NSAA Considers Adding Bowling As High School Sport

The Nebraska School Activites Association (NSAA) has implemented many sports for Nebraska High School students, but bowling hasn't been one of them, at least not yet.

The Nebraska High School Bowling Federation (NHSBF) has made a push to have bowling become an NSAA event. For 16 years, they have been trying to provide high school students with the opportunity to participate in a lifelong sport and experience the spirit of team competition at the high school level.

This past year, the federation has made progress. They have received the required approval in step one by receiving a yes vote from one of the six bowling districts. The initial district voting yes was the Northeast Nebraska district.

The measure then advanced to step two where three of the six districts needed approval. This was accomplished on January 10 with the Northwest, Grand Island and the Northeast providing yes votes while Lincoln, Omaha and the Southwest submitted a no vote.

The final step then goes to the NSAA where a vote is slated for April. This will be the final vote to determine whether the proposal receives approval. 

John Losito, the NHSBF State Commissioner feels that it will be a battle to get the required approval. District one failed to approve unanimously due to the proposal not being based on the current "emerging sports concept" that the NSAA has put in place since NHSBF has started its push. 

The failure is not in disagreement of having bowling in the NSAA, instead the proposal did not meet the new concept put in place. If the proposal does not receive the required votes, basically NHSBF will need to start a new proposal under the emerging sports concept rules.

Losito says with a few more votes swinging on District 2, the proposal may still pass through the NSAA. He continues that it is possible that the NSAA will approve and make changes to the proposal prior to bowling becoming a NSAA sport.