Playing up in class used to be an option, but under the last (and maybe the last 2) reclassification period, that option was taken away. Currently the only way a team can play up is if they are hampered geographically and it would save them considerable travel costs to join a more local district in a higher classification.

 

With realignment coming back up this winter/spring, the question keeps coming up in my mind about the merits of playing up.

 

What are your thoughts? What should the KHSAA policy be on this issue?

I actually was never a fan of playing up simply because it makes the class champions always surrounded with a question mark if there are teams in their class that moved up to play. I just don't like it myself but I'm sure many others love the idea.

 

I mean there are already those that say some classes are weak in the first place, how much worse would the class look if the few really good teams in that class move up? How bad would 1A look if BW, and MAyfeild for instance didn't play in that class the last 15 years, or how weak would 5A be if BG and John Hardin weren't in the class? It just weakens classes I think.

I think we have another year before realignment, after 2014 football season.

 

That said I can see both sides of the playing up debate. If no one is allowed to play up during the next realignment you very well could see Highlands in 3A, as they are the smallest 4A school currently and I know at least Wayne County will move ahead of them with the addition of Monticello students to Wayne Co. Anyone in 3A going to compete with them over the next four years???

We do have another year before the realignment takes place, but the KHSAA will have to vote the new realignment into place this spring so that scheduling for 2015/2016 can begin in the fall of 2014.

I think we have another year before realignment, after 2014 football season.

 

That said I can see both sides of the playing up debate. If no one is allowed to play up during the next realignment you very well could see Highlands in 3A, as they are the smallest 4A school currently and I know at least Wayne County will move ahead of them with the addition of Monticello students to Wayne Co. Anyone in 3A going to compete with them over the next four years???

 

Until this year, noone in 4a competed with them, so, what's the difference. Maybe, Belfry, Central, Tilghman, Bell Co and the like could fare just as well. Certain teams like Highlands, BGreen, Mayfield, etc have been on some incredible runs the past few years, but, things like that tend to run in cycles and others step up or they fall back to the pack.

I don't understand why you can't play up. What is the reasoning behind that?

I don't understand why you can't play up. What is the reasoning behind that?

 

I'm with ya. If a team wants to play up, why would you not let them? Maybe it's just to keep the divisions balanced in terms of numbers. But with most people's "must win" mentality in today's world, I don't see schools lining up to play up. I would love to see it because to me athletics are all about pushing the limits, not how many titles can I get against weaker opponents. That's just the way I believe.

 

Everytime this discussion comes up, everyone asks the HHS fans "well how many titles would you have then". For me, I could care less. Winning one every couple years or so against the best is more satifying to me than beating inferior competition for many. For the kids, it's nice for them to compete for it every year. But I still think, the higher the mountain, the better the feeling is when you reach the top.

Didn't Cooper play up in the last realignment? I do know when they first opened and were in 6A they were really a 4A school. Then I thought when the next alignment came out they were still 4A, but after the first year of this current alignment were finally 5A enrollment wise.

 

Didn't someone breakdown the possible classifications for the next alignment? I would be interested in seeing that along with the enrollment numbers

I'm with ya. If a team wants to play up, why would you not let them? Maybe it's just to keep the divisions balanced in terms of numbers. But with most people's "must win" mentality in today's world, I don't see schools lining up to play up. I would love to see it because to me athletics are all about pushing the limits, not how many titles can I get against weaker opponents. That's just the way I believe.

 

Everytime this discussion comes up, everyone asks the HHS fans "well how many titles would you have then". For me, I could care less. Winning one every couple years or so against the best is more satifying to me than beating inferior competition for many. For the kids, it's nice for them to compete for it every year. But I still think, the higher the mountain, the better the feeling is when you reach the top.

 

It seems to work ok here in TN. There are not many that choose to play up...but some do. As far as balance...you could declare before the teams are divided. The difference wouldn't be significant.

Biggest issue with playing up is unbalance in the classes...if 9 teams from 3A played up, that could screw up the playoffs in terms of # of rounds and districts for regional play-not to mention the geography of districts. For example ( I understand its not likely, but for arguments sake). Let's say 3 teams from a 4 team district play up (regardless of class). Now the team that is left will be placed in a new district, perhaps adding 100's of miles in travel for their district games. Now you have dissolved an entire district for the playoffs, so one side of the playoff regional bracket gets hosed. When we went to the 6 class system they eliminated playing up (unless your circumstances were absurd), and even then you had to submit a proposal that could be denied. Anyway, with 6 classes I just don't see it happening except for rare cases. Not enough teams in each class to do so...IMO.

No matter how many in a class only 4 per district making the playoffs

Didn't Cooper play up in the last realignment? I do know when they first opened and were in 6A they were really a 4A school. Then I thought when the next alignment came out they were still 4A, but after the first year of this current alignment were finally 5A enrollment wise.

 

Didn't someone breakdown the possible classifications for the next alignment? I would be interested in seeing that along with the enrollment numbers

They did but it was soley based on geographic reasons. They're simply weren't teams close enough for them to play in the class they would of had to play in.

I'm with ya. If a team wants to play up, why would you not let them? Maybe it's just to keep the divisions balanced in terms of numbers. But with most people's "must win" mentality in today's world, I don't see schools lining up to play up. I would love to see it because to me athletics are all about pushing the limits, not how many titles can I get against weaker opponents. That's just the way I believe.

 

Everytime this discussion comes up, everyone asks the HHS fans "well how many titles would you have then". For me, I could care less. Winning one every couple years or so against the best is more satifying to me than beating inferior competition for many. For the kids, it's nice for them to compete for it every year. But I still think, the higher the mountain, the better the feeling is when you reach the top.

I really can't see you in favor of this, that would mean there would be some classes that will have even more bad teams make the playoffs, possibly several 0-10 teams make the playoffs and I know how you feel about that already.

In the past, when ever a school was permitted to move up, the smallest school in that class was given the option to move down. Most took advantage of that option. Result was that the numbers in each class remained the same.

 

Personally I think a program should be given the opportunity to move up as many classes as it wants as long as it doesn't create severe travel problems for the other teams impacted by the decision.

 

Bottom line for why the KHSAA got rid of the "free move up" rule was that coaches didn't like it when smaller schools moved up and won the championships.

They did but it was soley based on geographic reasons. They're simply weren't teams close enough for them to play in the class they would of had to play in.

 

Are speaking of their original alignment?

 

What about the second alignment since they opened? I was under the impression that they moved up then as well, and that is was put Harrison County into the CCH/HHS district that Cooper was slotted to play.