PIAA adds boys lacrosse

[Sonny]

Congrats to the Keystone State!

Boys lacrosse will become a PIAA sport in the 2008-2009 school year, but the PIAA has not decided when it will begin holding state championships in the sport.

The PIAA board of directors voted 25-1 Thursday to make boys lacrosse its 33rd sport. Any sport that falls under PIAA jurisdiction is subject to its regulations, including eligibility and transfer rules.

The PIAA holds state championships in only 21 of the 33 sports, primarily because the other 12 sports, including girls lacrosse, do not have enough schools participating to warrant a statewide tournament.

LINK:
http://www.centredaily.com/mld/centreda ... 688241.htm

[Ed]

Took long enough! I prob would have played at North Penn if they had had it in middle school when I started running track.

[Has No Left]

This is both good and bad news. The private and parocial schools will no longer be able to play the PA public schools. Traditional rivalries like Malvern Prep - Ridley and Mt. Lebanon-Shady Side will be a thing of the past - but overall, it's a good thing for PA HS lacrosse.

[wheelz33]

This is both good and bad news. The private and parocial schools will no longer be able to play the PA public schools. Traditional rivalries like Malvern Prep - Ridley and Mt. Lebanon-Shady Side will be a thing of the past - but overall, it's a good thing for PA HS lacrosse.

why can't the private play the public schools?

[laxfan25]

I had the same question as wheelz. Michigan has lacrosse as a sanctioned sport under the MHSAA and there are public, private and parochial schools as members and they all play each other.

[Has No Left]

I had the same question as wheelz. Michigan has lacrosse as a sanctioned sport under the MHSAA and there are public, private and parochial schools as members and they all play each other.

That is the issue. Privates and parochials are not PIAA members in the state of Pennsylvania. Perhaps that may change as a result of the sanctioning of hs lacrosse. But again, the positives way outway the negitives as we will see middle school lacrosse and additional varsity teams develop.

[laxfan25]

Even if the private schools are not PIAA members, can't PIAA schools schedule games with non-PIAA schools, or is one of the requirements that all games can only be with other PIAA schools? That would seem to be a very restrictive rule.

[Sonny]

Even if the private schools are not PIAA members, can't PIAA schools schedule games with non-PIAA schools, or is one of the requirements that all games can only be with other PIAA schools? That would seem to be a very restrictive rule.

Most high state associations don't let you play non high school association members. Just like your high school team can't schedule a AAU/YMCA/Club team. Eligibility standards, practice/coaching limitations, liability are all big issues.

[Ed]

North Penn HS (PIAA school/ my alma-mater) plays Lansdale Catholic every year in football. Not sure of the details though.

Even if the private schools are not PIAA members, can't PIAA schools schedule games with non-PIAA schools, or is one of the requirements that all games can only be with other PIAA schools? That would seem to be a very restrictive rule.

Most high state associations don't let you play non high school association members. Just like your high school team can't schedule a AAU/YMCA/Club team. Eligibility standards, practice/coaching limitations, liability are all big issues.

[jcurrie]

In PA, both public and private schools are both members of the PIAA. The only exception has been the Philadelphia area. Historically, the Public League and the Catholic League both played all of their sports seperately. A few years ago, the Public League became part of the PIAA, and I believe the Catholic League has just joined or will be joining soon.

I'm not sure of who is who in the eastern part of the state. The western league was starting to get competitive, and I know a lot of people who weren't looking forward to PIAA taking over. The Western PA league included teams from three PIAA districts as well as three teams in West Virginia. I"m not sure what the WV teams are going to do now.

[Zeuslax]

The Western PA league included teams from three PIAA districts as well as three teams in West Virginia. I"m not sure what the WV teams are going to do now.

The WV teams have a preliminary contingency plan set up. They are going to be adding a few teams down there this year. So, they are exploring setting up their own conference, etc.

Overall the transition hasn't caused any changes thus far. There really isn't much in the way of ground work being laid. As a matter of fact, there is much anticipation of two leagues moving forward. One for the schools that are able to absorb the change (coaches, $, space) right away and another for the teams that aren't school sponsored.

The biggest worry currently is in the coaching area. There's already a shortage and it will most likely get worse. The school systems just don't have employees with lacrosse knowledge on the payrolls. We'll see a lot of outside assistant coaches in the beginning that use to be head coaches. In the long run, I think this is the best situation for lacrosse in PA, but there will be a tough transition period before it gets better. Gone are the days of the 21 game schedule in Pittsburgh.