I understand why the KHSAA went to the 6 class system and I don't completely disagree with it, but, it does seem to have watered down the quality from what it used to be. Granted, the 4 class system did mean 90 or so schools would not get to participate in the playoffs, which was a concern to them. It also meant there was a bigger disparity in enrollment from the biggest to smallest school in each class. I understand all that, but, there would seem to be a better compromise to the problem.

 

Why not split the difference and go with a 5 class system and why the issue with teams opting to play up? I understand not allowing teams to play down, but, why penalize programs that want to strive to get better and play better competition. I realize geographics play a role, as well, but, unless the request to play up put another team in a distinct geographic disadvantage, which it doesn't for the most part, what's wrong with it?

 

The biggest disparity in enrollment exists with the smallest 1a and 6a schools competing vs the larger 1a and 6a schools, so, I can see the need to limit the largest and smallest classes to 32 teams, but, then you have the rest of the schools in the middle and not that big a disparity.

 

With 221 participating schools, I'd love to see the 5 class system with 32 in 1a, 32 in 5a and then split the remaining 157 teams into 2a,3a and 4a. I think that would help the competion level from being so watered down, still get over 73% of the teams in the playoffs, but, also make the district games actually mean something. The only other suggestion I'd make is if a team opts to play up, they still make it mandatory for the 1a and 5a classes to maintain 32 teams. In other words if a 5a team opts to play up to 6a, then the smallest 6a team is allowed to drop to 5a or if a 1a team opts to play up, then the smallest 2a team is allowed to drop to 1a. If they opt not too, then the next smallest gets that option and so on.

 

This issue has been discussed in the past, but, haven't seen it recently and just curious if the KHSAA has any intentions to possibly consider something along these lines and was curious to what others think about it.

 

Thoughts?

 

Good thread and good post.

 

I'm responding to your post before reading any responses, so I can just focus on your initial thoughts.

 

Personally, I'd like a four or even three class system, as oppossed to five, but I understand that was compromise number and could live with it.

 

I'd also rather see schools divided evenly into all five classes. If not, the all the 5A and 1A schools get into the playoffs and all the non-playoff qualifiers come from the other three classes. I know it's set up that way now as well, but I think it's wrong.

 

otherwise, some solid points.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$, so, no.

 

The move to six classes wasn't money driven. And, football teams don't make near (or even any) the money most people think.

 

Anybody think Highlands/Woodford County in the first round of the playoffs last year was a profitable night?

The move to six classes wasn't money driven. And, football teams don't make near (or even any) the money most people think.

 

Anybody think Highlands/Woodford County in the first round of the playoffs last year was a profitable night?

It may not have been driven by money, but 12 schools in the state finals (50 percent more than were there before) should translate to more money coming into the KHSAA coffers.

 

As far as I'm concerned, the KHSAA benefitted financially and some coaches and programs benefitted by watering down the playoffs.

All basketball, softball, baseball, volleyball teams go to the playoffs, regardless of record in district or out of it. I'm not saying that football should do this, just that we can't make comparisons with other sports when the very setup of the season for others sports is so completely different.

 

Basketball, softball, baseball, and volleyball teams all play in a one-class system. If the KHSAA went to a six-state champion system in these sports, I'll bet the coaches of said sports would endorse a few teams not making postseason.

 

Kentucky has 6 classes for 221 teams in football, and one class for every other team sport. That logic passed stupid about six furlongs ago and is still going.

It may not have been driven by money, but 12 schools in the state finals (50 percent more than were there before) should translate to more money coming into the KHSAA coffers.

 

As far as I'm concerned, the KHSAA benefitted financially and some coaches and programs benefitted by watering down the playoffs.

 

To the first graph, your point is noted. But, if more state finalists translate to more money, why not go to a class system in other sports?

 

As for the second graph, maybe the KHSAA has benefitted financially, but that's not why the move was made. As far as some coaches and programs benefitting from the new system, I agree.

To the first graph, your point is noted. But, if more state finalists translate to more money, why not go to a class system in other sports?

The KHSAA fears that classes in basketball will have just the opposite effect, that state tournament attendance will be adversely affected. No other sport has much of an impact, financially.

 

I'm not saying that money was a primary reason for making the move, but I suspect the football finals probably bring in a little more money than they did before with 12 teams coming to one site instead of eight.