gatorman-uf

Video of FHSAA Administrator Frank Beasley explaining the proposal.

Captain, I am not a fan of the potential new system, but I do understand the need for change. The decision is not official yet and still need groups to accept it. But yes, you ask these people their opinion. Your argument is essentially saying that a citizen who chose not to vote shouldn't be allowed to propose things that would make their government better in their eyes. I disagree, they are still part of the organization. The FHSAA is listening to them and not just them. Lots of playoff-eligible schools want to do this and bringing back those schools solves many of the problems that we are currently talking about. So if it gets them in, maybe a lot of the problems solve themselves. I would argue the FHSAA (and not the independents) was negligent in allowing these schools to become independent. The moment they noticed the large number leaving they should have done something. The difference was it is harder to quantify their issues in comparison to a Chiefland or Williston having to play Trinity Catholic in a district game.

Those independents schools still are part of the FHSAA, they have just chosen to not be part of the playoff system as independents. Schools can do this for numerous reasons including schools like IMG, which allows them to have a national schedule. Schools like Florida School for the Deaf and Blind. Schools that are super small and don't want to play a ton of games. Schools that just don't want to play schools that will dominate them and put safety of players higher. Those independent schools though are important if the FHSAA wants to keep 8 classifications. If you put even 40 of them back into our classifications, many of the problems that we talk about can be solved. So these schools are still members, still have a say in the organization, the FHSAA wants to serve them in the best way possible. In reality, this is no different than the threats of small rural schools going independent several years ago. The FHSAA talked to them and found a suitable solution. The FHSAA is trying to serve the needs of Bolles, STA, Armwood, and these small private schools as well. It is hard to create rules for all of them, but the FHSAA has to listen to all of them.

You won't see that in 1A-4A. Regions still exist. It will be a bigger issue in 5A-8A for travel during playoffs, but 1A-4A should look very similar to what it always does so no worries there.

They are essentially introducing wildcards as 1A-4A all the positions are wildcard and in 4A-8A only the district champ is ensured a playoff spot. The other 4 former district runner-up positions would become wildcards. But when we say wildcard, we have to have a system that allows a team in.

The longest travel would still be Pahokee to Branford in Region 4, which was a possibility under the current system so travel won't really change. In theory, 4 district 8 teams could make the playoffs or 4 district 7 teams as district will not exist. So Pahokee could play 10 games and never leave Palm Beach County and still end up in the playoffs.

Come on Joshua, the easiest step? So on one side we have a complete overall of districts champions/runner-ups, two separate rule systems for small schools and large schools, a seeding system based on power points, which are based on things a team has no control over OR we can reduce classifications, which would expand two-team districts, prevent examples like NFC and FAMU. Sorry, not buying that it is easier.... Again, I get the reasons... I just think it doesn't do anything that it is trying to do. Nobody has ever explained to me how the current system prevents Powerhouse vs Powerhouse from playing which is what the new system is supposed to create. I am for change, but this doesn't create the very thing you are trying to change. All it really does is allow teams to avoid playing Trinity Bolles STA Manatee

http://www.tampabay.com/sports/footballpreps/points-based-florida-high-school-football-playoff-format-moves-forward/2281599 Gives some more details... again I dispute how the new system fixes these things. Again they talk of the losing teams vs winning teams, some winning teams are still staying home. 19 team of them, and who says all the teams are in the same region or district or class to easily replace the losing team. "Blowout losses in the playoffs", we had blowouts in the state championships where the 2 best teams would be playing. Our system is watered down. The new focus on wide-open offenses that run more plays leads to more points, that is why we have such big scoring gaps. Part of the reason why there are two teams in a district (forgetting the 60+ independent teams that would fill in the gaps) is the travel. FAMU and NFC might be the only two teams in the district but the nearest other teams are in Jacksonville, nearly 2.5 hours for a game. This is the geography of North Florida and the Panhandle. Yes games are decided in the 9th week to allow for a shootout if necessary. The 10th game is often a non-district rivalry game that allows the teams to play for something. Look, the playoff system wasn't broken to me. You win, you're in. Now, it will have so many moving parts that you will be cheering for some game that shouldn't matter to you. I will continue to say that relegation/promotion are the answer. You are good, you move up. You are bad, you move down.

