Is More Realignment On Horizon?
- Thread starter CRF4Dan
- Start date
I think the article makes a lot of assumptions and placing blame on the small schools for making the decision which is bogus. When the vote was taken there were around 315 or so schools - 140 had populations under 1200 and around 175 with a population over 1200. It wasn't just the small schools making the decision.
Changes were needed and will always be needed, it happens.
Changes were needed and will always be needed, it happens.
I thought that this line was off-base
Of course, one of them might have had to travel about 80 minutes away for one game before then though.
It seems to make the argument that the current format "saved" the Henrico vs. L.C. Bird game this year but, according to most basketball people, those were the best two teams in Class 5A so it's likely that they would have met anyway. Probably at the state semifinal level at the Siegel Center where they likely would have sold MORE seats then they did at Hermitage.
Of course, one of them might have had to travel about 80 minutes away for one game before then though.
It's not "blame" but the smaller schools were the big driver behind the
switch to the 6A format. Nearly all of Group A and about 2/3's of Group AA wanted it. Can't think of too many Group AAA's that wanted it - they were very satisfied with it except for Franklin County and PH-Roanoke isolated out west (can't blame them) and some smaller schools in the old Central Region (Richmond City) that thought the old system was unfair yet continued to play up (go figure). I think the best system would be something that allows for the urban/population centers align in a way that helps them and for the smaller, more dispersed schools align in a way that makes sense for them. I don't understand why it has to be the same.
switch to the 6A format. Nearly all of Group A and about 2/3's of Group AA wanted it. Can't think of too many Group AAA's that wanted it - they were very satisfied with it except for Franklin County and PH-Roanoke isolated out west (can't blame them) and some smaller schools in the old Central Region (Richmond City) that thought the old system was unfair yet continued to play up (go figure). I think the best system would be something that allows for the urban/population centers align in a way that helps them and for the smaller, more dispersed schools align in a way that makes sense for them. I don't understand why it has to be the same.
Re: It's not "blame" but the smaller schools were the big driver behind the
Your last two sentences are not unreasonable and there might be a way to make it work IF everybody was willing, however, there is always one school that is not willing to do anything that does not entirely benefit them. As an example, you mention PH-Roanoke and Franklin County, both schools that are substantially larger than surrounding schools but, competitively they are not a huge mismatch for those schools in many, if any sports. Most area schools have no problem playing, However, Cave Spring is only interested in playing when they believe they have a sizeable competitive advantage in a sport(think girl's volleyball) and would have to be dragged to the table kicking and screaming in most of the others. I am sure every area has a school and admin(the principal) like Cave Spring that would make implementation of your suggestion challenging at best.
Your last two sentences are not unreasonable and there might be a way to make it work IF everybody was willing, however, there is always one school that is not willing to do anything that does not entirely benefit them. As an example, you mention PH-Roanoke and Franklin County, both schools that are substantially larger than surrounding schools but, competitively they are not a huge mismatch for those schools in many, if any sports. Most area schools have no problem playing, However, Cave Spring is only interested in playing when they believe they have a sizeable competitive advantage in a sport(think girl's volleyball) and would have to be dragged to the table kicking and screaming in most of the others. I am sure every area has a school and admin(the principal) like Cave Spring that would make implementation of your suggestion challenging at best.
Maybe they should do like they do for president. Each state has electoral votes based on population. Maybe the VHSL can do the same. That article states how the politician here in Va. Beach wanting to change the voting structure. Makes sense. Why would a school with 400 students have the same voting power as one with 2800?
For VHSL purposes basing it on student population may not be any more realistic/advantageous/relevant than the one school one vote approach. There are a lot of smaller classification schools that draw, attendance wise, as well or better than some of the larger classification schools.
Because that limits a small number of big schools from banding together and making all of the decisions for the rest of the state.
One entity, one vote keeps things equal.
Would you be in favor of having rich people votes matter more than poor people votes? After all, why should someone who pays $100 in taxes have the same power as someone who pays $1 million?
Re: It's not "blame" but the smaller schools were the big driver behind the
Northwest Region as a whole wanted the new format.
Northwest Region as a whole wanted the new format.