What could be the next sport sanctioned by the GHSA?

The GHSA has been in its most progressive era in the organizations history and in its transition between Executive Director Robin Hines who helped usher in the new age of high school athletics to Tim Scott, who took over July 1, 2024, one can only wonder whats next.

Hines helped bring bass fishing, flag football and Esports to the ranks of the GHSAs offerings. Each of the three have expanded greatly since their inceptions over the past five years.

Flag football has added divisions each season and is exponentially growing.Esports now offers a slew of games which it awards titles including Rocket League and League of Legends. Bass fishing now has some schools fielding multiple boats in the massive state championship tournament.

If the GHSA wants to continue its trend of expanding the options and opportunities for its student athletes, and I am Dr. Scott, I am picking a list of five or 10 new sports and finding every way to bring them to fruition on a five-year timeline.

Here are some of the possibilities after a glance around the countrys off-beat athletics

-- Orienteering is the act of navigating through wooded, uneven terrain using a map, which highlights designated control points. To see more about the sport, follow the link.

-- Fencing is the ancient art of dueling with swords in a close-quarters combat using an epee, saber or foil. Theres already a Georgia High School Fencing League which has been awarding championships since 2004-2005. In 2021-22, Lamberts boys and girls teams won titles.

-- Quidditch, arguably the greatest game in the world, is Harry Potters favorite fictional pastime and some schools around the country have brought it to the forefront as a sanctioned event. Despite not using flying brooms, lame I know, the game has caught on around the nation after being invented at Middlebury College in Vermont.