CLOC recommends new splits to evenly divide teams into classifications

CHSAA’s Classification and League Organizing Committee met on Tuesday. (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

AURORA — The enrollment splits used to divide classifications got a pretty major overhaul on Tuesday.

The Classification and League Organization Committee set the new figures to be used in the 2016-18 two-year cycle with an eye at evenly distributing teams among classifications. Basketball’s numbers were used as a basis for all team sports, save for football. Individual sports (such as track, tennis and golf) will each have their own enrollment splits to evenly divide teams among their classifications.

Find the new enrollment numbers here.

As a whole, the idea was based upon something wrestling did in April. Expanding the model to all sports was first floated at CHSAA’s All-School Summit in July.

“The wrestling model showed us what can happen,” said Randy Holmen, the principal at Holly High School who chairs CLOC. “We felt like today turned out the way it was supposed to.”

The changes will need to be approved at the Legislative Council meeting in January.

Ultimately, on Tuesday, CLOC sought equity in terms of numbers. For team sports, the result will place 66 teams in each classification for boys and girls basketball, and volleyball. The splits also did a job good of evenly distributing teams in other sports, as well. For example, in boys soccer, 5A and 4A will both have 66 teams, while 3A will have 71. (See the full breakdown here.)

However, the new enrollment splits are based upon this year’s figures. As such, CLOC built in a 5 percent variance which would allow those numbers to change if needed based upon school enrollments determined in October 2015. That way, any changes could be made to ensure the equity in numbers remains.

Football’s class splits were also set by CLOC, and those seek to evenly distribute teams among classifications, as well. The result is 42 teams in 5A, 4A, 2A and 1A, 4A in 3A and 71 to be divided between 8-man and 6-man. (Find the full football numbers here.)

The enrollment figures for individual sports with multiple classes were also determined by CLOC on Tuesday. The committee took the total number of teams in the sport, and divided by the number of classifications. Those figures are below.

There is another wrinkle that will need to be addressed: These enrollment splits did take into account programs which historically play up, but it does not account for those unforeseen teams which will be playing up or playing down. This could also cause the numbers to change ahead of their final version.

Committee considers mandating play-ups

Before they jumped into the enrollment cutoffs, the committee took a detour to talk about forcing consistently successful teams to play up a classification.

“We have the criteria for schools to play down,” said Dave Schuessler, the athletic director at Clear Creek, “but is the committee willing to tell them they have to play up?”

The question sparked a 15-minute conversation on the topic, including the philosophy behind equity: Is the goal competitive balance or a balance of numbers?

“There are two issues we’re talking about right now,” said Jim Thyfault, district athletic director at Jefferson County Schools, “and they aren’t one in the same.”

“The most successful team has to move up, and we’re going to penalize them now?” said Horizon athletic director Eric Gustafson. “If all we’re doing is balancing the numbers, then we don’t even need the names of the schools. We can just deal with the numbers.”

Ultimately, the committee decided to create a subcommittee which would explore the topic further. Three CLOC members were appointed.

Notables

• CLOC approved probationary membership for six new schools: Atlas Prep (Colorado Springs), Beth Eden (Wheat Ridge), Faith Baptist (Longmont), Front Range Baptist (Fort Collins), Lotus School of Excellence (Aurora), and Northfield (Denver). If approved by the Legislative Council, it would bring CHSAA’s membership to 352 schools. Eight additional schools have inquired about membership.
• Five schools were granted final approval for CHSAA membership: Aurora West, KIPP Collegiate, Swallows Charter, Vista Peak and William Smith.
• Because of that growing membership, CLOC agreed to discuss the possible addition of a 6A classification at its next meeting in April. The target for the move, since last summer, has been 384 schools.
• With the new enrollment splits, CLOC recommended a third classification for girls golf, girls tennis and girls swimming. It will be up to the sports’ committees to decide whether or not to implement them.

Enrollment numbers

Teams per class

As of Oct. 2014 counts