I did a quick, unscientific poll and found the following answers to the question...

 

Yes, it HAS been a success!

 

Signed,

1) The coaches, players, cheerleaders, fans, booster clubs, and administrators at 20-30 or so different schools in Kentucky.

2) The KHSAA.

 

and...

 

No, it has NOT been a success!

 

Signed,

A hundred or so FANS on high school message boards.

I did a quick, unscientific poll and found the following answers to the question...

 

Yes, it HAS been a success!

 

Signed,

1) The coaches, players, cheerleaders, fans, booster clubs, and administrators at 20-30 or so different schools in Kentucky.

2) The KHSAA.

 

and...

 

No, it has NOT been a success!

 

Signed,

A hundred or so FANS on high school message boards.

 

Coach,

 

I did a quick unscientific pole and found that fans on high school message boards are coaches, players, cheerleaders, fans, booster clubs, and adminstrators from all the high schools in Kentucky.

 

How do you define success? If you define success as more kids getting trophies at the end then yes it is a success. My measures of success, and I am not sure that these are the correct measures would be are more kids playing football, is competition better, and are we providing the best opportunities for the student athletes to compete and learn. I am not sure how to measure those successes in the expansion of classes.

 

Unfortunately, in my opinion, the move to six classes was a reaction to quell the stirrings of splitting between privante and public. It has succeeded at that temporarily but the long-term verdict is still out.

Edited September 9, 201016 yr by Alan60
sp.

Coach,

 

I did a quick unscientific pole and found that fans on high school message boards are coaches, players, cheerleaders, fans, booster clubs, and adminstrators from all the high schools in Kentucky.

 

How do you define success? If you define success as more kids getting trophies at the end then yes it is a success. My measures of success, and I am not sure that these are the correct measures would be are more kids playing football, is competition better, and are we providing the best opportunities for the student athletes to compete and learn. I am not sure how to measure those successes in the expansion of classes.

 

Unfortunately, in my opinion, the move to six classes was a reaction to quell the stirrings of splitting between private and public. It has succeeded at that temporarily but the long-term verdict is still out.

Excellent post. No one should assume they can speak for an entire state of coaches, players, cheerleaders, fans, booster clubs, and administrators. And, as you pointed out, those are the very people who are posting here.

 

I don't believe we will ever see a lower number of classes again. Too much power in the KHSAA is held by representatives of teams who were able to take advantage of the change.

I think we might as well get over it guys, 6 classes is here to stay regardless if it's a success or a failure.

 

Couldn't have said it better. Success or failure, love it or loathe it, it ain't going away. The KHSAA has already committed to six classes for the next alignment period, and I believe the only way the number will ever change is if it goes up in another 20 or 30 or 50 years. The toothpaste doesn't go back in the tube.

I'm going to give a little credit to the Holmes coaching staff, administration, and players for their success. I'm sure for every Holmes, their an opposite side of the coin.

 

I agree Holmes is a success story, but they better run the board this year, because after that it is back with Highlands, and then will participation drop, and will they return to being a basketball school? See it is the long term effects that I have a problem with. It props it up for a moment then wham realignment. In addition, I think some of the A schools across the state are really struggling with numbers, but certainly would add that this issue is no different today than before six classes.

 

Kids should want to be involved in athletics because it is proven that athletes must learn to mange their time better, and it should certainly help them with their self confidence.

 

The other problem with the 6 class format is now there can be serious blowouts in the state semifinals. I just think those games more often than not should be close.

Couldn't have said it better. Success or failure, love it or loathe it, it ain't going away. The KHSAA has already committed to six classes for the next alignment period, and I believe the only way the number will ever change is if it goes up in another 20 or 30 or 50 years. The toothpaste doesn't go back in the tube.

 

 

You know, your and Big East Zebra's approach is probably the most reasonable one: it's been decided that we are sticking with 6 classes for at least the next 4 years. Rather than continuining to argue about whether that's good for high school football in Ky ( I seriously doubt either side is going to convince any one on the other side any way), we should probably move on and just accept 6 classes are here to stay for a while. McPapa's question is different and fair: when and how will we know if the move to 6 classes was successful. If the reason for going to 6 classes was to diffuse the public private issue as some assert, then I'd have to state it's already been pretty successful as there has been very little going on with that issue. No new proposals to split; no public superintendent trying to stir it up; the whole issue is pretty quiet. If the reason for going to 6 classes was to improve the quality of high school football in Ky as others assert, then we should give a fair amount of time to see if that happens. I think success will be measured by more kids participating in high school football; by greater enthusiasm for football in programs that were very lacking in support and participation; and by the perennial powers facing greater and more frequent challenges to win state. If the reason for going to 6 classes was to reduce the disparity of enrollment size in the classes as is asserted by some, then that obviously defacto has been successful because it has occurred.

 

If folks want to continue to argue about whether we should have 6 classes, go for it. I'm done with it. I've heard all the arguments why it's wrong. I've heard the arguments why it's right. Heck, I probably heard them all before the issue was first brought up on here. I've made my mind up on the issue. I'm moving on.

Parting shot from me: In 2006 when we saw how the 6 class system shook out beginning the 2007 season, as a Highlands fan, it was very disappointing. As far as the players, I don't think they really cared. Coaches? No idea how they felt. The result so far, Highlands has not lost to a 5A team, and really has only been challenged once in the now 4th season of 6 classes. If the goal was to stop teams from being dominated by others, well that hasn't happened. If the goal was to make programs feel better about themselves, warranted or not, well hard to say. What I think we have here is an idea that looked good in theory, but when applied hasn't panned out. And we have a controlling power that, A. Doesn't see the flaw, or B. Won't admit said flaws and will let the flawed system continue. jmo