Tuesday's vote by the Minnesota State High School League's 48-member Representative Assembly that came up just one vote short of sanctioning boys volleyball reflects lingering concerns about adding another sport, according to MSHSL Executive Director Erich Martens.
Martens joined WCCO Radio's Vineeta Sawkar on Wednesday during the WCCO Radio Morning News. He said schools have questions about available facilities and Title IX compliance.
"We have better than 30 different sports that are part of the MSHSL, and I think about the spring this year, and as folks see boys volleyball as being played in the spring, they think about how they can get one more team inside a gym when softball, baseball, and two track teams are using those spaces," Martens said. "Many schools are already in-balance right now when it comes to Title IX. They have the same amount of opportunities for boys and girls. Adding another boys sport would mean they would have to add another girls sport to remain in compliance. Adding of anything, any program in a school, requires resources and there were some questions around those resources as well."
Related
The 31-17 vote came just one vote shy of approval.
"We had a great contingent at our meeting, they were outstanding and so respectful. A number of those young men spoke in front of our assembly and I think swayed some votes to the positive, even though it didn't pass," added Martens.
Officials say there are now 55 club volleyball teams in Minnesota with about 1,400 boys taking part. Martens believes those numbers will continue to grow, despite the voting results.
"They will be able to continue forward in a club model. That has been working and has been growing. At the same time, they will be very clear about how it is a strain for them for all the organizational aspects. It was a difficult vote," he said. "I've been to some of those games and their state championships that they operate. Just great spirit, great sportsmanship, and great experiences from what I've seen."