Louisiana Lawmakers Seek to Recognize Cheer, Dance as High School Sports

House resolution aims to bring greater oversight and safety protocols to popular student activities.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 2:39pm

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A fractured, geometric painting depicting a high school cheer squad performing stunts, with vibrant colors and sharp, overlapping planes representing the energy and danger of the sport.A cubist interpretation of the dynamic movements and teamwork of high school cheer, illustrating the need for greater safety oversight in these popular student activities.Baton Rouge Today

A Louisiana House resolution is seeking to have the state's high school athletic association recognize dance, cheer, and lacrosse teams as sanctioned sports. The move could provide more structure, safety oversight, and opportunities for student participation in these activities, which are currently not governed like traditional high school athletics.

Why it matters

Cheer and dance teams often perform dangerous stunts and routines without the safety protocols required for sanctioned sports. Bringing these activities under the state's high school athletic association could mandate coaching certifications, standardized safety measures, and more accessible participation for families.

The details

House Concurrent Resolution 10, introduced by Rep. Roger Wilder III, R-Denham Springs, would ask the Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA) to bring dance, cheer, and lacrosse under its authority. The House Education Committee unanimously passed the resolution, which will next go to the full House. Wilder filed the resolution in response to concerns from a local dance team parent about the lack of safety oversight. The LHSAA said it has no objection to sanctioning the activities, but wants to ensure schools understand the requirements, as at least 80 schools must express interest for a sport to become sanctioned.

  • The House Education Committee unanimously passed the resolution this week.
  • The resolution will next go to the full Louisiana House of Representatives.

The players

Rep. Roger Wilder III

A Republican state representative from Denham Springs who introduced the resolution to recognize dance, cheer, and lacrosse as sanctioned high school sports in Louisiana.

Kelly Pertuit

A parent whose daughter Riley is a member of the Denham Springs High School Jackettes Dance Team, and who requested that Rep. Wilder file the resolution.

Ethan Anderson

The Director of Communication for the Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA), who said the organization has no objection to sanctioning the activities but wants to ensure schools understand the requirements.

Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA)

The organization that governs high school sports in Louisiana, which the resolution is asking to bring dance, cheer, and lacrosse under its authority.

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What they’re saying

“'We're throwing these teenage girls 15 feet in the air, and then there's no safety protocols for that right now.'”

— Rep. Roger Wilder III, State Representative

“'We have no objection... we just want to make sure that schools really know what they're getting into.'”

— Ethan Anderson, Director of Communication, Louisiana High School Athletic Association

What’s next

If the resolution passes the full Louisiana House, the LHSAA will need to determine if there is sufficient interest from at least 80 schools to sanction dance, cheer, and lacrosse as official high school sports.

The takeaway

This proposal highlights the growing recognition that popular student activities like dance and cheer should be treated with the same level of safety oversight and institutional support as traditional high school sports. Sanctioning these activities could improve participant safety and broaden access for families.