AUSTIN -- The University Interscholastic League
Legislative Council on Monday made rules changes clearing the way for an easy transition
to six classifications.
The Legislative Council voted to increase the
maximum number of Class 5A schools and the maximum attendance for schools participating in
six-man football.
"We're working toward equalizing the lower
classifications," UIL athletic director Charles Breithaupt said in explaining the
changes.
The rules changes -- which go into effect before
the UIL begins considering the 2004-2006 district classifications next fall -- allow for
more Class 5A schools and more six-man schools, thus lessening the size discrepancy
between the smallest and largest schools in classes 4A through 2A.
Currently, schools with enrollments of 94.5
students can participate in six-man football. Under the change approved Monday, that
number would be 99.9.
The UIL tries to keep the enrollment disparity
between the smallest and largest schools at a 2-to-1 ratio. Its largest problem is Class
3A, where the smallest school currently has 345 students and the largest has 899, making
the disparity 2.6 to 1.
Each classification currently has 32 districts,
and each classification -- classes 5A through 2A -- consists of no fewer than 210 schools
and no more than 225.
The change will mean 245 teams in Class 5A,
which will mean an increase in 10-team districts.
Because the larger districts mean there is less
fair representation in the playoffs, the UIL will discuss in next spring's Athletic
Committee meeting the possibility of expanding the playoffs to four teams per district for
classifications with more than 225 schools.
Potentially, that would mean each Class 5A
district would have four playoff representatives -- two in Division I and two in Division
II -- instead of the current system in which the largest playoff team from a district goes
to Division I's 32-team bracket and the other two teams go to the 64-team Division II
bracket.
This could also affect Class A basketball and
track.
Currently, Class A has six-man districts and
11-man districts in football, and two divisions in basketball. If approved in the spring,
Class A could also have two divisions in track.
Currently, track does not have two divisions.
Athletes advance to an area meet before making it to the regional meet; other
classifications advance athletes directly from district meets to regionals.
Breithaupt had several plans for the Legislative
Council to look over, but he feels the state is not ready for six classifications in all
sports. The state needs 100 to 150 more schools before there can be six viable
classifications that don't put extra travel burdens on schools.
Other rules changes made by the Legislative
Council, which go into effect Aug. 1, 2003:
·The soccer season will begin one week later,
also pushing back the state tournament one week. The first day for scrimmages stays the
same, allowing soccer teams more time for scrimmages before the first game.
·Baseball and softball teams can play no more
than six regulation games in a tournament and no more than three in any one day of a
tournament. This restriction does not apply to shortened, pool play games.
·The Previous Athletic Participation Form has
been amended with new information and will be required for more athletes. The form is now
required for athletes grades eight through 12 who have previous participation in an
athletic contest or practice at a school before transferring.
·More track qualifiers can participate in
regional qualifier meets. Now, third-place finishers and relay team alternates may
participate in regional and state qualifier meets. The regional qualifier meet does not
count against an athlete's eight-meet-per-year limit; the state qualifier meet does.