While I disagree with the decision, the FHSAA did do a poll asking coaches/ADs/administrators their opinion. 70% wanted a change. Supposedly 30 of the 60+ independents would be willing to rejoin classifications if the changes happen.

I also dislike one of the stats that they gave that 16 losing teams made the playoffs and 35 winning teams missed the playoffs. First, even if we assumed that all losing teams missed the playoffs and they all went to the winning team that would still leave 19 "winning" teams out of the playoffs. Additionally, nothing says that the losing teams and winning teams are even in the same region. A quick look at 1A shows Northview had a losing record and made the playoffs, but there were 2 teams in Region 1 that had winning records, so one winning record team is still sitting home. In Region 2 and 4 there were a combined 3 additional "winning" teams and no losing teams. The system still sends winning teams home. Again, losing teams make the playoffs because of small districts. Small districts happen because the FHSAA expanded classifications and has a couple of classifications that are too small. Shrink # of classifications, increase minimum # of teams in a classification and losing playoff team cease.

Look, I have been outspoken in that I don't think the district winner/runner-up format is broken. I actually think it works and encourages teams to schedule difficult teams because there is no reason not to. If you are an above average team why not schedule the local powerhouse in an out of district game, it doesn't hurt your chances of making the playoffs. Now, scheduling and losing them to them could actually hurt my seeding or playoff chances. Well, the FHSAA voted for the changes... I get it. I do. Maybe it is the fact that I don't see the problem nor how this solves the problem. I see an exciting playoff system each year, even if you consider that a 5-5 Booker T Washington made the playoffs and won a state championship, which I guess is a bad thing according to the powers that be because they prevented a team with a winning record from getting in. I see a game like Dwyer and STA happen in the 2nd round in 7A (which was essentially the state championship game) and think if we have regional seeding in happens in round 3? To me that is not going to "save" the playoffs. I think this is going to make it so that it matters less what happens on a field that you control vs a field that is 100 miles away. All of a sudden you have to hope that the teams you play are good. As a fan, you will have no clue how your team is doing because it won't matter until week 11. I would point out again the old system vs new system had 7 of the same 8 playoffs teams (Region 1, Class 7A) in the simulation they ran. So it is not like the old system wasn't choosing good teams. I will continue to say the reason that we have blowouts in the regular season is that the FHSAA tries to create a level playing field by only looking at school size. They forget that certain schools put more/less emphasis on certain sports and this creates the imbalance. Do I want to be a small school and play Trinity Christian, Bolles, University Christian, American Heritage-Delray? Nope, so I get why an average small school wants this change. The reality is that this will be our system for the next 11 years at a minimum. We will still have the same "good" teams winning state championships. The same teams that can't compete, still won't be able to compete.

There is a good line in one of the articles that Koch says he didn't really want there to be football. I am sure he has numerous other things that take his attention away. But when you start looking at the pay of the CEO and the high turnover rate of teachers at Oxbridge "If a Fortune 500 company had this problem, we would be looking at leadership" is another line that struck me. I think the neighbors' kid is probably right. Too big too much too soon. If they had done the same thing in soccer or basketball or baseball nobody would bat an eye, but in football with all the costs of their awesome stadium (it is an awesome stadium if you drive by), they probably realized they had been too loose with the purse strings and needn't to shut that down.

By long time, "estbalished" school you mean since 2000, right? American Heritage is no different they took players from other private schools and recruited schools Oxbridge just was beating American Heritage at their own game. Granted, I don't like Oxbridge for other reasons. But I am glad American Heritage started losing. I just wish it was other schools that were winning. Some other stories that go into more detail about Oxbridge problems... http://westpalmbeat.blog.palmbeachpost.com/2016/05/27/oxbridge-ceo-out-after-koch-investigation/ http://www.mypalmbeachpost.com/news/news/tales-of-sexism-high-turnover-prompt-probe-at-koch/nrD53/ A lot of this sounds like rich people problems. But Koch it seems had a thorough investigation. As for Socha, he will become a coach someplace in South Florida and turnaround that program.

