by Hunter Bower // GeauxPreps.com Owner

Merriam-Webster defines chaos as a state of utter confusion.

That could be the fate of Friday’s vote amongst LHSAA membership schools should they fail to ratify proposed changes to postseason qualifying programs for the sports of baseball, boys and girls basketball, football and softball.

I believe that each principal has good intentions but can sometimes get lost in the language, the politics and sometimes the flat-out rumors, so I decided to provide clarity on the matter.

In an agenda filled with 31 items up for a vote, the principals have an additional 24 measures to consider, approved by the executive committee under Article 4.4.4. of the LHSAA constitution making special rules to affect the spirit of fair play and good sportsmanship.

A vote during its winter meetings saw the executive committee provide the aforementioned sports with a complete overhaul of the playoff formats highlighted by new divisions with a clean, equal representation determined by enrollment in both Select and Non-Select brackets.

Before the scheduled summer meetings, three options for a Select definition were provided to the executive committee and membership by LHSAA staff for consideration. Following an opportunity for member schools to ask questions and offer suggestions, a decision was made by the executive committee, who is given the authority to approve glossary terms per the organization’s constitution, to approve the designation in place today.

Following the decision to update the designation to reflect today’s educational landscape, the playoff structure used since the initial split was deemed not fair or equal. This gave the executive committee the authority to change the playoff structure under Article 4.4.4. Non-Select and Select were almost evenly distributed thus a 32-team bracket on one side and a 16-team bracket on the other side would not be fair. These playoff brackets were decided by consideration of even percentages of schools to make playoffs.

Bloated playoff fields were reduced in hopes of replacing irrational and unnecessary beatdowns in the early stages of the postseason with an exciting, championship-like environment for deserving teams.

In addition, the executive committee had the authority to redefine the Select school designations to include traditional private schools as well as those with state or parish-approved magnet components, lab schools, charter schools and even those in recovery school districts.

A move that finally made sense despite 10 years of frustrating attempts to reunite the association.

Fast-forward to this week and a vote against ratification would undo all the work to help make a fair and equitable playing field for those who matter the most, the student-athletes.

If not approved by the membership, the sports split into Non-Select and Select would immediately institute the playoff qualifier program used post-split. However, that move could cause an immediate upheaval in sports such as basketball. 

Although a vote to undo the redesigned playoff systems could happen, things won’t be the same as they were. Those schools that were deemed Select under the new designation approved at the September meetings would remain in that category per the LHSAA handbook.

Still following? Let me explain further.

By my estimation, it could take Mr. Bonine and his staff around a month in order to reconfigure postseason aspects such as power ratings with schools needing to be relocated back into the original classifications and divisions. The end of the regular season for girl’s basketball is Feb. 11, two weeks from Saturday.

Those actions, in turn, might cause a delay in the postseason for both boy’s and girl’s basketball. 

Seem logical?

A decision to return to the old postseason format would also create chaos in sports such as football. 

For example, under the old format, on the Select side football teams are divided into four divisions with Classes 4A and 3A sharing Division II. If principals vote not to ratify the current system, those schools including teams that were moved over to Select back in the summer, would total 52 and have to battle over 16 playoff spots. 

On the Non-Select side, Class 1A would see 24 of 26 total teams qualify for the postseason. Last season, 13 of the current 1A teams finished with a record of less than .500.

Easier to swallow? Not quite.

My advice would be not to rush it. Ratify the postseason formats approved by the executive committee. See how things play out in 2023 for baseball, basketball and softball. Should there be a need to improve on the plan or to reintroduce the previous version, principals from both sides of the aisle should work together on a solid outlook for the future, aided by the help of the LHSAA, in order to do what’s right by the student-athlete.

Create fair, equitable and sensible opportunities for kids in both Non-Select and Select divisions playing field for both sides.

No need for scholars to redefine the term “Chaos Theory” to reflect the havoc a failed vote would have on the kids who deserve a logical and competitive postseason experience.

FOOTBALL

If proposed changes are ratified:

In Non-Select Divisions I – IV, all teams shall be seeded 1-28 according to their power rating. In Select Divisions I – IV, all teams shall be seeded 1-24 according to their power rating.

If proposed changes are voted down:

The playoff format reverts back to the previous system that includes classes and divisions with Classes 5A-2A seeded 1-32, Class 1A seeded 1-24. In Select Divisions I-III, all schools shall be seeded 1-16 and Division IV schools shall be seeded 1-24 according to their power rating.

BASEBALL

If proposed changes are ratified:

In Non-Select Divisions I – V, all teams shall be seeded 1-24 according to their power rating. In Select Divisions I – IV, all teams shall be seeded 1-20 according to their power rating and Select Division V teams shall be seeded 1-10 according to their power rating.

If proposed changes are voted down:

The playoff format reverts back to the previous system that includes classes and divisions with Classes 5A-1A seeded 1-32 and Classes B-C seeded 1-24 according to their power rating. In Select Divisions 1-V, teams shall be seeded 1-16.

BOY’S BASKETBALL

If proposed changes are ratified:

In Non-Select Divisions I-V, all teams shall be seeded 1-28 according to their power rating. In Select Divisions I-IV, all teams shall be seeded 1-24 according to their power rating and Select Division V teams shall be seeded 1-14 according to their power rating.

If proposed changes are voted down:

The playoff format reverts back to the previous system that includes classes and divisions with Classes 5A-2A seeded 1-32, Class 1A and Class B teams shall be seeded 1-24 and Class C teams seeded 1-16. In Select Divisions I-V, all teams shall be seeded 1-16 according to their power rating.

GIRL’S BASKETBALL

If proposed changes are ratified:

In Non-Select Divisions I-V, all teams shall be seeded 1-28 according to their power rating. In Select Divisions I-IV, all teams shall be seeded 1-24 according to their power rating and Select Division V teams shall be seeded 1-10 according to their power rating.

If proposed changes are voted down:

The playoff format reverts back to the previous system that includes classes and divisions with Classes 5A-2A seeded 1-32, Class 1A and Class B teams shall be seeded 1-24 and Class C teams seeded 1-16. In Select Divisions I-V, all teams shall be seeded 1-16 according to their power rating.

SOFTBALL

If proposed changes are ratified:

In Non-Select Divisions I-V, all teams shall be seeded 1-26 according to their power rating. In Select Divisions I-IV, all teams shall be seeded 1-24 according to their power rating and Select Division V teams shall be seeded 8 according to their power rating.

If proposed changes are voted down:

The playoff format reverts back to the previous system with Classes 5A-1A seeded 1-32 and Classes B-C seeded 1-24 according to their power rating. In Select Divisions 1-V, teams shall be seeded 1-16.