Delay shouldn't slow lacrosse's growth

Updated: March 23, 2011 9:50AM

The IHSA's decision to delay sanctioning lacrosse for at least one year won't slow the growth of the sport, Marian Catholic boys coach Mike McCormick said Monday.

"I think it delays the inevitable," McCormick said. "Lacrosse is like a snowball rolling downhill."

IHSA executive director Marty Hickman said financial considerations at many school districts caused the delay.

"Several schools who had anticipated being able to start lacrosse programs a year ago simply could not today, given the financial situations in their districts," Hickman said in an IHSA release.

Last year, the IHSA set minimums of 65 boys teams and 40 girls teams to sanction either sport this spring. While 68 and 42 teams, respectively, have been registered by schools on the association's emerging sports list, just 47 boys teams and 33 girls teams were entered for the respective state tournament series.

The earliest the IHSA would sanction a state lacrosse championship is spring 2012.

"This decision does not change the IHSA's plan to go forward with a boys and girls lacrosse state series, it just delays it," Hickman said. "This is probably a good thing for the long-term health and growth of the sport. Our biggest fear would be that we forced things through and tried to start before our schools were ready."

McCormick saw the situation similarly.

"If you're an athletic director, lacrosse is a significant investment, and you're trying to trim the budget," McCormick said. "The cost for equipment is from $150 to $200 per player, and, like in football, you have to make sure the helmets are safe every two to three years."

McCormick also noted the issue of field availability, which could be a thorny issue at some schools, especially for practice.

There are nine boys and three girls club teams in the Southland, with Marian Catholic and Sandburg (a co-op team including Andrew and Stagg) having teams for both sexes.

The state boys lacrosse association previously announced it would continue its state tournament if the IHSA didn't start one. The state girls lacrosse group is expected to do so as well.

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