MIDVALE — The state has a new system for determining which schools play against each other and how they will qualify for postseason play.
In a unanimous vote, the Board of Trustees of the Utah High School Activities Association approved a new realignment procedure that will reclassify schools every two years.
The proposal passed with two amendments — after 3A, 4A and 5A schools are determined by using enrollment numbers from 11th and 12th grades, while 1A and 2A schools will be determined by using student population numbers from grades 10 through 12.
Second, if schools fall into a tie with other schools, the first criteria used to determine alignment will be geography.
After the new procedure was approved, the newly formed Realignment Committee, made up of two representatives from each classification, presented the first alignment scenario for 2011.
Instead of dividing schools up, the committee studied trends and ratios (the population size of the largest schools versus the smallest schools in each class) and recommended the following:
There will be 16 teams in 5A. They will be divided into two regions of eight teams each.
There will be 32 schools in 4A. They will be divided into four regions of eight.
There will be 28 schools in 3A. They will be divided into four regions of seven.
There will be 20 schools in 2A. They will be divided into two regions of 10, but will have the option of dividing into four regions of five in sports where all of the schools participate (like volleyball and basketball).
There will be 36 schools in 1A. They will be divided into five regions, just as they currently are.
As this is the first consideration of the numbers, the BOT and UHSAA encourage public comment and feedback on the proposal. It can be submitted online at www.uhsaa.org/realignment/comment.html, or at a public hearing on Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2010, at 5:30 p.m. at the UHSAA office, 199 E. 7200 South. The final realignment proposal will be in November so that schools can finalize their 2011-12 schedules.
The standing Realignment Committee is also studying non-boundary school issues, but those will likely not be considered until the next realignment cycle as study has just begun.
Executive Director Rob Cuff said it may seem unfair to have 16 teams in 5A and 32 in 4A, but the schools will be closer to the same size. It doesn't seem important, but the 17th-24th schools in 5A were at a huge disadvantage when it came to ratios if officials left them playing against larger schools.
"There might be more schools but they're competing against schools of the same size," he said. "Classifications will later determine how teams will make the state tournament."
That means criteria could be different. Maybe 16 teams would make it in 4A, but only eight in 5A. Or all teams could be accommodating using play-in games. It just depends on what each classification decides once the numbers are set.
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