Putting the hook in sports

By By Todd Thompson, Hartselle Enquirer
The idea sounds almost laughable at first: schools sponsoring teams in non-traditional sports like bass fishing, lacrosse and hockey.
But as these sports - activities that have gained popularity through the country - become more mainstream, it is only natural for those teams to compete for state championships under the jurisdiction of each state’s high school athletic associations.
So, the Alabama High School Athletic Association has put those emerging sports in a category of Sports Under Jurisdiction - in essence putting the non-traditional sports under the AHSAA’s rules and regulations.
Now schools find themselves one step closer to fielding - or boating as the case may be - a bass fishing team. Or a lacrosse team.
The AHSAA’s Sports Under Jurisdiction category covers new or emerging sports among AHSAA member schools starting with the 2010-11 school year.
Under the provision, the sports would be required to follow NFHS rules and regulations, meet all AHSAA eligibility requirements and use AHSAA-registered officials where applicable.
This will certainly affect high school hockey, which has become very popular in the Huntsville area. As emerging sports, teams would be allowed to compete for state titles as long as all AHSAA rules were followed.
Huntsville area schools, including Bob Jones, Sparkman, Huntsville and Grissom all currently field high school hockey teams.
But the sport is not an AHSAA-sponsored activity and the eligibility rules are not enforced by the state.
That would change if the AHSAA got involved with the management of those emerging sports.
The plan will have some early hardships, however. Few schools are in a position to add team sports right now as the entire state continues to battle proration.
But as interest piques in non-traditional sports, schools may be forced to look into the idea of adding a lacrosse team or a bowling team.
And one can only imagine the area lakes would be filled with talented casters and hook baiters.
Sports editor Todd Thompson can be reached at 773-6566 or at todd.thompson@hartselleenquirer.com