The OHSAA has notified member schools that they are open to expanding the tournament divisions in certain sports going forward.
OHSAA studying expansion of tournament divisions in several sports https://t.co/3CDEoqGkRB
— limanews (@limanews) December 15, 2023
The sports appear to be boys and girls basketball, baseball, softball, girl’s volleyball and girls and boys soccer. The changes being presented would make these sports model closely to what football looks like today.
This supposedly would not add tournament games which appears to be an important component of the discussions.
So what, you may ask?
Here’s a good example why:
Notice the enrollment difference just for Ohio’s Division 1 sports for boys and girls.
Division/Sport Average Enrollment difference
Overall D1 939
Boys soccer 955 (1301-346)
Boys basketball 954 (1300-346)
Girls volleyball 940 (1249-319)
Boys baseball 944 (1300-356)
(All data courtesy of OHSAA.org)
For example in Pennsylvania with a population of roughly 13 million people, they have six divisions for boys and girls basketball. Ohio with a count of roughly 12 million people has four divisions for the same sport by gender.
In soccer Ohio has three divisions for each gender. Our fine folks to the east have four.
Girls soccer: Rocky River’s Sophia Sindelar brings home Ms. Ohio Soccer award https://t.co/HYNYoFzx65
— Morning Journal Sports (@MJournalSports) December 18, 2023
Pennsylvania has an enrollment difference for their top AAAA, which equals Ohio’s D1, boys soccer ranges from 1700-493, or a difference of 1207 male students. This is still a bigger difference than Ohio’s and with one more division.
This discussion could have major implications for smaller schools that feel they have no chance versus the larger schools. There is major talent at smaller, Division 1 schools. This will help yield more opportunities for boys and girls in Ohio.
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