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.
The major problem facing boys lacrosse is not the number of participating schools, but qualified officials to handle the games between teams that currently play. District 1 has more than 30 schools with club programs, and Districts 3 and 7 have 20-plus schools participating.
The PIAA requires that all officials be registered and tested by the organization.
"I can't tell you what a mess it has been with (girls) officials," said Pam Cherubin, the female officials' representative on the PIAA board. "Some of these guys are old men who can keep score at a bowling table, but not running up and down the field with these girls."
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