Five classification systems dies

Sportsman* · February 5th, 2009, 12:58 PM

Looks like the proposal for a 5 or 6 classification system has died in committee. It was tabled indefinitely, which means status quo for the next cycle. Here are the minutes from the meeting last week.

Division Playoff Study Group
January 29, 2009
9:00 a.m. ? VHSL office

I. Roll Call: Stan Latham, Region A, Sussex Central High School; Steve Barnett, Region B, Riverheads High School; Kevin Siers, Region C, Bland High School; Larry Compton, Region D, Haysi High School; Dan Barner, Region I, Lafayette High School; Rodney Redd, Region II, Monticello High School; Stephen Leaman, Region III, Broadway High School; Robbie Patton, Region IV, Carroll County High School; Larry Stewart, Central Region, Matoaca High School; Jimmie Williford, Eastern Region, Portsmouth City Schools; Tim Thomas, Northern Region, Westfield High School; Dan Forgas, Northwest Region, Woodbridge High School and Ken Tilley.

Executive Committee representatives in attendance were: Nelson Simpkins, Region C; Dante Lee, Region D; Lawrence Whiting, Region I; Tony Francis, Region III, E. G. Bradshaw, Region IV; Pete Koste, Central Region; and Cynthia Watson, Eastern Region.

Also attending were VHSL staff Tom Zimorski, Tom Dolan, Mike McCall and Lora Bickley, VHSL, as well as, Francis Dall, Westfield High School; Melody Modell, Thomas Jefferson Science and Technology; Bob Rose, Colonial Heights High School; and Darrin Matthews, Carroll County High School.

II. Selection of Chairman: Steve Barnett moved, Stan Latham seconded and the committee voted 12-0 to
appoint Larry Compton as chairman of this study committee.

III. Purpose of the Meeting: The R&R Committee and Division Playoff Committee had suggested that the League
explore developing a new division playoff proposal, and the Group AA Board voted 53-5 in favor of forming a study committee to consider five divisions. The December Executive Committee asked staff to work with a study group to develop the concept further.

IV. Input from regions:

Region D The region?s main concern is the disparity in the numbers for the divisions among the
regions. Larry Compton gave the example that the Division 2 boys basketball champion had fewer students than the Division 1 boys basketball champion. Region D schools also have concerns about governance, travel and gate receipts.

Region C The region took a straw vote and prefers that redistricting be allowed if the five division playoff model is approved. If the six division model is approved, they would recommend the cut-off for Division 1 be at 400 students.

Region B The region recognizes that it causes the imbalance when determining divisions by regions as they have the largest Group A schools.

Region A The region?s main concern is the disparity in the enrollment of the schools in the playoffs; they prefer dividing at the state level rather than by regions. Their region plays against teams in divisions with higher enrollments. The sport of football can be solved with the ratings. Region A prefers keeping districts as they are.

Region I Region I recommends dividing the group across the state rather than within the regions. Schools are satisfied with their current districts. The best way to qualify under the division playoff models is ?all-in?.

Region II Region II prefers to keep the current districts, which will assist with scheduling.

Region III The region prefers the six division model and freeze districts. Region schools are concerned with qualifying for playoffs, finances and governance.

Region IV Region IV liked the five division model but had not had an opportunity to look at the six division model. They are in favor of freezing districts because schools have a difficult time getting schedules in a district, and if you did not have districts, this would cause a hardship on some schools. Travel is an issue.

Eastern Eastern Region is in favor of freezing districts. The region has been able to give money back to districts and wants to continue this. They would like to see the criteria for advancement. The region has requested the possibility of leaving AAA alone and only modify the division playoff format for Group AA and A.

Central Central Region is opposed to the proposal. They have concerns over splitting up districts and travel. The region also gives money back to districts. The region wants any proposals to be brought before the full membership for a vote.

Northwest Northwest Region also gives back to the districts. Their region always has had travel concerns. Northwest Region is concentrated with the exception of the Western Valley District.

