Daniel_Bragg

I'd vote for 1A-3A.

I'm with Backer, there is no way that a co-op wouldn't benefit from the larger pool of players. An enrollment penalty HAS to be tacked on. Maybe you simply make it that a co-op plays up one classification from the highest of the two. So, in this hypothetical, Elwood/Tipton would move up to 3A.

I think a small part of trouble with roster size is also program. Sheridan has seen a decline in roster size as well. It's easy to get kids to come out when your program is a perennial power and constantly competing for titles. However, if the program has never won anything, or at least has been YEARS since winning anything, the desire to be on that team naturally wanes. For instance, when I was growing up in Sheridan, my class witnessed a State title win. Our parents won titles. Then, we grew up and won three in a row. But now, the kids going through the school don't remember a state title. Sure, Sheridan has been a constant winner of Sectional titles, but in this community, we're a victim of our own success. Sectionals aren't really celebrated by anyone that isn't a current player or parent of a current player. Now, take that mindset and apply it to a school like Clinton Central. Small schools always struggle getting rosters together, but when you have a select few teams always winning, I think that is magnified.

MaxPreps is HEAVILY influenced by previous year at this point.

Absolutely. Why stay in a program that you know won't win anything? Open enrollment was one thing, but the transfer rule will only make things worse.

I know what you're saying, but Sheridan IS 2A in almost every other sport.

In this case, sure. However, to shoot down the entire model because of an example like this is shortsighted to me. Just because Co-ops are possible, doesn't mean your admin has to approve a proposed mix of this very example. If TC wanted to Co-op with someone, obviously it has to be approved by the other school. That being said, I think the model of including all of the enrollment makes sense. It's the exact same thing that happens to all schools for every sport now. The class numbers have always caused me to scratch my head. If Sheridan has 60 kids play football, why does it matter if their student body is 340? That total number includes girls who will never come out for football. Don't get me wrong, I much prefer a class system to the alternative, but I still think how the IHSAA goes about it could be improved. But back on point, co-ops make the most sense to me to allow, and this season has it on full display why.

It's not just football. Sheridan struggled to put together a soccer team last year, and it looks like they might not be able field one this year. To me, it's a generational thing. With more and more athletes choosing to focus on one sport exclusively, it is becoming harder for, especially small schools, to field teams in every sport. Between specialization and lack of interest in participating, I don't really know what the answer is. Outside of allowing co-ops, I'm not sure what the IHSAA can do to solve this unique problem. To your question about more schools, I'd be shocked if Tri-Central has a full team this year, just based on what happened last season. Greenwood Christian already backed out of their season, as well.

Last basketball season, I started using a brand new service called "Press Row Hoops" to keep stats while calling basketball games. It was such a success that the creators have now made programs for baseball, volleyball, and now football. The service is pretty impressive to be built by only one person, but I think it's really worth checking out.

So is your solution to not have school boards? I'm genuinely curious now.

Yep! Return authority to local school boards, and stop taking property taxes from other counties to spend elsewhere! ALL of my property taxes should remain within my community. Not taken from mine based on where I live, and distributed in other municipalities to "level the playing field".

I really hope the Sectional Final is Pioneer v Sheridan. Gonna be a fun two years in that Sectional.

Two things can be true. 1) Travel ball is awful. 2) Umpires continue to have too much influence on the outcome of baseball/softball games. Now, hear me out on #2. In all sports, officials are there to make sure the game is played fairly and inside the rulebook. In baseball/softball, an umpires strike zone can change in mere seconds. Their eyesight dictates the difference between a baserunner and a strike out, safe or out, fair or foul. I'm a HUGE fan of ABS, NOT because I don't appreciate the job that umpires do, but because you can't have a fair sport based on the whim of a human. I know umpires are doing their best, and 99% of the time, they are calling the game right down the middle. However, we all know that makeup calls exist. I've witnessed and spoken with an umpire that admitted to opening up "the zone" because some coach said something. That's asinine. Kids overcoming adversity is meant to be about the competition. The adversity shouldn't be because of the officials, in ANY sport.

School vouchers are funded through the General Education Fund, which is funded via state level taxes, I.e. income tax, sales tax, etc. Property taxes fund the Operations budgets of the local school, unless a referendum has been passed.

The Statehouse really needs to go fly a kite.