Sports played in Olympic games shine light on sports played in high schools
By Cameron Jacobs
With the recent Olympics, interest has peaked in sports that aren’t as well known in Southern Indiana high schools, including lacrosse, field hockey, and even volleyball for the guys. Many college athletes, and even high school athletes as close as Louisville, play these and many more sports that aren’t offered at NAHS.
NAHS offers 19 of the 20 sports listed on the Indiana High School Athletic Association website, the only one not offered is gymnastics. While the Kentucky High School Athletic Association website lists archery, bass fishing, bowling, and competitive cheer as sports activities that are offered to some Kentucky high school students.
Being an avid sports fan and a frequent reader of The Courier-Journal, I keep up with the sports in the area. I read articles on lacrosse teams from area colleges many times throughout the year and even some from the high schools. Reading these, I wondered why we don’t have these types of sports here at NAHS, and what it would take to get them.
“The procedure for adding a new sport begins at the state and even national level,” said NAHS athletic director Mr. Don Unruh. “NAHS is a member of the IHSAA, which is affiliated with the National Federation of High School Athletic Association. In most cases, new sports at the high school level are initiated by the National Federation.”
The Olympics were eye opening to many students that these sports are played at a whole new level, and aren’t just gym class favorites. Seeing mens volleyball, water polo, and handball, being played in competition on a global scale just proves that students really could be missing out on chances to play these sports at a real competitive level in high school.