COMPETITIVE BALANCE ISSUE PASSES

[93Bulldog]

Ohio high schools have finally embraced a new plan intended to level the playing field between public and private schools, modifying how schools are placed in tournament divisions in eight team sports. Similar plans previously were voted down three times. This one passed by a vote of 411-323 with three abstentions. It will take effect during the 2016-17 school year. Enrollment has been the only factor in deciding a team's division in tournament play. Now, each athlete's educational-system history and where their parents reside also will be considered. The new rule applies only to boys football, soccer, basketball and baseball and girls soccer, volleyball, basketball and softball.

[Logangrad]

Can you break down what this means for how the division COULD break down?

[93Bulldog]

Can you break down what this means for how the division COULD break down?

Who knows. It all has to be recounted. Nobody knows for sure right now what kids (were not students at the 'feeder school' for each private institution.) Nobody really knows for sure what kids are not living in the district they go to school at.

All that mattered was enrollment, no such information was ever reported. But it will now.

[Logangrad]

If the proposal is passed it will require schools to submit to the OHSAA their team rosters of athletes in grades nine through 12 and to provide more information about each student.

Students in public schools will be subject to modifying factors if their parents do not reside in the district or the student has not been continuously enrolled in the district since seventh grade. Students in nonpublic schools will be subject to the same modifying factors if they did not attend that school’s designated “feeder” school continuously since seventh grade or have not been continuously enrolled in the same system of education. OHSAA Commissioner Dan Ross said that in the proposal, public schools have their designated middle school and Catholic schools would choose one “home parish.”

If you get kids from your “feeder system” following their seventh- and eighth-grade years, they count as one student. If they come from outside your area they would add to your enrollment by a multiplier, which is plus 2 in football; plus 5 in volleyball, boys and girls basketball, baseball and softball; and plus 6 in boys and girls soccer.

[93Bulldog]

if the proposal passes?

It passed today!

[trojandave]

I am really not surprised that the issue passed, considering that this has been talked about and about for the last several years, with some tweaking along the way. Hopefully this will help level the playing field across the state, but at the same time no system will ever be perfect........and then there's always going to be a segment of the population who will find something to complain about no matter what system is in place. I have to give credit to Dr.Dan Ross, his staff at the OHSAA, and the member schools for pushing this through and not being satisfied with the status quo. It will certainly be interesting to see how it plays out in 2016/2017.

Like any new system, this one will probably be revised at some point in the future.

[jinks]

Thanks for the explanation Logan grad! Why does soccer have such a high multiplier? Also, by "parents" does that mean legal guardianship or bio parents?

[Stryker]

Wonder how OHSAA will classify divisions in the 2015/2016 seasons? Divisions were set last year for 2013/2014 and 2014 /2015 which looks like it will leave a 1 year gap in the 2015/2016 seasons. Just wondering

[4thgoal]

Wonder how OHSAA will classify divisions in the 2015/2016 seasons? Divisions were set last year for 2013/2014 and 2014 /2015 which looks like it will leave a 1 year gap in the 2015/2016 seasons. Just wondering

The normal 2 year cycle of counts will continue on its normal schedule. These counts are still the base number under Competitive Balance.

I wonder how they will publish this information in the future? Will there just be a page on the OHSAA website for each sport's adjusted enrollment count?

[vchoops]

The multiplier is based on how many divisions that sport has. The more divisions (i.e. football) the lower the multiplier. The less divisions (i.e. Soccer) the higher the multiplier.

[irontontruth]

I dont like the idea of competitive balance. Players want to go to certain schools because the school is successful(thats why)
I say....be successful and players will come to your school toooooooo.

[fortdawg]

That might work, but it's not that easy moving from one Public School to another. There is a ton of paperwork and you have to change guardianship or physically move to do what you suggest.