Lacrosse set to become an official high school varsity sport in Tennessee

TSSAA become the 26th state high school governing body to recognize the sport

Lacrosse is one of the fastest growing sports in the country and it is growing very quickly in Tennessee.

In recognition of this fact, the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA), in January of 2023, voted unanimously to approve boys and girls lacrosse as sanctioned championship sports beginning in the 2024-25 school year.

The vote to approve the sports was unanimous, 11-0, by the TSAA Legislative Council and the Volunteer state became the 26th in the nation to formally adopt lacrosse.

McCallie School has developed one of the top lacrosse programs in the nation and the Blue Tornadoes have won 11 TSLA state titles. McCallie and every other boys and girls high school lacrosse programs in the state of Tennessee will become officially sanctioned high school programs in the spring of 2025

The sport has grown steadily in Tennessee since 1993 and more and more high schools have added the sport as a club program. To govern the club competition, the Tennessee Scholastic Lacrosse Association (TSLA) was formed and the organization has helped the sport grow to a point to where is viable for high school competition.

McCallie School has the most recognized program, having won 11 TSLA boys state titles, and has traveled the country to compete against top high school programs in Maryland, New York, and D.C., among others.

Currently, there are approximately 100 schools set to field teams for the inaugural season in the spring of 2025, but that number could grow significantly over the next year. Lacrosse supporters believe the numbers will explode after the initial season.