A lot to cover and clarify here... so are you suggesting that the A/B/C.... levels also apply to the playoffs (class sizes are totally done away with)? So you have an A state champ and a D state champ etc? If so, that’s the most “let’s get everyone a trophy” thing i’ve ever heard at the high school level... this isn’t youth sports where it may make sense to have a gold division champion and a silver division champion of a tournament.
A few examples about class... look at Aurora Christian, a one time juggernaut in 3a. They then joined the catholic league and had to play the likes of st Rita, brother rice, among others on their schedule and they went on a run of not making the playoffs at all but most felt if they could have gotten to 5 wins they would have still been capable of a deep run in the 3a playoffs. Conversely was it fair some of these bigger schools were racking up wins to help them qualify for the large school playoffs off the back of small schools like aurora Christian or others?
Yes any given smaller school may be able to beat larger schools on any given night in any given season but that’s a lot different than beating the top schools of a significantly larger school consistently or at playoff time. Nazareth has been to the last 2 state title games in 6/7a but lost handily both years to Marist who didn’t win 8a either year. Now this year may end up different but which is the outlier? Do you honestly think ICCP would hold up against the top teams in 6/7/8a week in and week out? Some may think so on this board, but they’d be wrong. Doesn’t mean iccp can’t beat a given 7a team here and there but not consistently against the good ones.
Classes exist for a reason because in every state over the course of history people recognize size matters. Where at the college and pro level are you saying abcd levels exist? College sizes don’t matter because the playing field is leveled not based on enrollment but number of scholarships that can be given.... thus FBS, FCS, D2, D3... within each division all schools get the same number of scholarships and rosters are capped at the same size. At the professional level again everything possible is done to make it a level field.... roster caps, salary caps, worst teams draft first to improve rosters, etc. None of these things apply to HS sports thus enrollment size classes.
Districts aren’t perfect due to geographic difficulties for some schools in some classes like the large schools in southern Illinois being a long ways from other big schools in the north, or loss of some rivalries, etc. But the general idea is good.... teams should qualify for their classes playoff by earning qualification via playing like size schools during the season to prove their worthiness in that class.
you have 8classes right now. that is the most give everyone a trophy concept out there. and yes, the reason colleges have all those different classifications simply because you have kids that are not that good enough to make it at a top school or grades levels to make into big school, whatever the reasoning, they have a place to play. and yes the pros have them too, they are called farm systems. ahl, ihl, canadian football league, everything around the world where americans can play and not be on a professional team is something other than the top class. I am sorry to break it down that way. but it is very simple.
if you don't like a,b,c,d divisions, gold or silver, call it tier system. either way, you are getting the same competitively performing schools playing come playoff time. you want to keep it as now 8classes, then 9a is an open class for the top 32 teams in the state top4 from each class) to find out which school is the best. if you think leo or dls is chomping at the bit to play mc every year that is just foolish. if you think stagg is somehow saying holy crap I cannot wait to play lwe or hf is just dumb. maybe some of the kids that know some of the kids around from grade school ball whatever. you think every year in and year out oaklawn says damn we have richards scheduled & hopefully your not their homecoming game bhwaaahahaha,
and no I am not saying every team gets a trophy but, in that class or tier yes. what it would actually come out too, in reality is more like the old 4or6class system with 8classes. your good teams will make up the top 4or6classes and your not consistently great teams would make up the last 4or2classes. you are still giving out the same amount of trophies.
and maybe you are right some of the larger schools will most likely rise to the top but the cps, and consistently in last place in your conference schools can play each other. more competitive for them and better learning experience for all players. no matter what level they play at.
so what you are trying to say is that in college because they can give so many schollys the kids that did not get those schollys still deserve to play at that level right?
but, just for lessor college scholly right??? or lower division.
cream always rises to the top. call it what you want to call.
no school or kid for that matter gives a crap come game nite to say hey we held estl to 57pts., but what a great rivalry game, damn we did not get that cowchip this year maybe next year.
the only way to continually grow, is if you push yourself. and playing against kids(schools) that can not compete is not any good for either.
I actually like what they are doing with the private schools, with the success factor, only they should be doing it with ALL schools.
but hey if you got 6more kids you move up or down.. comeon.
the only reason class sizes existed is because lessor schools wanted a chance plain and simple.
otherwise it would be winner takes all.