Not true, all of the games were played in Dolphin Stadium. Actually, they all have been played at the same common location since 1989. As for the last time they held the games in Miami (2006), the 8A state championship game had Miami Northwestern as they were starting their historic run. Additionally, other games that year had a 3rd installment of Lakeland and STA (as Lakeland was looking for a 3 peat). Additionally, Muck City showed out as Glades Central, Pahokee, Clewiston, and Glades Day all were playing in the first weekend of games. Additionally only Pine Forest, Bolles, North Central Florida, and FAMU came from N of Orlando. 2 of those played in the smallest classes and are not going to bring large numbers no matter the location of the games. In the last 3-4 years, Miami Dade has been represented by a BTW, Miami Central, and an 8A school. Many of these 8A schools are not your traditional Miami Dade powers and as a result the community has not rallied the way that it does for some others. Basically, what I am saying is 2006 was the perfect mix of teams to produce a historic numbers in terms of attendance. As for my dream scenario, 1A goes to either Citizen's Field (Gainesville), Columbia High School (Lake City), or Gene Cox Stadium (Tallahassee). 2A goes to HOME School, 3A-8A play at one stadium over 3 days. I would prefer Friday, Saturday, Sunday even though games aren't allowed to scheduled games on Sunday. Or 3 games on Friday and Saturday. I would have like Daytona Beach if only to allow a more intimate feel for a game than the cavernous Citrus Bowl (refuse to call it by the new name). I also understand that kids getting the chance to play in a stadium like the Citrus Bowl is a once and a life feel.

Heartland, I think Moore Haven has always been considered part of the rural, but like some schools until recently have chosen not to be in Rural due to the drive. The nearest 1A school was Wildwood and Crescent City (3 and 4 hour drives). Now Pahokee, Frostproof, and Fort Meade in District 8 makes it more "affordable"

Josh, I think that is a good first step. It allows teams to have both the advantage of getting in by winning your district or by having that tough schedule. I would be ok if they shrank the class to 7A as well or failing that going down to 3 districts per region. The one thing that I can say after playing with these teams is that districts are hard to put together. There are times when I could easily have ended up with 18 districts instead of 16 or 9 instead 8.

When we are talking about Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties, it simply is the idea of going South to North. In terms of West Broward, North Miami, Mater Academy. The issue is District 16 is 5 teams already. I could move Miami Beach from District 16 to District 15 and move West Broward from District 15 to District 14. What that unfortunately does is create a 4 team District 16, 4 team District 15, and a 6 team District 14. Unfortunately, small districts are something that is often complained about so part of what I tried to do is avoid that. As for Flanagan, Hialeah, Gardens, Krop, Miramar, that again is a North to South issue... The only thing I could do is move Miami Central to that district. As for Miami NNW and Carol City.... South to North issue again... District 16 is Homestead, Miami Sunset, Gulliver Prep, Doral, and Miami Springs... Miami Springs and MNW are almost level in terms of N/S, but the 4 other Southern Schools are closer to Springs so Springs moves to District 16. that means the next 5 schools will form District 15 which is the district that means. While North Miami Beach is more S than Carol City, Carol City is located closer to 3 of the other schools so they get District 15 while North Miami moves to District 14. If district size didn't matter, if people were fine with 2 team district and 8 team districts, this isn't a hard task. At the point that that you have to find 4-6 teams consistently in each district, it becomes a matter of making certain decisions. If we get rid of districts (based on the original proposal by the FHSAA), the one benefit is no longer hearing about unfair districts.

Sharkbait, First realize that my proposal doesn't affect 1A because they are so unique in their requirements. As for how quickly they move up or down, well that would depends on bad they did and how close were they to the cutoff lines. If we continued to use population and last 5 years of success. Or we can use simple measures like the total number of district wins over the past two seasons. The lowest team in each district moves down. The 16 teams that make it the furthest in the playoffs combined over the course of 2 years move up.

