WILSONVILLE — During a meeting of the Oregon School Activities Association’s delegate assembly on Monday, Oct. 9, the approval was made to add boys volleyball as an “emerging activity” in the state’s high school sports programs.

La Grande, Enterprise, Powder Valley and local schools should not rush to make a spot for a state trophy just yet. Under the rules of the OSAA, an “emerging activity” is not a sanctioned sport and will not have a spot on the OSAA website, a rulebook or a state championship. The vote simply affords a sport the opportunity to be considered for official sanctioning after gauging interest.

During a presentation to the delegate assembly, it was stated 32 states currently recognize boys volleyball as an official or emerging sport. According to the American Volleyball Coaches Association, 77,287 boys play high school volleyball during the 2022-23 school year, up significantly from 50,353 involved in the sport in 2012-23.

As the delegate assembly considered the information, 73 schools around the state expressed interest in adding boys volleyball to their sports schedules. Of the 73, 33 were from the 6A classification. 35 schools have already signed up to begin play in the spring 2024 season.

The delegate assembly were also told just over half of boys showing interest in the new sport already participate in an additional sport. A study of 256 responses to a survey shows basketball players most interested in a spring volleyball season followed by soccer players.

Girls wrestling was added to the state’s official sports just last year, the first since softball was added in 1979.

At most schools, boys volleyball will compete for players with track and field, tennis, golf and baseball depending on the size of the school.