A fresh athletic activity will be formally introduced in Nevada for the 2026-27 academic term.
The Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association approved the recognition of lacrosse as a high school sport during a meeting of the Board of Control held on Monday at Clark High School. The decision was made without opposition. Both boys' and girls' lacrosse teams will start playing in the spring starting with the 2026-27 academic year.
It's fantastic. I'm thrilled for the children in Nevada," stated Tim Jackson, executive director of the NIAA. "Lacrosse is becoming more popular. It's about time Nevada starts playing lacrosse, and I anticipate exciting possibilities for kids across all sports. Introducing lacrosse expands our options.
The committee agreed on a schedule outlining the upcoming actions related to integrating the sport. The NIAA will distribute a questionnaire to schools to collect participation statistics and determine how many institutions will establish teams in the near future.
Schools do not have to form a team. Boys' and girls' lacrosse are distinct sports.
The NIAA will implement the rules set forth by the National Federation of State High School Associations for lacrosse and collaborate with existing referee organizations to certify officials during future board sessions.
After reviewing the survey findings, the NIAA will start aligning procedures and establish playoff structures by April. Jackson mentioned that he anticipates only one lacrosse division at first as the NIAA gathers input from schools regarding participation numbers.
"The top concern is determining how our schools will incorporate lacrosse into their offerings," Jackson stated.
Lacrosse is scheduled to take place during the spring athletic season, making its debut under NIAA regulations in the spring of 2027. High school teams in Utah and California also compete in lacrosse during the same time of year.
Institutions can compete in up to 18 games and take part in two competitions each academic year.
Numerous southern institutions, including Bishop Gorman, Centennial, Coronado, Faith Lutheran, Foothill, and Palo Verde, operate club teams.
During this year's spring session of the Nevada legislature, Senate Bill 305 moved forward in both the Senate and the Assembly. The legislation aimed to compel the NIAA to recognize lacrosse as a high school sport, yet it was rejected by Governor Joe Lombardo.
A last-minute change to the legislation would have established a committee responsible for monitoring the NIAA. During Monday's gathering, the group's attorney, Paul Anderson, stated that this committee was one of the factors prompting Lombardo to reject the bill. In June, just after Lombardo blocked the measure, the NIAA declared that the association would begin regulating lacrosse.
The greatest challenge we will constantly face is ensuring that our understanding of what we're doing is clearly communicated through the legislative process," Jackson stated. "We hope the legislature recognizes that we are advocating for children. The NIAA isn't an organization focused on keeping kids involved; instead, we aim to increase youth participation. We've established some strong relationships during this session.
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