since last year,” Tackett said. “There are going to be a handful of people that just haven’t responded yet.”

Currently, there are two lacrosse leagues in Kentucky. Schools in Jefferson and Oldham counties and Notre Dame play in the Kentucky Scholastic Lacrosse League. Other schools compete in the Commonwealth Lacrosse League.

Pat McAnulty has coached the girls team at Kentucky Country Day since 2005 and recently led the Bearcats to a 25-0 season and the KSLL championship.

More:KCD girls complete 25-0 season and win an eighth lacrosse state championship

McAnulty said he sees plusses and minuses to the KHSAA sponsoring the sport.

“I see the benefit of being along with those other traditional sports, and I think it carries a ring to it,” McAnulty said. “Then again, we’ll probably lose a measure of local control and be privy to folks who might not know the game as well. …

“Everybody in the lacrosse community recognizes the value of lacrosse and any achievement like we had this season. I do think maybe for the outside world seeing it under the KHSAA umbrella along with soccer, basketball and football and baseball would probably legitimize it more and make it bigger in general.”

Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com; Twitter: @kyhighs.