Unfair to ban young lacrosse players

Unfair to ban young lacrosse players

Kaneland High School lacks a lacrosse club, so four of their ambitious freshmen joined the Geneva High School club to continue their dreams of playing lacrosse.

Lacrosse is not as yet a state-approved sport, but that has not stopped the Upstate Eight Conference from deciding they have jurisdiction over these young players lives under the pretense that lacrosse is an "emerging sport."

Therefore, the conference has decreed that the Kaneland players cannot join Geneva, stating that allowing these young men to pursue their love of the sport with Geneva would set a bad precedent.

This is an arrogant act on their part. What "bad precedent" are they afraid of? The "precedent" of letting young athletes fulfill their dreams, or allowing the sport to flourish and grow, or rewarding dedicated athletes by encouraging their opportunity to compete?

This self-important group appears to be simply intent on preserving their little fiefdom within the popular growth of lacrosse. Sadly, this is being done with thoughtless disregard and at the expense of the young athletes they are supposed to be encouraging and developing.

This decision could have been avoided with a simple variance in this unique situation. In my opinion this interference represents the height of pompous disrespect for the individual and for the sport.

If the lacrosse club structure in Illinois votes to join the ISHA they will forever lose control over the sport they have worked so hard to develop. This action by the Upstate Eight is an ominous but clear message of what is to come.

Steve Thompson

South Elgin