Looks like a very busy day for SSAA

[Hwy17]

I see more schools leaving FHSAA for SSAA.  FHSAA might have some one team districts. 

[DILLARDBOYZ954]

4 hours ago, Hwy17 said:

I see more schools leaving FHSAA for SSAA.  FHSAA might have some one team districts. 

Who are the schools you've seen leave the fhsaa this year ? Especially in south fl 

[i4football]

Man, y'all hittin' it right on the head with this exodus talk—schools boltin' from FHSAA to SSAA faster than that drunk lady at my Publix counter sprintin' out with a "borrowed" bottle when she think nobody lookin'. Noimsayin?Just today—December 17, merry freakin' Christmas—them finals dropped on them new districts for '26 and '27. Went down to six classes plus Rural (droppin' that 7A like a bad habit), tryin' to beef up them districts so ain't so many two- or three-team ghost towns. Tentatives came out last week, appeals wrapped Monday, and boom—here we is. But even with that fix, schools still jumpin' ship. Lemon Bay already hollerin' they headed to SSAA, Dixie County packin' for '26, Atlantic (Port Orange) done went independent earlier this year, Oasis petitionin' to go solo, couple Panhandle boys like Sneads and Vernon threatenin' or straight plannin' the move 'cause they tired of gettin' mismatched. Reports sayin' more than half-dozen bolted since the season ended, and SSAA sittin' pretty with over 120 members now, growin' like kudzu.If this keep up, yeah, FHSAA gon' have some districts lookin' lonely as hell—one team sittin' there like me waitin' on a date back in '74 who never showed, just automatic champ with no games. Bigger districts on paper, but subtract them leavers? Some gon' shrink quick. Travel complaints, competitive balance, whatever—SSAA givin' 'em smaller leagues, playoffs for damn near everybody, less headaches.Remind me of that fool's errand down in Miami back in '89. Took my whole check—$400 this time—down to some bookie in Little Havana named Tito, all gold teeth and promises. He set the line on Miami minus 10 against Notre Dame, swore it was "locked." Canes win by 7 on a late pick-six the other way. Tito just smile, pocket my money, say "Next time, amigo." I thumbed rides home, eatin' gas station burritos, swearin' off bookies... till the next weekend.FHSAA actin' like Tito right now—changin' lines, promisin' better action, but schools still walkin' away broke and frustrated. Florida high school football too damn good for this drama. We got the deepest talent pond in America, Friday nights magic. SSAA boomin' 'cause choice is king.I love the FHSAA side—them big rivalries, state titles mean somethin'—but if they don't tighten up, next cycle gon' look sparse in spots. Might even put a little friendly wager on more schools gone by spring. Safer bet than trustin' Tito... or my exes.Y'all think the bleed stops, or we see real one-team districts next go-round? This game deserve better. Stay loyal where you can, brethren.

[nolebull813]

If a numerous amount of teams leave the new FHSAA districts for the SSAA or independent status, and the FHSAA just leaves the districts alone and doesn’t redo them with the updated amount of teams, they should disband. There should be a rule that clearly states no less than 4 teams per district. There is no justification for 1-3 team districts.

[HSfootballguy]

8 hours ago, DILLARDBOYZ954 said:

Who are the schools you've seen leave the fhsaa this year ? Especially in south fl 

I mean just in Broward

Stoneman Douglas

Coral Springs

Cooper City

Taravella

Coral Springs Charter

Pompano

Pines Charter

Westminster

NSU

Pine Crest

Somerset Pembroke Pines

A couple other small schools

I also know of about 4 other decent sized public schools that are still in the FHSAA, but were calling other schools asking if they wanted to start an independent Broward league.

[Hwy17]

8 hours ago, DILLARDBOYZ954 said:

Who are the schools you've seen leave the fhsaa this year ? Especially in south fl 

SSAA tweeted on X that Belen Jesuit has joined.  IdK, maybe that Miami conference Nolebull told me about will join. 

[Hwy17]

56 minutes ago, HSfootballguy said:

I mean just in Broward

Stoneman Douglas

Coral Springs

Cooper City

Taravella

Coral Springs Charter

Pompano

Pines Charter

Westminster

NSU

Pine Crest

Somerset Pembroke Pines

A couple other small schools

I also know of about 4 other decent sized public schools that are still in the FHSAA, but were calling other schools asking if they wanted to start an independent Broward league.

