OSSAA research indicates the only sure way to ensure competitive equity for all member schools is to separate schools for state play-off competition (Journal of Amateur Sport, National Review of Interscholastic Competitive Balance Solutions Related to the Public-Private Debate, Volume I, Issue I, 2015). Four other states have ditched their previous "multiplier" or "advancement" systems in favor of separating schools for play-off competition - because they claimed their systems did not work as hoped.The states which separate schools for play-off competition do so based on public and private schools, or separate schools based on advantage factors such as "financial assistance" and "restrictive enrollment".
Researched play-off competition in Oklahoma high school sports indicates that Rule 14 for competitive equity has also been a dismal failure for Oklahoma and the OSSAA. The competitive equity issue in Oklahoma was addressed by the OSSAA in 2011 with the passage of Rule 14. The Rule became effective for the 2012 sports seasons. In 2011, the year before Rule 14 was implemented, the football season ended with the following results for private schools:
Class 5A - Bishop Kelly, top eight (beaten in the 2011 state quarter-finals)
Class 4A - Bishop McGuinness, top four (beaten in the 2011 state semi-finals)
Class 3A - Cascia Hall, 2011 state runner-up
Class 2A - Lincoln Christian, top eight (beaten in the 2011 state quarter-finals)
Class A - No private schools
Class B - No private schools
Class C - No private schools
Approximately 6% of OSSAA member schools is private. In classes 2A through 5A, 32 schools made the top eight in 2011. Four schools were private, which indicates that 12.5% made the state play-offs. Six percent private membership but 12.5% in play-offs, indicates competitive equity was lacking for football during the 2011 season.
During the 2019 football season (seven years into the OSSAA's Rule 14 for competitive equity:
Class 5A - Bishop McGuinness ranked #1
Class 4A - No private schools
Class 3A - Heritage Hall ranked #1; Lincoln Christian ranked #2
Class 2A - Metro Christian ranked #1
Class A - Rejoice Christian ranked #2
Class B - Regent Prep ranked #2
Class C - Southwest Covenant ranked #1
The data analysis from the above play-offs for the 2011 and 2019 football seasons indicates that Rule 14 has been ineffective for promoting competitive equity in the OSSAA. Some member schools say that the implementation of Rule 14 in 2012 even made the problem worse. As a matter of fact, data from the volleyball state championships over the past three years indicate that Rule 14 has been a complete bust, and the OSSAA's solution to 'fix' the problem will only magnify the competitive equity issue.
So, what would a separation of public schools from private schools look like if the OSSAA decided to solve the competitive equity problem once and for all? The OSSAA executive director David Jackson stated "I think there are 24 private schools in the OSSAA", last week at the Westmoore regional meeting. In football, there are currently ten classifications for member schools (6AI, 6AII, 5A, 4A, 3A, 2A, A, B, C, and I), so the OSSAA is not reluctant to add classes. If Joe Van Tuyl's 2009 competitive equity plan were implemented and private schools were separated from public schools when the state playoffs started, it may look something like this:
Class IA - 8 private schools
Class IB - 11 private schools
Class IC (eight man) - 5 private schools
All private schools in the OSSAA would make the playoffs. The Class IC play-off scenario would pit the 4th and 5th seeded teams for the first round. The semi-final round would match the top seeded team with the winner of the 4th vs. 5th game, and the 2nd seeded team would play the 3rd seeded team. The class IB championship would play out the same way as the current 16 team bracket for playoffs - 8 vs. 11 and 9 vs. 10 the first week, and an 8 team bracket in weeks thereafter. The class IA championship bracket would play out as an 8 team bracket.
Everyone wins if the Van Tuyl plan is adopted by the members of the OSSAA: 1) The OSSAA wins because it generates more money for member schools. 2) Private schools win because all private schools make the play-offs, but continue to play public schools during the regular season. 3) Public schools win because more public schools make the play-offs. 4) Fans win because they get to see more "good games". For more information on this subject see:
mybackpagewithjimbeckhamblog.blogspot.com/2019/11/ossaa-regional-meeting-at-westmoore.html
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