Chip Shots: Updates This Week, Opinions Again Next Week
June 23, 2023 at 11:53 p.m.
Chip Shots: Updates This Week, Opinions Again Next Week
By Chip Davenport-
I have some updates of my own, not as entertaining as SNL’s, and since this is the Weekender edition, here’s Weekender Update.
I discussed in early May the anticipated results of the proposed change in classes among four tranches for IHSAA sanctioned sports competing in the four-class structure.
The IHSAA Executive Committee approved an adjustment to the four classes a bit different from the original proposal:
Class 4A was proposed as all schools whose four-year enrollment exceeded 1,399 students (estimated 68 schools based on February 2022 IDOE enrollment).
Class 3A was set at 600-1,399 students (approximately 85 schools)
Class 2A (325-599) and Class 1A (324 and fewer students) would each have at least 110 schools in their classes.
The tranches among the four enrollment classes were, instead, directed to be distributed into a percentage of schools among each sport based on enrollment in winter 2024 for the 2024-2025 scholastic sports year.
I’ll use the current basketball structure to illustrate (403 schools in total)
Class 4A will have 20%, approximately 81 schools. Gary West Side (1,230 students) would be the smallest 4A school, and 19 other schools currently classified in 4A would move to 3A, where the percentage would be comprised of the next quartile (25%).
Class 3A would be comprised of 101 schools, the largest being Greenwood (1,193 students) and the smallest being Oak Hill (535 students).
These two shifts would result in, for area sports fans, the move of Plymouth (Northern Lakes Conference - NLC) to Class 3A joining NLC members already in this class: NorthWood and Wawasee. Fairfield, the defending Class 3A girls’ basketball champs, would remain in its current class as the second smallest school.
The original proposal would have moved Tippecanoe Valley into Class 2A as its sixth largest school. Instead, the percentage distribution makes Valley the eighth smallest school in Class 3A, and this level will match the original proposal of 101 schools.
The domino effect of the smaller current 3A schools continues to spill into Class 2A, that consisted of 116 schools in the proposed range. Instead, they are also adjusted to 25%, thus consisting of the next 101-school tranche.
Salem (533 students) would be the largest school, and Riverton Parke (311 students) would be the smallest institution. Times-Union area 2A schools will stay put, theoretically, in the 2024-2025 scholastic sports year,
The final 30%/120 schools will comprise the smallest enrollment class, 1A. Area schools Triton and Lakeland Christian Academy will have more company in their enrollment class.
This percentage apportionment still increases the smallest enrollment class to levels that will not create spill-over among small schools into Class 2A due to the increased quantity of small private and charter schools.
An additional wrinkle, a change to determine tournament success factor (TSF) for promotion or relegation among the three smaller classes, was approved by the IHSAA executive committee.
Enrollment classes, evaluated in two-year slices, are further structured by schools moving up to a higher enrollment class based on how deep their postseason run is. Six or more TSF points every two years earns a school a berth in the next highest enrollment class.
Schools who earn less than two TSF points who have moved up one class in the most recent enrollment restructure, are relegated to their class based strictly on enrollment.
The 2024-2025 TSF evaluation will be based on the same criteria, but thereafter, each year the IHSAA will look at combined TSF points from the current year and the most recent prior year instead of every two years.
Schools will now be able to move up to a higher class or be relegated to a lower class each year based on the most current set of two-year TSF points. I believe this will make the TSF movements more dynamic.
The final update I’ll discuss is mine. This most recently completed scholastic sports year was my final year reporting game coverage for the Times-Union. My Sports section editor, Connor McCann, is still affording me the privilege of sharing my thoughts in this weekly column, though.
It’s time to focus on PA announcing during fall and winter sports, to move to a backup role in spring sports announcing, and to devote time and energy among a handful of other things.
I have ideas for occasional long form journalism features and opinions outside the world of sports when and where time will eventually permit, but for now those ideas will either stay in my head, or I’ll jot them down my handy dandy kids’ book/notebook hybrid journal I carry with me.
I’ll relax, adjust, and gear up for another scholastic sports year come August, instead. I’m already excited to convey essential information from the press box during Tiger football games, and Warsaw’s boys’ and girls’ soccer matches.