Awesome!  

[Hwy17]

So according to Corey Davis's tweet last night, the SSAA Atlantic division is now up to 41! I was told a public school in Jacksonville wanted to join SSAA but the Duval County School Board blocked them from doing so. Such a shame in my opinion.   As the SSAA grows, if a significant number of large public schools enter such as the above mentioned Broward schools or the Miami or Orlando area conferences, perhaps the SSAA should create a metro division. 

 

[nolebull813]

I love it. These teams need to do it. The SSAA is a God-send. 

[nolebull813]

Like I said before, the FHSAA needs to be the “FBS” teams and the SSAA needs to be the “FCS” 

The FHSAA can be for rogue renegades who win at all cost, and the SSAA can be for zoned neighborhood teams who just want to compete equally in fair athletic competition. 

[Hwy17]

7 minutes ago, nolebull813 said:

I love it. These teams need to do it. The SSAA is a God-send. 

It's the free market at work

[gatorman-uf]

4 hours ago, Hwy17 said:

It's the free market at work

The sad part is that the FHSAA could compete. These schools are clamoring for competitive play more than anything else, and the FHSAA system does not foster that. Look at the teams that are moving to the SSAA; most of them have not been competitive in the FHSAA system. I believe that kids, communities, parents, coaches, and administrators want to play in competitive games, not blowouts.

I don't think MegaElite High School intends to play a non-Elite high school in a district game any more than the non-Elite high school does. I think the program and the sport grow when games are competitive — even if both teams are not very good — rather than playing running clock games. Sometimes running clock games happen, and there is nothing you can do about it. But when they happen because they are forced during the regular season by a system that continually creates running clocks, it becomes frustrating for everyone involved.

The FHSAA needs to be willing to rip the band-aid and create a promotion/relegation system. I would bet most of the teams in the SSAA would be in 1A or 2A, where they would face similar schools. At the top of the pyramid, we would have 32 genuinely competitive teams, with no guarantee that school X, Y, or Z will win the state championship.

While I haven't done the research yet, I imagine all the teams that played at FIU would probably be in Class 6A (top level) in my promotion/relegation league. Even if that was the Elite 8 of a playoff, would anybody be willing to guarantee a victory for one of the teams? 

[Jambun82]

6 hours ago, gatorman-uf said:

The sad part is that the FHSAA could compete. These schools are clamoring for competitive play more than anything else, and the FHSAA system does not foster that. Look at the teams that are moving to the SSAA; most of them have not been competitive in the FHSAA system. I believe that kids, communities, parents, coaches, and administrators want to play in competitive games, not blowouts.

 

 

 

I don't think MegaElite High School intends to play a non-Elite high school in a district game any more than the non-Elite high school does. I think the program and the sport grow when games are competitive — even if both teams are not very good — rather than playing running clock games. Sometimes running clock games happen, and there is nothing you can do about it. But when they happen because they are forced during the regular season by a system that continually creates running clocks, it becomes frustrating for everyone involved.

 

 

 

The FHSAA needs to be willing to rip the band-aid and create a promotion/relegation system. I would bet most of the teams in the SSAA would be in 1A or 2A, where they would face similar schools. At the top of the pyramid, we would have 32 genuinely competitive teams, with no guarantee that school X, Y, or Z will win the state championship.

While I haven't done the research yet, I imagine all the teams that played at FIU would probably be in Class 6A (top level) in my promotion/relegation league. Even if that was the Elite 8 of a playoff, would anybody be willing to guarantee a victory for one of the teams? 

That is a lot of great points, gatorman-uf. 

[DILLARDBOYZ954]

16 hours ago, HSfootballguy said:

I mean just in Broward

Stoneman Douglas

Coral Springs

Cooper City

Taravella

Coral Springs Charter

Pompano

Pines Charter

Westminster

NSU

Pine Crest

Somerset Pembroke Pines

A couple other small schools

I also know of about 4 other decent sized public schools that are still in the FHSAA, but were calling other schools asking if they wanted to start an independent Broward league.

