So, the AHSAA comes out with all new classification rules and numerous local teams went up or down. Most notably, Eufaula went to 6A. I read a little about it this morning but listened to my friend, Doug, doing his sports talk show. He's very knowledgeable about HS sports and he gave a good breakdown of the new rules. And boy, did they F this thing up.
One of the things they wanted to target, were the private schools that actively recruit players. So, they implemented a competitive advantage rule, meaning that if a program has been having a ton of success and/or winning championships, they're moving up one classification, regardless of whether the enrollment justifies it. The way I understand it, (Correct me if I'm wrong) that applies to each individual sport. For instance, 3A Providence Christian, is either winning or playing for volleyball championships every year. That program will play in 4A next year.
So, here's the kicker. Doug called one of the directors with AHSAA and asked him about the Eufaula scenario, because their enrollment actually went down and they were expecting a drop to 4A. He was told they took into account the students taking virtual or on-line classes through Eufaula HS, something that apparently has become very popular recently. Eufaula has almost 300 students in that program so that bumped them up to 6A status. Doug countered with the fact that none of those students plays a sport for Eufaula but he was told they were eligible and therefore, count against the total. But get this...
Doug tells him that if that's the case, the opportunity to "recruit" just expanded heavily into public schools because the only criteria to be eligible to play sports for a particular school is to be enrolled in on-line classes. So, if a student at Dothan High, who lives a mile from the school, decides he wants to play basketball for Enterprise HS, which is 30 minutes away in another county, all he has to do is drop out of Dothan and enroll in on-line classes at Enterprise. He said this director literally gave him an "Oh shit!" Didn't think that one through, didja?
Any of your schools make a move?
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