Captain, I wasn't the one who questioned the 3 schools or 50 students. I understand what you saying though. I would argue for the Rural Class to be a long term success that population numbers will have to slowly grow the cutoff. I am not suggesting that a school of 800 or something, but I have no problem with a 615 or so population. A better long term solution if the goal is to have a firm 600 cutoff is to go by a 3 or 4 year average and not a one year snapshot especially when doing something like a hard cap. Anyway, I think the rural class is a huge success and hope it continues. The same idea that exists for the rural league should exist for other leagues as well though. Schools want to compete against similar type of schools. Rural Schools were tired of having to play Bolles or University Christian or Trinity Catholic or North Florida Christian. Small private schools that are not them are tired of it. They don't want to get their butts whooped to that extent. So many of them are moving independent. My system simply recognizes that fact. If you move good teams up, they will face better schools. If you move bad teams down As for your concern, Miami Central wouldn't be there because they would be up in 8A with their 20 D1s (or at least we would hope so). Now if this fictional team is in 8A with Miami Central and their 20 d1s then they did something to deserve it. Yes a team that wins a state championship is always remembered, but never has it meant that they were the best team the school has ever had. Luck, weather, your opponents, referees, game day matchups have all played a role in how a playoff bracket shakes out. I can think of a local girls basketball team that made the state playoffs one year with nothing but sophomores and juniors. The belief was that the next year they should be going further in the state playoffs. Next year comes, they are a better team. They win more games against better competition. They lose in the first round of the district playoffs and fail to make the state playoffs. I will tell you that was the best team that they had, but they didn't make the playoffs. It happens, it is part of the game.

Sharkbait, Perhaps you and I see it differently, I don't see it as punishment at all, but rather recognition of the fact that your team is good. It isn't a reward but rather recognition that after numerous years of failure maybe we need to give you a task that you can compete at. So imagine a poor 6A school being moved down to 4A in the meantime a good but not elite 3A moves up to 4A. I would suggest that these two teams would be more competitive against each rather than the poor 6A vs the average 6A and the average 3A vs the good 3A. The goal is rewarding success, competitive games, and on some level building the sport. Nobody enjoys blowouts. Nobody. Not the fans. Not the coaches. Not the players. As for the Rural Designation. It is has overall been a success. Look at the championships for the past 5 years, some repeat champions in some sports, but different potential champions every year. Now look at 4A-8A, I would bet that you could name 20 elite teams and most of them have made it far in the state championships every year. No excitement because it is the same thing every year. How many straight years did we have BTW vs Bolles? Or Miami Central vs Armwood? While I know it is will be blasphemy to suggest we look at soccer, but most soccer leagues (besides the US) have some sort of promotion and relegation. When you get relegated it isn't a time for joyous celebration, but when you get promoted it is. Being competitive gives hope. Nobody enjoys getting their brains bashed in, this allows teams to think they have a chance which encourages hark work.

