Post by m on Jan 20, 2005 21:57:33 GMT -6
It doesn't appear that it's going to have any effect on soccer though. At least as it's now proposed. Thought maybe some of you would be interested in reading it.
Class 6A proposal highlights LHSAA agenda
By RYAN CHATELAIN
The Courier
HOUMA -- Although a plan that would allow wrestlers to weigh an extra 2 pounds during the Thanksgiving holidays might indicate the Louisiana High School Athletic Association has thought of everything, Commissioner Tommy Henry said the organization’s annual convention will have "the fewest number of proposals in years."
When high school principals meet in Baton Rouge Jan. 26-28, the most controversial proposal likely will be one that would create a sixth classification for football playoffs. The Class 6A bracket would include the top 16 schools from Class 5A ranked by power points. Eligible teams rated 17th through 48th would play for the Class 5A championship.
Any school that unsuccessfully attempts to play up in classification would have the option of staying in the division dictated by its enrollment or playing in Class 5A in all sports. However, because it would be playing in 5A with an unfavorable vote, that school would only be eligible to compete in the Class 6A football playoffs. Schools playing up in classification that receive proper approval could compete in the Class 5A or 6A playoffs.
Because of a stand by principals to not allow some schools to play up in classification, football powerhouses Evangel Christian and John Curtis will play in 1A and 2A, respectively, beginning next academic year. Evangel previously played in Class 5A, the association’s largest division, and Curtis played in 4A, the second largest. Both won state championships last season.
Henry told principals at Tuesday’s area meeting at the Hampton Inn that he introduced the 6A plan because he promised to offer relief to 1A and 2A schools that now must compete against Evangel and Curtis. Henry’s proposal would give Evangel and Curtis a home in a larger classification without requiring the approval of member schools.
"It will foster football factories," Henry said. "Right now what you’ve got theoretically is designed to put everybody in its place."
The proposal would require passing three amendments to reword language of standing LHSAA rules. Henry indicated he may recommend tabling it for a year for further study. If passed this year or next, the earliest the rule would take effect is 2007 because new districts will not be voted on again for two years.
Potential drawbacks include schools at the bottom of Class 6A essentially being penalized for being too successful, a watered-down Class 5A title and the diminished importance of district championships.
"As a small 5A school, I have mixed feelings about it," said Kenneth Delcambre, principal of South Terrebonne, which because of its enrollment size, will jump from Class 4A to 5A next school year. "It will be good for football, but 80 percent of our athletic program is not football, and it’s going to hurt in those areas because we get a much larger classification."
But the plan may look attractive to some schools because it will open up the playoffs to 16 more teams. For example, Central Lafourche and H.L. Bourgeois finished rated 36th and 37th in Class 5A last season, missing the playoffs. They would have likely earned berths in an expanded postseason field.
The only proposal by a local school is one by Vandebilt Catholic Principal James Reiss that would immediately make eligible incoming students who attended sixth or seventh grade the previous year at a middle school outside the high school’s attendance zone.
The LHSAA defines a private school’s attendance zone as being the same as the nearest public school -- in Vandebilt’s case, Terrebonne High.
The proposal’s aim, Vandebilt athletic director Calvin Buxton said, is to allow an athlete, for example, who attended seventh grade at St. Bernadette School and lives in H.L. Bourgeois’ district to be eligible to play sports at his or her Catholic high school of choice in the eighth grade.
"If a parent is sending their kid to a Catholic school for four years (in middle school), I think they’re declaring that they’re committed to a Catholic education," Buxton said.
Class 6A proposal highlights LHSAA agenda
By RYAN CHATELAIN
The Courier
HOUMA -- Although a plan that would allow wrestlers to weigh an extra 2 pounds during the Thanksgiving holidays might indicate the Louisiana High School Athletic Association has thought of everything, Commissioner Tommy Henry said the organization’s annual convention will have "the fewest number of proposals in years."
When high school principals meet in Baton Rouge Jan. 26-28, the most controversial proposal likely will be one that would create a sixth classification for football playoffs. The Class 6A bracket would include the top 16 schools from Class 5A ranked by power points. Eligible teams rated 17th through 48th would play for the Class 5A championship.
Any school that unsuccessfully attempts to play up in classification would have the option of staying in the division dictated by its enrollment or playing in Class 5A in all sports. However, because it would be playing in 5A with an unfavorable vote, that school would only be eligible to compete in the Class 6A football playoffs. Schools playing up in classification that receive proper approval could compete in the Class 5A or 6A playoffs.
Because of a stand by principals to not allow some schools to play up in classification, football powerhouses Evangel Christian and John Curtis will play in 1A and 2A, respectively, beginning next academic year. Evangel previously played in Class 5A, the association’s largest division, and Curtis played in 4A, the second largest. Both won state championships last season.
Henry told principals at Tuesday’s area meeting at the Hampton Inn that he introduced the 6A plan because he promised to offer relief to 1A and 2A schools that now must compete against Evangel and Curtis. Henry’s proposal would give Evangel and Curtis a home in a larger classification without requiring the approval of member schools.
"It will foster football factories," Henry said. "Right now what you’ve got theoretically is designed to put everybody in its place."
The proposal would require passing three amendments to reword language of standing LHSAA rules. Henry indicated he may recommend tabling it for a year for further study. If passed this year or next, the earliest the rule would take effect is 2007 because new districts will not be voted on again for two years.
Potential drawbacks include schools at the bottom of Class 6A essentially being penalized for being too successful, a watered-down Class 5A title and the diminished importance of district championships.
"As a small 5A school, I have mixed feelings about it," said Kenneth Delcambre, principal of South Terrebonne, which because of its enrollment size, will jump from Class 4A to 5A next school year. "It will be good for football, but 80 percent of our athletic program is not football, and it’s going to hurt in those areas because we get a much larger classification."
But the plan may look attractive to some schools because it will open up the playoffs to 16 more teams. For example, Central Lafourche and H.L. Bourgeois finished rated 36th and 37th in Class 5A last season, missing the playoffs. They would have likely earned berths in an expanded postseason field.
The only proposal by a local school is one by Vandebilt Catholic Principal James Reiss that would immediately make eligible incoming students who attended sixth or seventh grade the previous year at a middle school outside the high school’s attendance zone.
The LHSAA defines a private school’s attendance zone as being the same as the nearest public school -- in Vandebilt’s case, Terrebonne High.
The proposal’s aim, Vandebilt athletic director Calvin Buxton said, is to allow an athlete, for example, who attended seventh grade at St. Bernadette School and lives in H.L. Bourgeois’ district to be eligible to play sports at his or her Catholic high school of choice in the eighth grade.
"If a parent is sending their kid to a Catholic school for four years (in middle school), I think they’re declaring that they’re committed to a Catholic education," Buxton said.