An ad hoc committee formed by the VHSL is recommending sweeping changes to the way state schools are classified. “This time in the league’s history is an ideal opportunity to consider fresh, nontraditional ideas,” according to the committee meeting’s minutes.

The committee supports doubling the current three classifications to six. The smallest class (1A) would consist of schools of 475 or fewer students (currently 55 schools). The rest would be divided into equal fifths of about 52 schools. That means all Central Region schools, which currently play in Group AAA, could be split into four classifications.

Only four or five Richmond- area schools would compete in the largest class, which means they would still play local teams in the regular season, but would compete against teams from Northern Virginia and Virginia Beach in the playoffs.

Most of the current Central Region would play in the second- and third largest classes. The smallest schools in the region, such as Petersburg, Hopewell, Armstrong and Thomas Jefferson, would play in the fourth-largest class.

“This latest decision to establish six classifications promises to be the most significant step the league has taken in more than 40 years,” VHSL executive director Ken Tilley said. However, the proposal needs approval by the executive committee.

The switch is intended to remedy some of the problems caused by the current alignment. Schools, such as those in the city of Richmond, are allowed to play up a level and often struggle against larger schools. It also prevents enrollment disparity in the playoffs.
Hanover, with an enrollment near 1,300, played South County, with an enrollment close to 2,000, in the Division 5 football playoffs.

The ad hoc committee is examining a number of new ideas, including eliminating regions “in favor of a section, or pod, or quadrant concept.”

The region system works well for Richmond area schools, which travel 11⁄2 hours or less for all their intraregion games. It doesn’t work well for Roanoke schools, which play in the Northwest Region and compete against Fredericksburg and Northern Virginia schools on a regular basis.

The committee also is looking into eliminating the word “district” in favor of “conference.” In the new conferences, geography and balance would be more important than enrollment.

Instead of traveling to Charlottesville and beyond for league games, Powhatan and Goochland might play Richmond-area schools.

But, one conference won’t span more than three classifications. That means Varina and Armstrong, which currently play in the Capital District, can’t play in the same conference.

For any of these changes to take place, the VHSL executive committee will have to enact legislation to authorize the changes. A vote to approve the plan is scheduled for February. If approved, details won’t be finalized until September, and the plan would not take effect until the 2013-14 school year.

Eric Kolenich is a staff writer for the Richmond Times Dispatch.