Class 8A District 7 Armwood High School Lakeland Senior High School Newsome High School Plant City High School Winter Haven High School Tampa Bay Technical High School (moved from District 8) District 8 East Lake High School Manatee High School Palmetto High School Henry B. Plant High School Sickles High School Tampa Bay Technical High School District 11 Atlantic Community High School (Moved from District 12) John I. Leonard High School Palm Beach Central High School Park Vista Community High School Seminole Ridge Community High Wellington Community High District 12 Atlantic Community High School Boca Raton High School Coral Springs High School Deerfield Beach High School Stoneman Douglas High School J.P. Taravella High School (moved from District 13) Region 4 District 13 American Heritage School Cypress Bay High School (moved from District 14) Plantation High School St.Thomas Aquinas High School J.P. Taravella High School Western High School District 14 Cypress Bay High School Dr Michael M. Krop Senior High School Flanagan High School Hialeah High School Hialeah Gardens High School Miramar High School District 15 Booker T. Washington High School Christopher Columbus High School Coral Gables High School Miami Central Senior High School Miami Senior High School Southwest Miami Senior High School Class 7A Region 1 District 2 The Bolles School Clay High School Creekside High School Fleming Island High School Mandarin High School Oakleaf High School St. Augustine High School District 3 Buchholz High School Flagler Palm Coast High School (moved from District 4) North Marion High School Vanguard High School West Port High School District 4 Flagler Palm Coast High School Lyman High School Spruce Creek High School University High School Winter Springs High School Wekiva High School District 8 Gaither High School Steinbrenner High School Wharton High School Pasco High School Sunlake High School Region 3 District 9 Alonso High School Countryside High School Palm Harbor University High School Jefferson High School Pinellas Park High School Jesuit (moved from District 10) Hillsborough High School (moved from District 10) District 10 Durant High School East Bay High School Jesuit Hillsborough High School Newsome High School Riverview High School Region 4 District 13 Jupiter Community High School Centennial High School Lake Worth Community High School Martin County High School Royal Palm Beach Community High School Seminole Ridge High School District 14 Boyd H. Anderson High School Blanche Ely High School Cooper City High School Monarch High School Piper High School South Plantation High School District 15 American Senior High Everglades High School Hialeah Senior High School Mater Academy High School North Miami Senior High School West Broward High School District 16 Belen Jesuit Preparatory School Booker T Washington Senior High School Miami Beach Senior High School Miami Coral Park Senior High School Miami Palmetto Senior High School Miami Southridge Senior High School Class 6A had a lot of changes to the point I couldn't keep track. Most of the changes were due to several panhandle teams dropping from 6A to 5A. Class 6A Region 1 District 1 Milton High School Lawton Chiles High School Wakulla High School West Florida High School of Advanced Technology District 2 Edward H. White High School Raines High School Robert E. Lee High School Suwannee High School Trinity Christian Academy District 3 Atlantic Coast High School Bishop Kenny High School Nease High School Ponte Vedra High School District 4 Forest High School North Marion High School South Sumter High School Frank W Springstead High School Weeki Wachee High School Region 2 District 5 Lake Minneola High School New Smyrna Beach High School Ocoee High School Seabreeze Senior High School South Lake High School District 6 Celebration High School Paul J Hagerty High School Harmony High School Lake Howell High School Sebastian River High School District 7 Auburndale High School Bartow High School Bloomingdale High School Brandon High School George Jenkins High School Strawberry Crest High School District 8 Freedom High School Mitchell High School River Ridge High School Wiregrass Ranch High School Region 3 District 9 Countryside High School Clearwater High School Clearwater Central Catholic High School Largo High School Seminole High School District 10 Jefferson High School Lakewood Community School St. Petersburg High School A.P. Leto Comprehensive High School Robinson High School District 11 Lennard High School North Port High School Port Charlotte High School Sarasota High School District 12 Cape Coral High School Estero High School Ida S. Baker High School Island Coast High School Region 4 District 13 Boynton Beach Community High School Forest Hill Community High School Glades Central Community High School Palm Beach Lakes Community High School Santaluces Community High School South Fork High School District 14 American Heritage School Boyd H. Anderson High School Spanish River Community High School Northeast High School West Boca Raton Community High School District 15 Dillard High School Fort Lauderdale High School Hollywood Hills High School McArthur High School Nova High School South Broward High School District 16 Miami Jackson Senior High School Miami Norland Senior High School Ronald W. Reagan Doral Senior High School South Miami Senior High School Felix Varela Senior High School Everglades High School Class 5A Region 1 District 1 Escambia High School Fort Walton Beach High School (moved from District 2) Gulf Breeze High School Pensacola High School Pine Forest High School Washington High School West Florida High School of Advanced Technology District 2 Arnold High School Crestview High School Fort Walton Beach High School A. Crawford Mosley High School North Florida Christian School Rickards High School District 3 Baker County High School Eastside High School Middleburg High School Orange Park High School Ridgeview High School Santa Fe High School Suwannee High School District 4 Englewood High School Pedro Menendez High School Ponte Vedra High School Jean Ribault High School Terry Parker High School University Christian Westside Highschool Region 2 District 5 Lake Weir High School Matanzas High School Palatka High School Deltona High School Pine Ridge High School Trinity Catholic High School District 6 Bayside High School East River High School Eau Gallie High School Jones High School Lake Minneola High School Liberty High School Poinciana High School District 7 Citrus High School Lecanto High School Leesburg High School Nature Coast Technical High School South Sumter High School Weeki Wachee High School District 8 Land O' Lakes High School River Ridge High School Tarpon Springs High Wesley Chapel High School Zephyrhills High School Region 3 District 9 Boca Ciega High School Clearwater Central Catholic High School Dixie Hollins High School Northeast High School Osceola Fundamental High School Southeast High School District 10 Blake High School Chamberlain High School King High School Lake Region High School Spoto High School Tampa Catholic High School District 11 Clewiston High School Cypress Lake High School East Lee County High School Lehigh Senior High School North Fort Myers High School Riverdale High School District 12 Barron Collier High School Golden Gate High School Lely High School Palmetto Ridge High School Region 4 District 13 Fort Pierce Westwood High School Hardee Senior High School Jensen Beach High School Okeechobee High School Sebring High School District 14 HALLANDALE HIGH SCHOOL (moved from District 15) North Miami Beach NSU University School Olympic Heights Community High School Stranahan High School Suncoast High District 15 Barbara Goleman Senior High School HALLANDALE HIGH SCHOOL Miami Carol City Senior High School Miami Northwestern Senior High School Hialeah-Miami Lakes Senior High School Westland Hialeah Senior High School District 16 Doral Academy High School Gulliver Preparatory School Homestead Senior High School Miami Springs Senior High School Miami Sunset Senior High School Class 4A Region 1 District 1 Bay High School East Gadsden High School Florida State University Schools Taylor County High School (moved from District 2) North Florida Christian School Pensacola Catholic High School Rickards High School District 2 Paxon School for Advanced Studies Stanton College Preparatory School Baker County High School Menendez High School Orange Park High School Taylor County High School University Christian School Region 2 District 3 Atlantic High School Astronaut High School Matanzas High School Jones High School Rockledge High School Titusville High School Warner Christian Academy District 4 Belleview High School Crystal River High School Dunnellon High School Hernando High School Lake Weir High School Mount Dora High School Region 3 District 5 Anclote High School Dunedin High School Fivay High School Gulf High School Hudson High School Wesley Chapel High School District 6 Bayshore High School Booker High School Gibbs High School Middleton High School Victory Christian Academy Region 4 District 7 Avon Park High School DeSoto High School Lemon Bay High School Mariner High School District 8 Cardinal Gibbons High School Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory Coconut Creek High School Alonzo and Tracy Mourning Senior High Biscayne Bay Campus Port St. Lucie Stranahan High School Class 3A Region 1 District 1 East Gadsden High School Florida A & M University Developmental Research School Marianna High School Pensacola Catholic Rutherford High School Walton High School District 2 Andrew Jackson High School Bradford High School (moved from District 3) Fernandina Beach High School Keystone Heights Junior/Senior High School (moved from District 3) Providence School West Nassau High School Samuel W. Wolfson High School Yulee High School Region 2 District 3 Bradford High School (moved to District 2) Eustis High School Keystone Heights Junior/Senior High School (moved to District 2) Tavares High School Umatilla High School The Villages Charter School Central High School (Moved from District 3) Ridgewood High School (moved from District 3) District 4 Atlantic High School The First Academy Lake Highland Prep Melbourne Central Catholic High School (moved from District 7) Satellite High School (moved from District 7) Space Coast Junior/Senior High (moved from District 7) Tenoroc High School (moved to District 5) Mulberry Senior High School (moved to District 5) Region 3 District 5 Lakeland Christian School Indian Rocks Christian School Admiral Farragut Academy Berkeley Preparatory School Tenoroc High School (moved from District 4) Mulberry Senior High School (moved from District 4) Central High School (Moved to District 3) Ridgewood High School (moved to District 3) District 6 Lake Placid High School Bishop Verot Catholic High School Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School First Baptist Academy Labelle High School Region 4 District 7 Cardinal Newman High School Oxbrigh Academy Cardinal Gibbons Somerset Academy High School (moved from District 8) Melbourne Central Catholic High School Satellite High School Space Coast Junior/Senior High District 8 Dade Christian School Keys Gate Charter School Miami Edison Senior High School Monsignor Edward Pace High School Somerset Academy High School (moved to District 7) Westminster Christian School Keystone Heights Junior/Senior High School (moved to District 2) Class 2A had a lot of rearranging due to the addition of 2 panhandle schools. Region 1 District 1 Marianna High School Florida A & M University Developmental Research School PK Yonge Developmental Research School District 2 Andrew Jackson High School Cedar Creek Christian School Duval Charter School Eagle's View Academy Episcopal School of Jacksonville Harvest Community School Region 2 District 3 Father Lopez Catholic High School Halifax Academy Interlachen High School Warner Christian Academy District 4 Agape Christian Academy High School Cornerstone Charter Academy Foundation Academy a Christian School Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy - Upper School Trinity Christian Academy Region 3 District 5 Cambridge Christian School Carrollwood Day School Seffner Christian Academy Calvary Christian High School Northside Christian School Out of Door Academy - Middle and Upper School - Lakewood Ranch St. Petersburg Catholic High School District 6 Community School of Naples Evangelical Christian School Gateway Charter High School Marco Island Academy Southwest Fl Christian Academy St John Neumann Catholic High School Region 4 District 7 John Carroll Catholic High School Moore Haven Junior/Senior High School Saint John Paul II Academy Village Academy School on the Art and Sara Jo Kobacker Campus District 8 Champagnat Catholic School Everglades Preparatory Academy International School of Broward Somerset Academy Charter High School Monsignor Edward Pace High School

