You are correct that 2 years would be better. If we are doing what is best for kids, the amount of work should be irrelevant. The state used 2 year averages including numbers from the 2008/2009 school year for the last 2011 - 2014 reclassification. The senior kids that played football this year were in 8th grade during the 2008/2009 school year. That means that the 2012, 2013 and 2014 seasons had and will have ZERO kids playing football that were actually counted during the last full reclassification.

 

This is a much bigger problem in 6 classes than 4 classes. With 6 classes, you have 5 dividing lines and school growth or shrinkage means a lot more teams are affected. I would say as many a 8 schools in 1A and 6A could be out of class and as many as 16 schools in each class of 2A through 5A. When you are talking about between 32 -40 schools per class, this is a very big deal.

 

And if we re-classed every 2 years, some coaches, administrators and fans would be grumbling about that too, claiming it's too frequent. One of Tackett's points has always been that whatever you do, someone isn't going to be happy and will be grumbling about it. You do what hopefully is best for a majority of the kids playing high school sports and you move on. I'm fine with the existing policy of re-setting the classes every 4 years and allowing for a mid-term adjustment if a school's enrollment dramatically swings. That obviously doesn't make you happy, but I'm fine with that.

And if we re-classed every 2 years, some coaches, administrators and fans would be grumbling about that too, claiming it's too frequent. One of Tackett's points has always been that whatever you do, someone isn't going to be happy and will be grumbling about it. You do what hopefully is best for a majority of the kids playing high school sports and you move on. I'm fine with the existing policy of re-setting the classes every 4 years and allowing for a mid-term adjustment if a school's enrollment dramatically swings. That obviously doesn't make you happy, but I'm fine with that.

This is the first time it has gone to 4 years. In the past it has always been 2 years. Like someone said earlier, the amount of work involved is irrelevant. Give me a map and the ADM numbers and I will do it myself.

I will put this in terms of Cooper. If Cooper were in 4A they would have had to beat Highlands and/or CovCath and LexCath and/or Boyle County just to make it to the Finals. All of which have won titles in the past 10 years.

 

In 5A, only Bowling Green has won a state title in the past 10 years.

 

Which path looks harder to you?

 

Just to stir the pot a little...

 

Prior to the most recent reclassification, Highlands won 4 straight in 5A. Bowling Green won the last two after Highlands moved down.

And if we re-classed every 2 years, some coaches, administrators and fans would be grumbling about that too, claiming it's too frequent. One of Tackett's points has always been that whatever you do, someone isn't going to be happy and will be grumbling about it. You do what hopefully is best for a majority of the kids playing high school sports and you move on. I'm fine with the existing policy of re-setting the classes every 4 years and allowing for a mid-term adjustment if a school's enrollment dramatically swings. That obviously doesn't make you happy, but I'm fine with that.

 

Re-classification truthfully does not affect me one bit. You are correct that people would be grumbling regardless, but 4 years is not what is best for kids. 6 classes could be what is best for kids, but not when there are no defined boundary lines.

Since overall health is based individual school health its worth noting the common denominator of the overly healthy programs - feeder systems. Almost all of the perennial top schools have solid middle school or youth programs. Having looked at this subject for over 4 years now that is the most obvious common thread.

 

Trinity (and other Louisville Catholic schools) have the strong CSAA, NKY has excellent youth programs, Bowling Green middle school are 'The Purples' - just like the HS, LexCath and Lexington Christian run leagues starting at flag football, most of the rural schools that have had success have middle school programs that are associated with the HS in some way.

 

Do you see lack of success in schools or school systems that do not have closely associated feeder programs? Try Fayette County. Home of some the largest schools yet very lack luster post season performance. No tie in between the MS and HS programs and the middle school programs are fairly lackluster. Jefferson County brought football into the middle schools a few years ago and is seems to be getting better. PRP in the finals may be an example of this. Central may be seeing some benefits as well.

 

So if you want 'healthy' HS football a key ingredient seems to be 'healthy' middle school football.

Edited December 3, 201213 yr by Bluegrasscard
CSAA

Basing the health of KY football on the elite programs is like saying the economy is going gangbusters based off of the top 1% of wage earners.

Per Julian Taketts speech to the coaches "The last year of 4 classes about 10,000 student athletes were playing football in Kentucky. This year 16,000 played football"

How's that for the health of the game?

Per Julian Taketts speech to the coaches "The last year of 4 classes about 10,000 student athletes were playing football in Kentucky. This year 16,000 played football"

How's that for the health of the game?

 

Well heck, let's move it up to 8 classes and we'll get another 6000 kids to play football. I could really care less about the classes, but that is a pretty broad statement that I'm sure was effected by WAY more than just moving to 6 classes. Things are coming to mind so fast that I couldn't even start to type them! So because there are more handouts/rewards, we're getting more kids to play?? Who benefits by more kids playing in that scenario? If they really liked football, why weren't they playing in the first place?

 

It's kinda like rec bball and AAU. You have a ton of kids sign up for rec because they make it easy to succeed. They even out the teams, they all get tophies, etc. Now when it comes to AAU and competition, all kids can't handle it. OR they got such a false sense of security because everything was made easy for them that they can't compete, get frustrated and drop the sport!

 

I'm more about seeing competitive games (yes selfishly). I'm about more teams stepping up their game instead of complaining about the ones that already have. I don't like to see obstacles/challenges removed just "because". Maybe I'm old school. No one can argue that condensed classes doesn't make it more challenging and when you win it, it's more rewarding. It may not change who wins is all the time, but it would be a much tougher route. Maybe not in 6A/4A because I'm not sure how many teams would move up that made a difference. But in 2 and 3 A, games would get much more competitive. Think about the teams that would get put in those two divisions.