Have a great summer. You’ll still be able to read what’s on my mind each Saturday morning.
I have some updates of my own, not as entertaining as SNL’s, and since this is the Weekender edition, here’s Weekender Update.
I discussed in early May the anticipated results of the proposed change in classes among four tranches for IHSAA sanctioned sports competing in the four-class structure.
The IHSAA Executive Committee approved an adjustment to the four classes a bit different from the original proposal:
Class 4A was proposed as all schools whose four-year enrollment exceeded 1,399 students (estimated 68 schools based on February 2022 IDOE enrollment).
Class 3A was set at 600-1,399 students (approximately 85 schools)
Class 2A (325-599) and Class 1A (324 and fewer students) would each have at least 110 schools in their classes.
The tranches among the four enrollment classes were, instead, directed to be distributed into a percentage of schools among each sport based on enrollment in winter 2024 for the 2024-2025 scholastic sports year.
I’ll use the current basketball structure to illustrate (403 schools in total)
Class 4A will have 20%, approximately 81 schools. Gary West Side (1,230 students) would be the smallest 4A school, and 19 other schools currently classified in 4A would move to 3A, where the percentage would be comprised of the next quartile (25%).
Class 3A would be comprised of 101 schools, the largest being Greenwood (1,193 students) and the smallest being Oak Hill (535 students).
These two shifts would result in, for area sports fans, the move of Plymouth (Northern Lakes Conference - NLC) to Class 3A joining NLC members already in this class: NorthWood and Wawasee. Fairfield, the defending Class 3A girls’ basketball champs, would remain in its current class as the second smallest school.
The original proposal would have moved Tippecanoe Valley into Class 2A as its sixth largest school. Instead, the percentage distribution makes Valley the eighth smallest school in Class 3A, and this level will match the original proposal of 101 schools.
The domino effect of the smaller current 3A schools continues to spill into Class 2A, that consisted of 116 schools in the proposed range. Instead, they are also adjusted to 25%, thus consisting of the next 101-school tranche.
Salem (533 students) would be the largest school, and Riverton Parke (311 students) would be the smallest institution. Times-Union area 2A schools will stay put, theoretically, in the 2024-2025 scholastic sports year,
The final 30%/120 schools will comprise the smallest enrollment class, 1A. Area schools Triton and Lakeland Christian Academy will have more company in their enrollment class.
This percentage apportionment still increases the smallest enrollment class to levels that will not create spill-over among small schools into Class 2A due to the increased quantity of small private and charter schools.
An additional wrinkle, a change to determine tournament success factor (TSF) for promotion or relegation among the three smaller classes, was approved by the IHSAA executive committee.
Enrollment classes, evaluated in two-year slices, are further structured by schools moving up to a higher enrollment class based on how deep their postseason run is. Six or more TSF points every two years earns a school a berth in the next highest enrollment class.
Schools who earn less than two TSF points who have moved up one class in the most recent enrollment restructure, are relegated to their class based strictly on enrollment.
The 2024-2025 TSF evaluation will be based on the same criteria, but thereafter, each year the IHSAA will look at combined TSF points from the current year and the most recent prior year instead of every two years.
Schools will now be able to move up to a higher class or be relegated to a lower class each year based on the most current set of two-year TSF points. I believe this will make the TSF movements more dynamic.
The final update I’ll discuss is mine. This most recently completed scholastic sports year was my final year reporting game coverage for the Times-Union. My Sports section editor, Connor McCann, is still affording me the privilege of sharing my thoughts in this weekly column, though.
It’s time to focus on PA announcing during fall and winter sports, to move to a backup role in spring sports announcing, and to devote time and energy among a handful of other things.
I have ideas for occasional long form journalism features and opinions outside the world of sports when and where time will eventually permit, but for now those ideas will either stay in my head, or I’ll jot them down my handy dandy kids’ book/notebook hybrid journal I carry with me.
I’ll relax, adjust, and gear up for another scholastic sports year come August, instead. I’m already excited to convey essential information from the press box during Tiger football games, and Warsaw’s boys’ and girls’ soccer matches.
Have a great summer. You’ll still be able to read what’s on my mind each Saturday morning.
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