Football’s proposed classifications released for the 2018, 2019 seasons

Marlee Smith/CHSAANow.com

AURORA — Football’s classifications for the next two seasons are beginning to take shape.

A huge part of that structure is the enrollment splits, which will help divide teams into classes. The proposed splits for the 2018 and 2019 seasons will be considered by the football committee at their meeting on Dec. 7.

Those splits:

The enrollment split between 6-man and 8-man will be further defined at the committee meeting.

Additionally, the football committee is proposing to reclassify three schools according to bylaw 1500.1, using the criteria laid out in 1500.21. Those schools are:

• Alameda International (from 3A to 2A)
• Mitchell (from 4A to 3A)
• Hinkley (from 5A to 4A)

League alignments have not been set. Proposals are being reviewed by football committee members and the areas/classifications they represent. Those proposals will be voted on at the football committee meeting on Dec. 7.

On Friday, football committee chair Mike Krueger and CHSAA football administrator Bud Ozzello held separate conference calls with reps from each classification as they continued to gather input and data from schools around the state. It was the latest in a series of informal meetings and calls since the summer that the committee has used as part of its shared decision-making process.

“We truly appreciate all the input from the membership, including the work the committee reps and league czars did, in order to do what’s best for football in this state,” said CHSAA commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green.

In reviewing the league proposals, the football committee has continued to use three main factors to guide their decision-making:

• Risk-minimization
• Geography and traditional leagues
• Competitive balance

As final alignment proposals are being discussed, member schools are encouraged to contact their classification representatives on the football committee.

The timeline for football’s alignment proposals is the following:

• Dec. 6: Work session for the football committee members only.
• Dec. 7: Football’s committee meeting.
• Dec. 12: Deadline for Legislative Council amendments. (Note: this has been extended from the previous Dec. 8 deadline.)

Football schools by classification (proposed)

Note: Playup, playdowns and reclassified programs are noted. Playdowns were approved at the CLOC meeting.