When I originally did it, I only gave positive points for 2014 and 2015 and subtracted 50 population for every consecutive year you didn't make the playoffs. The end result didn't look right because a team could make the playoffs once in 10 years and somehow not lose population despite a complete lack of success. Additionally, you had teams like Paxton, and Stanton who ended up being in 2A despite their 1500 person population. 5 years might be ok. My concern with only 5 years is that you will never lose enough population to make it down a classification (especially our large 8A) additionally, going only 5 years is going to limit the number of classifications that a team can move up. For example Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) would only move up to 5A instead of 6A (with 10 years of data). Part of the idea of 75 students (addition and subtraction) was that when weighted by year that you would lose about 400 students if you hadn't been in the playoffs for 10 years which basically meant that you go down a classification due to the range of populations that the FHSAA set. In order to only do 5 years, I would have to increase the number to 100 students for that to happen. So based on the idea of 5 years of data instead of 10 and 100 students gained or loss plus a weighting of 100% for 2015, 90% for 2014, 80% for 2013, 70 for 2012, 60% for 2011 The following schools would move down a level from the above posted classes: Andrew Jackson (Jacksonville) Baker County (Glen St. Mary) Bayside (Palm Bay) Boyd Anderson (Lauderdale Lakes) Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale) Countryside (Clearwater) Crestview Everglades (Miramar) - X FAMU (Tallahassee) Jefferson (Tampa) Jones (Orlando) Lake Weir (Ocala) Marianna Menendez (St. Augustine) Miami Northwestern Monsignor Pace (Miami) Newsome (Lithia) North Marion (Citra) North Miami Beach Orange Park - X Pensacola - X Pensacola Catholic - X Pine Forest (Pensacola) Riverdale (Fort Myers) Seminole Ridge (Loxahatchee) Southeast (Bradenton) Stranahan (Fort Lauderdale) The following schools would move up a level from the previous classifications: Atlantic (Port Orange) Clearwater Central Catholic Creekside (St. Johns) East Gadsden (Havana) Hialeah Lake Minneola Lake Placid Lakeland Christian Matanzas (Palm Coast) North Florida Christian (Tallahassee) - X Oxbridge Academy (West Palm Beach) Palmetto Pinellas Park (Largo) Ponte Vedra Providence (Jacksonville) Rickards (Tallahassee) River Ridge (New Port Richey) Riverview (Riverview) Santa Fe (Alachua) South Sumter (Bushnell) Sunlake (Land O'Lakes) Suwannee (Live Oak) - X University Christian (Jacksonville) Washington (Miami) Weeki Wachee - X Wekiva (Apopka) Wesley Chapel West Florida (Pensacola)

