FHSAA passes new classification structure
Published 1:33 pm Tuesday, October 30, 2018
- The Suwannee boys basketball team has had some good players in recent years, including Tyrece Freeman, pictured above. But the Bulldogs have struggled against Tallahassee powerhouses and district opponents Rickards and Godby. With the new FHSAA classification structure passing on Monday, Suwannee won't be forced to play Godby or Rickards during the regular season, starting in 2019-2020.
LIVE OAK — Major changes are coming to a number of Florida High School sports next fall.
The Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) voted Monday in favor of a new classification structure for baseball, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, softball and girls volleyball.
Trending
Starting in the 2019-20 school year, those team sports will be reduced to six classes — 2A-7A — plus rural. Rural Class 1A will not be affected.
One of the biggest changes is that teams will not be required to play district games in the regular season.
There will still be a district tournament at the end of the season, but only the district champion will automatically qualify for the playoffs.
Under the current system in place, district champions and district runner-ups advance to the state playoffs.
Starting next fall, MaxPreps.com rankings will determine the at-large bids to the playoffs and what teams will join district champions. Eight teams from each region will advance to state playoffs — four district champions and four of the highest ranked teams on MaxPreps.
Locally, only Suwannee High will be affected.
Trending
Class 1A rural schools Branford, Lafayette and Hamilton County are keeping the current regular season structure, and also the playoff structure of one district champion and one runner-up advancing.
What it means for Suwannee:
- Less traveling as teams won’t be forced to drive more than an hour to play regular season district games on school nights.
- It will probably make for more entertaining games. The Bulldogs won’t be forced to play powerhouse basketball teams in Tallahassee or soccer forces in Jacksonville during the regular season.
- SHS still has the opportunity to schedule district teams during the regular season. And for the SHS baseball and softball teams, there have been some very entertaining district games in previous years.
