FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 23, 1998


Board expands State Football Series to six classifications for 1999 and 2000 seasons

GAINESVILLE – The FHSAA State Football Series will get a makeover for the 1999 and 2000 seasons under a new classification plan adopted today by the Florida High School Activities Association Board of Directors.

The plan, which was published last week on the FHSAA web site as Option 3, equally divides the 389 schools which have committed to participate in the State Football Series into six classifications of approximately 65 schools each. Each classification will be further sub-divided into 12 districts of four to seven schools each. The plan also introduces a new and exciting concept of at-large berths to the FHSAA system. A total field of 192 schools – 32 in each classification – will advance to the State Series. Currently, 160 schools advance to the State Series in five classifications.

A classification plan for other sports will be considered by the Board of Directors at its February meeting.

After adopting the plan, the Board of Directors empowered the Commissioner at his discretion to make adjustments to district assignments at the request of a member school provided: (1) such adjustments do not create small districts of three or less schools; and (2) the school can demonstrate a need for the adjustment based on financial considerations such as excessive travel and/or an inability to schedule traditional rivalries. Schools will be required to submit such requests in writing over the signature of the principal to the Commissioner not later than Dec. 15. The decision of the Commissioner regarding each request will be final and no appeal of his decision will be allowed. The complete plan with proposed district assignments is available on the FHSAA web site (www.fhsaa.org).

"This is exciting," said FHSAA Commissioner Robert W. Hughes. "I am pleased that the Board of Directors has voted to adopt Option 3. As I told the Board, there is no perfect plan. However, of the four options presented to them by my staff, this is one that we feel best addresses the concerns of the member schools as a whole.

"The larger districts in each classification, coupled with the at-large berths, hopefully will eliminate the chances of teams with losing records advancing to the playoffs. The at-large berths, themselves, will add an intriguing new twist and provide an opportunity for good teams in strong districts a second chance to experience the playoffs."

Under the plan, each classification will be divided into four quadrants of three districts each. The champion and runner-up from each district, a total of six schools in each quadrant will receive an automatic berth into the State Series. The 32-team bracket will be filled with two at-large teams in each bracket which will be determined first, on overall record; and second, on strength of schedule.

Prior to making its decision, the Board of Directors heard a presentation from Commissioner Hughes and his staff. The Board also conducted a public hearing during which 14 individuals representing member schools and county school systems from around the state presented their observations and concerns. The Board also considered two additional classification proposals presented during the public hearing.

"Not everyone will be happy with this plan," said Hughes. "However, no one can say that they were denied an opportunity to express themselves during this process. The fact that we posted our report and recommendations on the web site, encouraged the membership to review it, and urged them to contact and give imput to their representatives on the Board in advance of the meeting is a first for this Association. Hopefully, the membership will appreciate our efforts to open up the process."

The Board of Directors also spent several minutes discussing the conference-based playoff system currently utilized by the Illinois High School Association, and acknowledged its potential for implementation by the FHSAA in the future. The Board voted to direct the Commissioner to research the IHSA system further, solicit input from the membership and develop a presentation to the Board of Directors on its feasibility within the next year.

In other action, the Board of Directors:

• Denied a recommendation to begin the football season one week earlier during the 1999 and 2000 seasons, and tabled action pending further study on a recommendation to eliminate the open date as a means of shortening the season.

• Adopted a plan developed by Commissioner-Emeritus Ronald N. Davis for distributing fines collected as a result of unsportsmanlike conduct on the part of schools back to the membership. Under the plan, seven schools in each administrative section – one in each senior high classification and a junior high or middle school – will be designated semifinalists for the Fred E. Rozelle Sportsmanship Awards and will receive a check for $500. The winners of that award in each classification, as well as the junior high/middle school division, will receive an additional $2,000 award. The remainder of the unsportsmanlike conduct fine revenue will be distributed to all schools which do not have any ejections or unsportsmanlike conduct penalties during the school year as follows: schools with 15 or more athletic programs will split 25 percent of the revenue; schools with nine to 14 programs will split 40 percent of the revenue; schools with six to eight programs will split 15 percent of the revenue; schools with three to five programs will split 10 percent of the revenue; schools with one or two programs will split five percent of the revenue; and junior high and middle schools will split five percent of the revenue. Additionally, the 24 schools who place students on the Gatorade/Ronald N. Davis Academic All-State Team will receive a check for $500 in their honor.

• Approved a legislative package for the 1999 session of the Florida Legislature which will address an adjustment in the statutory requirement of a cumulative 2.0 grade point average to participate in interscholastic athletics; adjustments in statutes to discourage the recruitment of student-athletes by member schools; standards for validating compliance with statutory academic eligibility requirements on the part of home education students; felony acts by student-athletes; independent contractor status of contest officials; and a venue for the filing of lawsuits against the Association.

• Approved a staff recommendation to adjust the selection procedure for the Academic All-State Team to provide for the selection of one boy and one girl from legislative divisions 1 through 4 and 5 through 8 in each administrative section; as well as one at-large boy and girl from each section. The total number of 24 team members will not change.

The next meeting of the FHSAA Board of Directors is scheduled for Feb. 1.

The Florida High School Activities Association is the governing body for interscholastic athletics in Florida. It has a membership of 605 member schools.

Contact:
Jack Watford
Director of Communications, FHSAA
(352) 372-9551 ext. 170
jwatford@fhsaa.org