Broward Part of this is not just based on enrollment numbers but success as well. North Broward Prep would be 3A (under my weighted enrollment) Coral Springs Charter would be 3A (under my weighted enrollment) Archbishop McCarthy would be 5A (under my weighted enrollment). Key West would be a 3A (under my weighted enrollment). I am not suggesting that all independents should be 2A, but many of them would be. Of course, as more teams join we can either increase the size of 2A (I set it at 40 teams for 2A-4A) or just let them flow into the area they are in. The reality is that most of the teams that independents already fall into the 2A category. 44 of the 80 of them are under 300 students (not including Florida Deaf and Blind School). Another 20 fall in the current 300-680 range (3A) not including IMG Academy and Wildwood (1A). If I only used the current cutoff (weighted population of 413) 65 teams (not including IMG, Wildwood, Florida Dead and Blind) Basically almost all of the current schools that are independent would fall in 3A or 2A except for Coral Glades (Coral Springs), Archbishop McCarthy (Southwest Ranches), Pembroke Pines Charter. Coral Glades would be 8A under current FHSAA guidelines and under my weighted population they would be a really big 6A. Archbishop McCarthy would be would be a really small 6A under current FHSAA guidelines and under my weighted population they would be 5A. Pembroke Pines Charter would be a 6A under current FHSAA guidelines and a 5A under my weighted population.