 

I agree there would need to be something done for the very small 1A schools and I don't have the answer for that. Maybe a 1A and 1AA, I don't know. But to just keep expanding the classes with the amount of teams we actually have in the state of KY makes it feel like were just doing it for handouts.

This is the first time it has gone to 4 years. In the past it has always been 2 years. Like someone said earlier, the amount of work involved is irrelevant. Give me a map and the ADM numbers and I will do it myself.

 

And everyone will be happy with your work?

Just to stir the pot a little...

 

Prior to the most recent reclassification, Highlands won 4 straight in 5A. Bowling Green won the last two after Highlands moved down.

 

And to stir it more......I wish Highlands was 4A in 2009 and 2010 and 5A in 2011 and 2012.

And everyone will be happy with your work?

Nope, many people will be unhappy just like always. That doesn't mean being lazy to avoid some work is the right thing to do.

Well heck, let's move it up to 8 classes and we'll get another 6000 kids to play football. I could really care less about the classes, but that is a pretty broad statement that I'm sure was effected by WAY more than just moving to 6 classes. Things are coming to mind so fast that I couldn't even start to type them! So because there are more handouts/rewards, we're getting more kids to play?? Who benefits by more kids playing in that scenario? If they really liked football, why weren't they playing in the first place?

 

It's kinda like rec bball and AAU. You have a ton of kids sign up for rec because they make it easy to succeed. They even out the teams, they all get tophies, etc. Now when it comes to AAU and competition, all kids can't handle it. OR they got such a false sense of security because everything was made easy for them that they can't compete, get frustrated and drop the sport!

 

I'm more about seeing competitive games (yes selfishly). I'm about more teams stepping up their game instead of complaining about the ones that already have. I don't like to see obstacles/challenges removed just "because". Maybe I'm old school. No one can argue that condensed classes doesn't make it more challenging and when you win it, it's more rewarding. It may not change who wins is all the time, but it would be a much tougher route. Maybe not in 6A/4A because I'm not sure how many teams would move up that made a difference. But in 2 and 3 A, games would get much more competitive. Think about the teams that would get put in those two divisions.

 

I agree there would need to be something done for the very small 1A schools and I don't have the answer for that. Maybe a 1A and 1AA, I don't know. But to just keep expanding the classes with the amount of teams we actually have in the state of KY makes it feel like were just doing it for handouts.

I'm not asking for more trophies at all. I'm not even commenting on who is winning and by how much. I'm commenting on the state of the game. The state of the game is healthier than it has ever been.

Since overall health is based individual school health its worth noting the common denominator of the overly healthy programs - feeder systems. Almost all of the perennial top schools have solid middle school or youth programs. Having looked at this subject for over 4 years now that is the most obvious common thread.

 

Trinity (and other Louisville Catholic schools) have the strong CSAA, NKY has excellent youth programs, Bowling Green middle school are 'The Purples' - just like the HS, LexCath and Lexington Christian run leagues starting at flag football, most of the rural schools that have had success have middle school programs that are associated with the HS in some way.

 

Do you see lack of success in schools or school systems that do not have closely associated feeder programs? Try Fayette County. Home of some the largest schools yet very lack luster post season performance. No tie in between the MS and HS programs and the middle school programs are fairly lackluster. Jefferson County brought football into the middle schools a few years ago and is seems to be getting better. PRP in the finals may be an example of this. Central may be seeing some benefits as well.

 

So if you want 'healthy' HS football a key ingredient seems to be 'healthy' middle school football.

 

You have to have a good feeder system. At Mayfield we start with 3rd grade games. They have a schedule just like the middle and high school teams. When you start football at Mayfield you are a Mayfield Cardinal. Not some other name. At Graves each one of its elementary schools have a football team with its on name (Wingo Indians, Symsonia Rough Riders....) and they play each other all football season and not other teams. Then in middle school they are thrown together and are supposed to be Eagles. They will not change how they do it either and that will tell you why they had a parade through town with police cars and such just for a district title. Mayfield only does it for a State Championship.

I will put this in terms of Cooper. If Cooper were in 4A they would have had to beat Highlands and/or CovCath and LexCath and/or Boyle County just to make it to the Finals. All of which have won titles in the past 10 years.

 

In 5A, only Bowling Green has won a state title in the past 10 years.

 

Which path looks harder to you?

Last I checked, High School football players only play 4 years. Every year is different for most schools.

You saying Cooper had an easy path, I doubt that very seriously.

In the Playoffs they had to face 4 #1 seeds and a 2 seed that averaged over 37 points a game. Highlands just like BG are the cream of the crop in their respected classes this year.

To think 5A was much easier than 4A simply shows your true bias. Why not say something just as ignorant and say 4A is easier than 6A?

 

Again, you talked about Johnson Central earlier and thinking they would have it made in 5A, well again 3 of the top 10 teams in the state are in 5A, why you think it's such an easy path is beyond me. If you think having to beat last years State Runner up, followed by So. Oldham and then Franklin Co. who averaged 60 pts a game with Mr Ky playing for them and then finish up with Harlan Co. to get to the finals is a cake walk, you may need to do your research.

And to stir it more......I wish Highlands was 4A in 2009 and 2010 and 5A in 2011 and 2012.

 

No you don't, but we will never know will we.