Northern Tim Thomas received a small response back from the Northern Region schools. He has not heard any strong opposition to the division playoffs. The six divisions might work better because it would create less disparity in the enrollment numbers. Finances are important. Their region also favored the membership voting on this matter.

V. Discussion of issues and concerns: The study group discussed the following issues and concerns:

? Leave AAA schools alone and come back with divisions for A & AA schools;
? In football divide the state and not the regions;
? Possibly do the divisions in football and basketball;
? Allow schools to play up. In Central and Eastern region many schools play up due to travel concerns;
? Leave AAA alone and split other remaining schools three ways;
? Region C does not want districts frozen;
? Group A and AA, pair the regions and then divide: Region A & B; Region C & D; Region I & II; Region III & IV.

VI. Recommendations: Kevin Siers moved, Dan Barner seconded and the committee voted 12-0 to recommend that the Executive Committee:

? Suspend further consideration of the most recent 5 Division / 6 Division proposals.

? Leave the R& R process unchanged; meet in 2009-10 to align for 2011-12, 2012-13.

? Encourage respective group boards to develop guidelines for determining football and basketball division formats. The guidelines will address the following issues:

a) Number of qualifying teams.
b) Schedules meeting VHSL handbook requirements.
c) Potential financial impact on region and state revenue.
d) Determine the placement of schools within divisions.

VII. Business from the floor: The following time schedule for Thursday, March12, meetings was recommended:

8:00 a.m. ? 8:45 a.m. Breakfast and Registration
8:45 a.m. ? 9:30 a.m. Breakout Sessions -- General Topics of Interest
9:45 a.m. ? 11:00 a.m. Group Boards
11:00 a.m. ? 12:00 noon Group A, AA, AAA Breakout Session immediately following adjournment of each
Group Board to discuss division playoff proposal

VIII. Adjournment: There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 12:40 p.m.

Note: When considering changes in the division playoff format, it will be important not to reduce the number of state-level football and basketball games since these are crucial for sustaining the operations and programs of the League.

**pvfan** · February 5th, 2009, 02:09 PM

Region D football was just set back another 5 years. We will not win a state title in the sport of football until we consolidate.

**pvfan** · February 5th, 2009, 02:23 PM

After reading all of this it's still evident that the VHSL only cares about AAA. More speciffically, AAA Football. The rest of the state and sports are just a secondary neccessity. It will never happen here, but we as an area would be much better off if we turned our shoulder pads in for basketballs and baseballs. Takes less players and it's much easier to win with one dominate player, one big time scorer or pitcher can take you to the promise land. All of this is also coming on what I think will be the worst LPD Football Season ever in 2009. Bad day for Football in Region D.

**Da 796** · February 5th, 2009, 11:34 PM

you've got to be kidding me!!! How can the vhsl keep letting this go on? All group A teams in region c and d should leave the vhsl and start their own league on this side of the state. PVfan is right I also think this will be a bad year of lpd football

**Counts** · February 6th, 2009, 10:21 AM

I do think it will be a down year but I was thinking PV will return there team core and IMHO should be a good if not great team, Norton Will have Miles and that alone will put them in contention for the Div 1 Crown, Clintwood lost a ton of talent but has a solid group of young kids that should make this year less painful than many think. Kelly has learned how to win and if they can keep that attatude this season may not be as down as some think.....Pound is not going to be very good until that group of Players and coaches can become a team

**pvfan** · February 6th, 2009, 10:37 AM

Thats what everybody in PV says too. I just don't see it, to me our 4 best players were Cantrell, Martin, Pinkston, and Miller. Three of those are gone to graduation, we'll do fine in the LPD and it wouldn't shock me if we won it but we wont be that good. The rest of the league will just be down. It's a sad day when basketball in the LPD is better than football and this season that is the case. It's not totally out of the question for the LPD team to send 4 teams (boys and girls combined) to the state tournament.