KeemD321

1. They do.
2. Not anymore.
3. That is similar to what the SSAC does. Issue would be if you didn't follow the FHSAA rules then you wouldn't be eligible for postseason play, but some schools do it this way and are a part of the SSAC and the FHSAA. Although we probably would benefit from another/bigger association. 

Just a note that these classifications are not final, as schools have until January 12 to appeal their placement.  Per FHSAA policy, the basis of an appeal could be either a discrepancy in the enrollment count, or geographic isolation (travel) in which case the school could be placed in the next higher classification on a successful appeal.  I seem to remember a time in the old days (or maybe it was in another state) where schools could petition to "play up" for "competitive" reasons.  I guess that's not feasible now, as 60 schools in 1A would elect to play up, leaving Chaminade in a classification all to themselves.  

After running a survey for a while for coaches to complete and nearly 200 responses, I have published the results of that survey along with a separate article with dozens and dozens of quotes from coaches around the state expressing everything from disgust for the FHSAA to expressing happiness for the recent changes to the classifications.
Below are the links to the stories to read: 
PART I: Coaches are not on board with changes to classifications leaving them unhappy with the FHSAA - https://floridahsfootball.com/2024/01/04/survey-says-part-i-coaches-are-not-on-board-with-changes-to-classifications-leaving-them-unhappy-with-the-fhsaa/
PART II: The best of the best in comments from coaches who completed our survey - https://floridahsfootball.com/2024/01/04/survey-says-part-ii-the-best-of-the-best-in-comments-from-coaches-who-completed-our-survey/

Survey and comments by coaches paint a pretty clear picture.  Hopefully if these changes aren't baked in yet the board will take notice.  Thanks for the insight Josh.  

It's happened multiple times before and they've traveled all over Florida and to other states. Plus they are still gonna schedule local teams for out of district. Literally 3 district games and I'm sure 2 will be home

Just like an alley cat to go off topic, lol!

On a positive note (at least to me), they didn't make the 1A to 4A classes half the size. So yay! But if they got rid of 7A and just made each class, eleven teams bigger, it would make it a little better.

.....not to steal the thread, but speaking of $ 33 dollar a pound beef jerky, Publix has been selling beautiful marbled Rib Roast at $ 9.99 lb. the last couple of weeks. Got a $ 60+ one the other day. Hand cut six boneless Rib Eye/Delmonico steaks ready for the grill. Life doesn't get any better..... 

Hey, you got a problem with honky-tonk bars, Dollar Stores, and a 100 pump gas station featuring a "Wall of Beef Jerky ?" ( at $33 a lb. )  Geez, you just can't please folks these days. 

If you have a Open division, wouldn't it be open enrollment also? So 8 super teams make it to play in a brutal playoff. I'd want to watch the games.
 

I'm not sure there are 16 teams capable of competing in an open bracket... maybe 5 or 6 teams could give it a good shot and have a chance of winning when STA and Chaminade are hurting from injuries or illnesses. Would the open include IMG?
IMG, STA, MC, AHP, and Chaminade would be the real contenders. Then you have teams like Lakeland, Venice, Cocoa, BTW, etc... that get hot some seasons that might get through a few rounds but then STA and Chaminade will always be waiting for them in the semi's...
justsayin.

Pinellas will snag a title this decade.  I can feel it!

No, enrollment-based classification was used as recently as 2021, before the last two years of Metro-Suburban.  So we have complaints about Metro-Suburban, complaints about enrollment-based, complaints about mandatory district play.  And anyone thinks there's a chance of coming up with a system that makes 500 schools happy?  But I'll agree with your last paragraph. 

That's the Ludacris part......no local teams and drive to the Daytona area to play all your games....who wants to do that on a Friday afternoon. 

1A A stands for agricultural lmao jk but idk doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things. Could change it to 1B kinda like they had before with 1A 1B 2A and 2B

That's pretty much how an enrollment-based system works. 

Technically if you never played someone, that means they never beat you, which means you are undefeated against them. 
 
#ChessNotCheckers

Seeing is believing.  They have to prove it, lol.  Again @VeniceIndianFan, no Lakeland, no STA, no excuses. 

No Deland, Seminole or Cake Mary?

Columbus says Hola

Going to one class would alleviate that issue.  Oh well!  2026 perhaps, lol.

some sheer ridiculousness going on
take this one for example
Auburndale 4A 2 7
Jones (Orlando) 
Lake Region (Eagle Lake)
Lake Wales
 
now why in the heck would downtown orlando have to travel to the middle of polk county and nowhere.  
that is awful, to see lake wales and jones battle, not awful.  lots of dudes on the field.
or this one
Forest (Ocala) 6A 2 6
Horizon (Winter Garden)
Lake Minneola 
South Lake (Groveland)
how in gods name did ocala forest travel all the way to clermont/orlando, passing 
this district
Evans (Orlando) 6A 1 4
Lake Howell (Winter Park)
Oviedo 
Wekiva (Apopka) 
the sheer intelligence of the fhsaa seems to be one nobody would understand.  
they literally put all the teams in order of attendance records and said ok, yall are kinda close in distance, boom.
the rockledge one with all the daytona schools is just as ludacris
what a joke

Hey @VeniceIndianFan, no STA, no Lakeland, no excuses, .

I'm going on record to say that I'm "OFFICIALLY" unimpressed. I'm about to turn into @DisabledAccount (aka ColumbiaHighFan) .

NEVER.