Hey Fry, an IHSAA update!

[Fryowa]

I don't blame them either. The difference is that they don't have the low SES kids, which eliminates 42% (state average) of what a public school would have. 24% of low SES kids participate in athletics and 32% of those participate in more than 1 sport. If 2 schools have 150 kids 9-11, privates have 150 non-SES kids, while a public school would have 87. The problem is, they would both be playing in the same class, but the playing field isn't level.

Along with that, privates also don't have to count all of their kids because of how scholarship and non-scholarship kids are counting. Getting in transfers in a public school would make their BEDS count go up, which would move them up a class. That's all people are asking for, to have the private schools play up a class or use a multiplier to bump up their BEDS to level the playing field, in terms of enrollment.

We have enough private schools for them to have their own conferences. IMO they should have a separate league and have their own separate postseason

 

[BryceC]

I don't blame them either. The difference is that they don't have the low SES kids, which eliminates 42% (state average) of what a public school would have. 24% of low SES kids participate in athletics and 32% of those participate in more than 1 sport. If 2 schools have 150 kids 9-11, privates have 150 non-SES kids, while a public school would have 87. The problem is, they would both be playing in the same class, but the playing field isn't level.

Along with that, privates also don't have to count all of their kids because of how scholarship and non-scholarship kids are counting. Getting in transfers in a public school would make their BEDS count go up, which would move them up a class. That's all people are asking for, to have the private schools play up a class or use a multiplier to bump up their BEDS to level the playing field, in terms of enrollment.

Agree with you 100%. But that’s a separate issue than the transfer thing.

 

[Fryowa]

I don't blame them either. The difference is that they don't have the low SES kids, which eliminates 42% (state average) of what a public school would have. 24% of low SES kids participate in athletics and 32% of those participate in more than 1 sport. If 2 schools have 150 kids 9-11, privates have 150 non-SES kids, while a public school would have 87. The problem is, they would both be playing in the same class, but the playing field isn't level.

Along with that, privates also don't have to count all of their kids because of how scholarship and non-scholarship kids are counting. Getting in transfers in a public school would make their BEDS count go up, which would move them up a class. That's all people are asking for, to have the private schools play up a class or use a multiplier to bump up their BEDS to level the playing field, in terms of enrollment.

2 or 3 years ago (can't remember which), 31 of the 32 teams in the state baseball tournament were in the top half of the free/reduced in the state. It's more than just privates/public, it's about SES. The system needs to be overhauled. Of course, which schools are going to buy more tickets/merch, etc?

Should Solon and South Tama be in the same class? I realize the state only uses 9-11, but the numbers I have are K-12, but the point remains. Solon has 1438 students K-12, while South Tama has 1345, very similar. However, Solon has 76 free/reduced kids K-12, while STC has 772. I'll ask again, should they be playing in the same class just because they have the same number of bodies in seats?

That's why I mentioned earlier that it only works sort of okay-ish.

And it's another reason why a private corporation shouldn't be running things. Money is their first (and only) motivation, and because of that they make decisions that aren't based in logic. When they went to the BEDS thing it was basically a thrown-together half-measure to look like they're doing something about a problem and get people off their backs, for the least amount of expense and hassle.

Same thing with Iowa's pitch count limits. Pitch counts were becoming en vogue and a few people bitched that we didn't have any. So the IAHSAA just adopted the east coast model and called it good with no research, no work put into it. The east coast has a population density 50 times higher than Iowa and it works for them. It doesn't work here if--like a lot of towns in Iowa--you have 16 kids going out for baseball 9-12. The IAHSAA's answer to that is "Do more to encourage participation"...the cheap and easy answer. Even if I had 100 kids out in HS, unless they all played lots of youth ball and can pitch it doesn't solve a thing. Can't just go out as a freshman or even 8th grader and just learn to pitch.

I'm digressing though, and I apologize. The IAHSAA ruffles my feathers and I shouldn't let it anymore. I have zero vested interest anymore and never will again. Let's go fishing.