When the updated classifications was announced it was said everything would be finalized by today the 17th. So if everything is finalized im interested to know dillards final district opponents.

Originally the opponents were Gibbons, pompano beach,stranahan, Calvary Christian, North Broward prep.

[PinellasFB]

I like the SSAA but... I absolutely hate their website.  I can't find 2025 SSAA member teams, conference standings or playoff brackets anywhere.  Maybe they've moved to a different site since last year?  Somebody help me out here.

[i4football]

Look, the FHSAA been playin’ classification roulette since Y2K, and every spin they act like they just invented the wheel. Back in 2000 we had six classes, nice and simple—big schools with big schools, small with small, everybody kinda knew their lane. Then Florida population went full Miami traffic: exploded everywhere except where the buses could reach. So they added classes, split Metro from Suburban like they was separatin’ church and state, then scrapped it two years later ‘cause nobody could figure out the map. Travel? Man, some Panhandle teams still puttin’ more miles on the bus than a Greyhound driver. Competitive balance? Please. Private schools out here recruitin’ like it’s AAU basketball, publics stuck drawin’ from the neighborhood—guess who keeps winnin’ rings?Now here we are, December 19, 2025, and the FHSAA just dropped the 2026-28 plan: six classes plus Rural, killin’ off 7A, and—drumroll—they finally addin’ this eight-team Open Division for the big dogs. Top programs, regardless of enrollment, get pulled out based on them power rankings and play for the “real” state title. On paper? Smart. Finally admit St. Thomas, IMG, Chaminade, American Heritage, and whoever else is stackin’ talent gonna beat everybody anyway—let ‘em fight each other while the rest of us get meaningful games. I respect the honesty. Took ‘em 25 years to say, “Fine, y’all super-teams go duke it out in your own sandbox.”But here come the food-for-thought shots, straight no chaser:

1. Them power rankings they usin’ to seed the Open Division? Same rankings that had half the state screamin’ last year when a 9-1 team got left out ‘cause schedule strength. If the formula still glitchy, we gon’ have more drama than a FAMU-FSU game in the fourth quarter.
2. SSAA out here growin’ like kudzu. Over 120 schools now, grabbin’ teams left and right—especially them smaller publics and privates who tired of gettin’ 50-burgers put on ‘em every September. They promisin’ shorter bus rides, better matchups, and no more watchin’ the same five programs win everything. If FHSAA don’t lock this Open Division down clean, SSAA might end up the new Friday Night Lights league for half the state.
3. Public vs. private still the quiet elephant smokin’ in the corner. Open Division might scoop up most of the private juggernauts, but the mid-tier arms race don’t stop. Georgia got multipliers, Texas got separate playoffs—Florida still actin’ like strict enrollment gon’ fix recruitin’ pipelines. Good luck with that.
4. Geography ain’t changin’. You can redraw districts all you want, but the Panhandle still the Panhandle, and South Florida still South Florida. Until somebody invents teleportation, somebody gon’ be ridin’ six hours for a district game.
5. Stability. That’s the word FHSAA can’t spell. Every four years they blow it up and start over. Coaches can’t plan rivalries, fans can’t build traditions, and recruits just wait to see where the power programs land next cycle. Give us a system that lasts a decade, make small tweaks, let it breathe.

Bottom line: This Open Division move is the closest FHSAA come to admittin’ reality since I graduated FAMU. If they execute it right—transparent selections, protected regional play in the regular classes, and keep the SSAA from turnin’ into the SEC of independents—Florida football might actually feel fair again.If not? Well, like Ron White say, “I had the right to remain silent… but I didn’t have the ability.” FHSAA keep talkin’ big changes, but we’ll see if they finally shut up and let the games do the talkin’.You feel me? Or you want me to break it down slower next time?

