Bisonguy06 wrote:Enrollment numbers may be the way to go, but the first steps in the process would be the toughest.
1) Setting the numbers - Just think about how much we could argue about what each cutoff should be.
2) Reevaluating co-ops - Some would form, some would dissolve. Always a heated discussion in the schools involved.
3) Setting the schedules - New regions, new numbers of teams per region and per class
Once your numbers are in place, things seem to go pretty smoothly in other states. Of course, once you set the numbers, you have to stick to your guns and not be tempted to adjust them! (see VCHS)
This could work. I just foresee even MORE heated discussion in the formation and the first years of this plan.
I agree Bisonguy... initiation of a pure enrollment plan create a little hard work and cause for some adjustments… However, as I read your words, I realized there were a couple people who could better explain my thoughts than I could.
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Sir Winston Churchill
“Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.” - John Fitzgerald Kennedy
“We choose to go...not because it’s easy, but because it’s hard, because that goal will serve to measure and organize the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win.” - John Fitzgerald Kennedy
“There are risks and costs to a program of action, but they are far less than the long-range risks and costs of comfortable inaction.”- John Fitzgerald Kennedy
In short, I acknowledge that the three hurdles you mentioned are real, but reiterate that all three are very temporary, one time hurdles. Here is a more extended response to each of the three…
1)
Setting the numbers- I think two things would need to be emphasized in this process. Equal input from all the sizes of schools, and that it is the input of the people who know the competitive requirements of the state best, the coaches. Too many cooks spoil the soup… so, I think it would be effective and fair to have two coaches, selected by their peers, from each of the four divisions as currently set; 2 from AAA, 2 from AA, 2 from A, 2 from 9 man. The 8 of them would create a knowledgeable group small enough to sit down at one table but still equally represent the different sizes of schools. They could come up with appropriate numbers that take into account the best interest of all, and recommend those numbers to the NDHSAA.
2)
Re-evaluating co-ops- No matter what type of plan is developed, the co-ops that find themselves on the bubble will re-evaluate their situation. However, at least an enrollment cutoff plan allows every co-op to know exactly where they stand, and their decision will never be dependent on another school.
Example, under the last shift from a 16 to 12 team AAA, Watford City found themselves tied as the 16th AA team with Rugby. When Dickinson Trinity was debating whether or not to opt-up to be the 16th team… Watford made it very clear that if Trinity chose A… Watford would dissolve one of their co-ops in order to remain A, and thus make Rugby the 16th team.
With an enrollment cutoff plan, at least all co-opping schools can make their own decisions completely independent of the decisions of other schools. The co-op either puts them over the line or it doesn’t, and either they are okay with that or they aren’t. They make the decision they think best for their student-athletes and do so without need to consider other school’s decisions.
3)
Setting of schedules- This is most important to emphasize as a one-time problem. I don’t think the re-districting will take an extreme amount of work. There is no decision to be made on who goes into which division, that decision is made for you… Math determines how many conferences of how many teams, geography does the rest. It won’t be simple by any means, but shouldn’t be excruciating either.
Scheduling will be the toughest one time hurdle. The first year it will take a few meetings to determine who will play who which week and arrange for the non-conference games… but after the first year, the second will be no different than any other… And I think that one year is a small price to pay to provide a fair playing field for our student-athletes. I think all of this is a small price to pay to provide a fair playing field for our student-athletes.