FHSAA approves classification and playoff changes

After what feels like a long and grueling process that started back in July, the FHSAA has finally come to a decision regarding classification and playoff changes.

In a 12-3 vote during their meeting on Monday, Oct. 29, the Association’s Board of Directors approved some big changes regarding classifications and playoffs for several sports, including: baseball, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, softball and girls volleyball.

One of the biggest changes from the new rules set in place is the reduction of classifications from nine classes to seven, which will be based on student enrollment starting in the 2019-20 school year. Florida’s rural classification (Class 1A) will not be affected.

In the original proposal, the FHSAA staff proposed basing classifications on rankings instead of enrollment, which was met with heavy criticism from athletic directors and coaches, said FHSAA executive director George Tomyn in a video posted on Twitter by the FHSAA.

“We put together a proposal and we traveled the state over the period of four to five months... and we listened to what our constituents were saying,” Tomyn said. “Our constituents told us, ‘Hold on boys, slow down, enrollment is a huge factor.’ Our constituents also told us that district tournament play was very, very important to them.”

For many coaches and ADs throughout the area, keeping enrollment as a factor in determining classifications and holding on to district tournaments were big deals.

It was also the simple act of the FHSAA taking it’s time to go around and take heed of what the athletic departments had to say that really stood out for those like West Orange High School AD Jerry Shafer.

“I really think the thing that stands out to me is you have the FHSAA really listening to the people — I can tell you there are places that wouldn’t do that,” Shafer said. 

Shafer's compliment of the FHSAA listening to schools was seconded by Olympia High School AD Kevin McElveen, who said that he offered up guidance to the FHSAA after talking with his coaches.

“They listened to the concerns that we as ADs had, that we as schools had and that we as coaches had," McElveen said. "I went to all my coaches, ‘What do you think of the plan?’ And then I took back their feedback that I received.”

Each class will be broken up into four regions, and each region will have four districts — all of which will have an equal number of teams. 

“I really think the thing that stands out to me is you have the FHSAA really listening to the people — I can tell you there are places that wouldn’t do that."

— Jerry Shafer

The biggest change with districts is that now, unlike in previous years, schools no longer are required to schedule in-district teams. Some people may question the decision, but it makes sense when you include the fact that playoff spots will now operate in the same manner as football.

While district champions will be given an automatic bid and seeded by MaxPreps, teams No. 5 through No. 8 will receive at-large bids via their MaxPreps rankings. Teams will receive more points for tougher schedules, which is now helped along by schools having control over who they play.

This is where things get interesting however, as some coaches and ADs are for the use of a rankings system, like Ocoee AD Bill Alderman, while others like, Windermere boys basketball coach Mark Griseck are, are a bit more wary of a system they don’t truly understand.

“The change is good — I kind of like where they’re going,”  Alderman said. “Everyone is all worried about what’s going to happen and, ‘What about this? And MaxPreps and this and that,’ but you know what? It’s a two year deal that they’re going to evaluate.”

On the other end of the spectrum, Griseck finds himself asking questions about how MaxPreps takes different factors — such as win margins — into account when developing their rankings.

“I’m a little concerned about the whole MaxPreps rankings and determining the 5-through-8 seeds, because no one seems to know what the formula is,” Griseck said. “If you can tell me what the formula is, then I might understand a little better.”

Despite whatever worries there are, there is one thing that is abundantly clear: as long as the FHSAA continues to listen and evolve, there will be progress made.

“If you look at the dynamics of the initial plan to what they have (now), it’s almost a 360,” Alderman said. “They completely changed it, because they knew they want to change it, and they’re trying to get there, so I’m OK with that formula.”