[gbrown977]

2 hours ago, PinellasFB said:

I like the SSAA but... I absolutely hate their website.  I can't find 2025 SSAA member teams, conference standings or playoff brackets anywhere.  Maybe they've moved to a different site since last year?  Somebody help me out here.

https://www.gobound.com/fl/sunshinestate/sunfb/2025-26/teams

[swflfootball5]

1 hour ago, gbrown977 said:

https://www.gobound.com/fl/sunshinestate/sunfb/2025-26/teams

I would recommend making this website more available. Doing a google search, the only website that shows up is Sunshine State Athletic Association  

[i4football]

The official Sunshine State Athletic Association (SSAA) website at https://www.sunshinestateathletics.com/ is quite basic and does not appear designed to serve as a comprehensive resource for detailed organizational information.Here's a breakdown based on its current content (as of December 2025):

• Member teams/schools: It mentions serving "120+ member schools across Florida" but provides no public list, directory, or individual school profiles. There is an internal page titled "Our Members," but it contains no actual content or listings.
• Sports offered: It does list the sports (e.g., football (11-man and 8-man), basketball, volleyball, soccer, baseball, softball, cross country, golf, track, beach volleyball, e-sports), organized by season, which is helpful at a high level.
• Enrollment information: None provided—no details on school sizes, student enrollment, classifications, or divisions.
• Business meetings or governance: No information on meetings, board structure, leadership beyond basic staff bios (e.g., Director of Athletic Operations and sports administrators), or decision-making processes.
• Rules governing each sport (bylaws, handbooks, etc.): Completely absent—no rules sections, downloadable PDFs for bylaws, sport-specific regulations, eligibility guidelines, or handbooks.

The site primarily focuses on:

• Championship event schedules and locations for the 2025-2026 season (with contact emails for coordinators).
• A partnership with Bound (an external platform for team registration and likely schedules/scores).
• General promotions like the Athlete Spotlight series.
• Basic "About Us" and staff pages.

It seems the SSAA relies heavily on external tools (like Bound or possibly SportsEngine) for day-to-day operations, schedules, and member management, while the main site acts more as a promotional landing page and event announcer rather than a detailed association portal. This is common for some smaller independent athletic organizations, but it does limit public access to in-depth info.For more details (e.g., specific member schools or standings), sites like MaxPreps often track SSAA teams and results independently, as they cover the association's football and other sports.

[Hwy17]

FHSAA might have to combine rural with 1A just to have enough schools to call it a class.

[DILLARDBOYZ954]

14 minutes ago, Hwy17 said:

FHSAA might have to combine rural with 1A just to have enough schools to call it a class.

I think what's interesting is that pahokee is constantly in rural 1A but glades central whose in the same small part of town is in 4A or 3A, shouldn't they both be in 1A rural 

[Hwy17]

11 hours ago, DILLARDBOYZ954 said:

I think what's interesting is that pahokee is constantly in rural 1A but glades central whose in the same small part of town is in 4A or 3A, shouldn't they both be in 1A rural 

Hardee, Desoto,  Okeechobee have been forced to play up a class in football for years. This is because of the large migrant farm worker population that's here in the fall and gone by spring. FHSAA says we have to count them. Because the leave as soon as the oranges get picked,  they're counted as drop outs, which is why we have a high drop out rate. We've been fighting this for decades. 

[Hwy17]

On 12/18/2025 at 9:19 AM, nolebull813 said:

Like I said before, the FHSAA needs to be the “FBS” teams and the SSAA needs to be the “FCS” 

The FHSAA can be for rogue renegades who win at all cost, and the SSAA can be for zoned neighborhood teams who just want to compete equally in fair athletic competition. 

More than a few of these "rogue renegades who win at all costs" have done so at the expense of some once really good programs.  Once they get a taste of their own medicine they will be the loudest wanting reform to the transfer policies of FHSAA.  Some might even want in SSAA,  to which I say no. 

[PinellasFB]

20 hours ago, Hwy17 said:

More than a few of these "rogue renegades who win at all costs" have done so at the expense of some once really good programs.  Once they get a taste of their own medicine they will be the loudest wanting reform to the transfer policies of FHSAA.  Some might even want in SSAA,  to which I say no. 

I wonder why it is so hard (seemingly) for the FHSAA to tighten up its too-loose transfer rules?

[Hwy17]

2 hours ago, PinellasFB said:

I wonder why it is so hard (seemingly) for the FHSAA to tighten up its too-loose transfer rules?

Like most institutions,  it's about preserve the status quo.