NationalHSFootball.com
– Dallas Jackson, NationalHSFootball.com
Competitive Balance Proposal 4.0 has been unanimously approved to go to a full vote by the Ohio High School Athletic Association Board of Directors. The latest version is a moderately changed proposal that failed to pass in 2013.
Small school Cardinal Mooney could be impacted by the new rules. Q Walls on Flickr.
The change to the format was the elimination of the “tradition factor” which has been previously proposed which would have, in effect, punish programs that have achieved certain levels of success. The latest version also does not have a multiplier aimed at private schools when student athletes come into the school from a private, feeder program.
It will go to a vote that is scheduled to take place between May 1 and 15, which polls the 825 principals in the state. There is also a proposal that will mandated that all principals respond as participation has hovered around 75 percent the last three votes on this issue.
OHSAA Commissioner Dan Ross said that he is glad the proposal is moving forward.
“I’m extremely pleased with the plan that the committee has recommended and the Board has approved,” he said. “While the proposal is similar to last year’s, the modified version is the result of a compilation of input from our superintendents, principals, athletic administrators and coaches. I’m most proud that we were able to work together and come up with a solution that will create a better system than we currently have because it looks at how schools secure the enrollment of their students participating in interscholastic athletics.”
If the proposal is ratified it is expected to become effective for 2016-17 school year.
This version of the proposal will require each school to submit team rosters of all student-athletes in grades 9 through 12. Student in public schools will have the modification factor added if their parents do not reside in the district or if the student has not been enrolled at the school since the seventh grade. Students in private schools will be given the same modification factor if they did not attend the designated feeder school since seventh grade.
The modification is being made to limit the transfers that are happening within the state at the highest level but it may unintentionally punish urban, underfunded programs as much as the affluent private schools that have dominated the state championship list.
Ross said that he feels the latest version is the most fair of any that has gone through to vote but added that it would be the beginning and not the end of trying to find a true competitive balance within the state.
“I believe the Competitive Balance Committee has met its charge in that this proposal is not only reliable but also can be clearly applied and fairly administered for all member schools,” Ross said, “with the ultimate objective being to promote competitive equity and ensuring that student-athletes will continue to learn life lessons in an education-based setting.
“The Board and Competitive Balance Committee are committed to continuing to study this issue, working on ways to improve the formula. As we’ve said in the past, this proposal, should it pass, is a starting point and any data and feedback gathered after the plan is rolled out will only help strengthen what changes can take place in the future. Any proposed formula changes in the future will also continue to be voted upon by the membership.”
Ohio would be the third state in two months to ratify a change in its reclassification rules following both Nebraska and Illinois which adopted new changes this year.
The Varsity Board: Share your thoughts on the latest version of competitive balance.
