Louisiana lawmakers are moving closer to formally recognizing high school cheer, dance, and lacrosse as sanctioned sports, a shift that could reshape safety requirements, coaching standards, and competitive opportunities across the state.
House Concurrent Resolution 10, introduced by Roger Wilder III, asks the Louisiana High School Athletic Association to bring the three activities under its governance. The House Education Committee unanimously approved the measure this week, sending it to the House floor.
The resolution is non-binding, but it places formal pressure on the LHSAA to revisit sanctioning discussions that have stalled in previous years. The proposal centers on safety, particularly in cheerleading, where athletes perform advanced stunts without statewide requirements for coaching certification or standardized protocols.
We’re throwing these teenage girls 15 feet in the air, and then there’s no safety protocols for that right now,” Wilder said during committee discussion.
If sanctioned, programs would follow guidelines aligned with the National Federation of State High School Associations. Those standards include coaching certification, defined stunt restrictions, and consistent safety training. Many Louisiana school cheer teams currently operate without required adherence to national safety recommendations.
The change would also shift cheer and dance into the same regulatory framework as football, basketball, and other sanctioned sports. That includes eligibility rules, athletic department oversight, and structured postseason competition.
For athletes, sanctioning could bring both protection and recognition. Competitive cheer and dance teams often train at a varsity level but operate outside the formal athletics system. Without sanctioning, programs can vary widely in safety policies, practice structure, and competitive opportunities.
The proposal also addresses access. School-based programs typically offer lower costs than travel-based alternatives. Supporters argue that sanctioning could expand opportunities for athletes who cannot afford private club participation while strengthening school programs.
LHSAA officials say interest from schools will ultimately determine whether the activities move forward. The association requires at least 80 schools to express intent to participate before a sport becomes sanctioned. According to LHSAA communications director Ethan Anderson, that number may already be achievable for cheer and dance, where participation is widespread across Louisiana high schools.
Lacrosse faces a more difficult path. Only 19 schools currently field teams, well short of the participation threshold. Still, including lacrosse in the resolution signals broader interest in expanding emerging sports within the LHSAA structure.
Sanctioning would also change expectations for coaches. Certification requirements, practice limitations, and athlete eligibility rules would become standardized. Athletic trainers, administrators, and officials would be more directly involved in program oversight.
The resolution was filed after a request from Kelly Pertuit and her daughter Riley, a member of the Denham Springs High School Jackettes Dance Team. Their testimony highlighted the gap between the level at which athletes perform and the lack of formal governance.
The LHSAA previously explored sanctioning cheer and dance, but discussions lost momentum due to inconsistent interest. The new resolution revives the conversation with legislative backing and renewed attention to safety.
We have no objection… we just want to make sure that schools really know what they’re getting into,” Anderson said.
The House floor vote will determine whether the resolution formally advances. If adopted, the LHSAA would evaluate participation numbers and feasibility before deciding whether to sanction the activities.
For Louisiana cheer and dance programs, the outcome could define how the sports are structured moving forward. Sanctioning would bring standardized rules, postseason pathways, and statewide oversight. It would also place competitive cheer and dance firmly within the high school athletics landscape.
