The Georgia High School Association (GHSA) is considering a Performance-Based Classification Model that reclassifies schools based on athletic success instead of enrollment size. Under this system, the five highest-performing schools in each classification would move up, and the five lowest-performing schools would move down. This model aims to make a more competitive balance in sports, addressing disparities under the current enrollment-based model.
Key Points:
- Proposed Changes:
- *Enrollment would be the starting point, but athletic performance over recent years would determine classification changes.
- *The model would promote smaller private schools to compete with public schools in state championships, breaking away from the current private-only playoff division in Class A-3A.
- Support and Concerns:
- *GHSA executive director Tim Scott and past director Robin Hines support the plan, saying fairer competition is needed.
- *However, GHSA president Jim Finch and others are skeptical, fearing the impact on smaller schools (2A-3A and below) and the potential harm of moving schools up based on short-term athletic success.
- *Only 18% of schools have expressed support, with significant opposition and uncertainty from others.
- Advantages:
- *Schools that have not been successful would compete against similar programs, offering a better chance for these teams to be successful and making games more competitive.
- *The successful school programs will face tougher competition, potentially improving overall athletic quality.
- Challenges:
- *People against this model highlight management issues, such as treating schools that are strong in one sport but weak in others and the potential financial strain of moving up classifications.
- *Questions remain about the methodology for determining promotions and how to address the private-public split in competition.
- Outlook:
- *Discussions are ongoing, and no vote has yet been taken as of yesterday. For schools that see the model as a step forward, significant hurdles remain in gaining more support.
- *Alternatives include reducing the number of classifications, increasing the number of regions, and determining playoff participants via power rankings.
The 18-member committee wants to balance fairness, oversee challenges, and school concerns to create a system that works for as many schools as possible and ensures competitive equity across Georgia High School Association sports.
This summary by the Prep Sports Report is based on articles by Todd Holcomb and Ken Sugiura, published in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC). The articles discuss the GHSA's competitive-balance reclassification model and the challenges of a performance-based classification model.
Friday - GHSA’s competitive-balance reclass model faces key meeting Friday via AJC - Todd Holcomb Satruday - Performance-based classification model is worth the headaches for GHSA via AJC - Ken Sugiura
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