I would note that I don't think this is the end all be all. I just think it is a good starting spot. Minus the Oxbridge issue in 2A, I think if you went to the Independent schools and said, "what do you think of this?" Many might be on board. Small dominant schools might be upset (BTW, Bolles, Trinity Christian (Jax), University Christian (Jax),) as they would be playing well above their population numbers. At the same time, you are playing competition similar to your own ability. If redistricting happens every two years, you can require teams that are state champions to move up, no matter their weighted population. Schools that miss the playoffs for 6 straight years, automatically move down a class from the previous year.

Yeah, I saw that for Oxbridge as I was doing it. That is a reflection of Oxbridge having negatives from 2014-2006 in the above formula. This means they have negatives for 9 of the 10 years. 2015 is the first they have even been in District Play. If I only count 2015 for them then they would be a solid 3A school (weighted population wise) and as they have continued success they would move up. I did it for the sake of things being easier (many schools have never been in the playoffs and it was hard to figure out when they started). To make it easy on myself, I just assumed that every school had played football for 10 years and as a result if they weren't in the playoffs, they had a negative 10. As for Lake Placid and Moore Haven, they are victims of not being surrounded by schools of similar size. Lake Placid to St. John Paul II (2h15m) Lake Placid to Village Academy (2h 8m) Lake Placid to Oxbridge (1h 51m) Lake Placid to John Carroll (1h 24m) Lake Placid to Moore Haven (0h 43m) Total Driving Time: 8 h 21 m Average Driving Time: 1 h 40 m Lake Placid to Community School of Naples (1h 44m) Lake Placid to Evangelical Christian School (1h 24m) Lake Placid to Gateway Charter High School (1h 30m) Lake Placid to Marco Island Academy (2h 13m) Lake Placid to Southwest Fl Christian Academy (1h 24m) Lake Placid to St John Neumann Catholic High School (1h 45m) Total Driving Time 10 h 00 m Average Driving Time: 1 h 40 m Going North or West is more distance than the examples above. 2 possible solutions would be to move Lake Placid up (They were the largest 2A). They then could be in Class 3A, District 6 and they would be with: Bishop Verot Catholic High School Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School First Baptist Academy Labelle High School Move Oxbridge Academy to 3A, move Village Academy and St. John Paul II to District 8 and then create a 3 team district of Moore Haven, Lake Placid, and John Carroll. That creates a district imbalance which I tried hard to avoid. Only a couple of time did I end up with a 3 team district. Part of what I was trying to do was trying to avoid making any exceptions, which is why I found the not weighting 2A, 3A, 4A to be more successful. After I re-ranked schools by population, I did 40 schools 2A-4A, and even division of the remaining schools 5A-8A.