Some new high school sports could be coming to Massachusetts in the near future.
In the latest rule change proposal for the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association for 2025-27, proposals have been put in place for the MIAA to officially recognize and sponsor four new sports: orienteering, cheerleading, girls flag football and Ultimate Frisbee. If approved, recognition would begin in the 2025-26 school year.
In order for the sports to gain recognition, each one, along with other proposed changes, will have to go through two rounds of votes. The first round will consist of voting by members of the MIAA's Sport Committees and Administrative Committees, with those votes due by Nov. 1. After that, another round of votes will take place by the MIAA District Athletic Committee and the Massachusetts Secondary School Athletic Directors Association which must be submitted by Dec. 1. From there, the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Council MIAA Board of Directors must act upon the approved proposals before Jan. 1, 2025 and then make their final decisions by Feb. 1, 2025.
With that in mind, here's a look at the four potential new MIAA sports and why they've been proposed:
Cheerleading
The proposal
For the MIAA to recognize cheerleading as a fall sport, largely following the rules and guidelines already set in place by the Massachusetts School Administrators Association (MSAA) to align it with other MIAA sports. The MSAA, a partner organization to the MIAA, serves as the current governing body of high school cheerleading in the Commonwealth.
Why it's being proposed
Supporters argue that considering cheerleading as a club and not an officially recognized sport governed the same way as others "perpetuates the institutional bias against a predominantly female sport." With cheerleading competitions and championships already being run by a partner organization in the MSAA, supporters believe a switch to the MIAA would be an easy transition and be a meaningful step towards gender equality.
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Girls Flag Football
The proposal
For the MIAA to recognize girls flag football as a spring sport, with a season consisting of no more than 18 regular season games and no more than three games per week. The sport would be played under National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) 5v5 rules on a field that is 25 yards wide and 64 yards long, with a 50-yard field between goal lines and a pair of seven yard long end zones.
Why it's being proposed
Supporters argue that girls flag football is one of the fastest-growing high school sports in the country, with the number of state high school sports governing bodies recognizing it going from five in 2022 to 11 in 2024, with proposals on the table in over 20 additional states. Here in Mass., the New England Patriots Foundation launched a 5v5 non-contact pilot program in 2023 with eight schools, which expanded to 23 in 2024 and they believe could be over 50 by next spring.
With the support of the Patriots, as well as Nike, USA Football, NFL FLAG and consultation from the NFHS, supporters believe flag football is the most inclusive and accessible version of the game and could help close the gap in the number of girls competing in high school sports compared to their male classmates. The Patriots Foundation reports that over 80% of the participants in its program don't play another spring high school sport, so by adding girls flag football, it could increase participation without coming at the expense of another sport.
With women's flag football scholarships now being offered by some NAIA, NJCAA and NCAA programs, along with flag football being added to the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, supporters argue its a matter of when, not if, the sport is recognized by all state high school governing bodies.
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Orienteering
The proposal
For the MIAA to recognize orienteering as a spring sport, with a season consisting of no more than 18 regular season meets and no more than three meets per week. The sport would be played under the rules put in place by its national governing body, Orienteering USA, and the International Orienteering Federation.
Why it's being proposed
As a sport that combines cross country running with map navigation, supporters argue it not only helps develop endurance and map-reading skills, but teaches useful life skills in terms of identifying goals and overcoming obstacles. In orienteering, athletes are given a map with different checkpoints they need to find over a set course, with the fastest person to find all checkpoints in order being declared the winner. Supporters believe the sport also provides an opportunity to increase engagement in athletics among students who otherwise wouldn't.
Ultimate Frisbee
The proposal
For the MIAA to recognize Ultimate Frisbee as a co-ed spring sport following the rules set in place by its governing body, USA Ultimate. If approved, state divisions will be created for boys, girls and co-ed teams, each with its own championship.
Why it's being proposed
Supporters argue that with Ultimate Frisbee already being a well-established club sport in Massachusetts, with USA Ultimate reporting over 150 registered teams across the Bay State, that official recognition by the MIAA would provide for a more organized structure and equal recognition for student athletes. In addition to already established teams, supporters point out that the sport, like tennis, is self-officiated, has a minimal set up cost with just uniforms, discs and field time and attracts students who typically aren't engaged in other high school athletics.
Abington High School athletic director Peter Serino, who put forward the proposal, notes that his school has been able to maintain an Ultimate Frisbee team despite having a student population of under 600 during the season when the school offers its most sports.
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