It was anticipated that landmark decisions regarding classification and the playoff structure issues would come out of the gathering of school Principals at the Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s annual meeting that was held this past Friday, January 27th. As it turned out it was “much ado about nothing” as by a 300-66 vote, it was overwhelmingly agreed to postpone any changes to the status quo until June, when the LHSAA will reconvene for a statewide meeting.
As result, the current classification of schools and playoff structure for basketball, baseball, and softball that was voted on by the LHSAA executive committee last September will remain in place for the rest of the 2022-2023 school year.
Items on the agenda that were ratified are as follows:
• Due to the LHSAA being in good financial standing, no member schools will pay membership dues for the 2023-2024 academic year.
•All items proposed for ratification by the executive committee under Article 4.4.4. were passed or postponed including postponement of ratifying the playoff structure, all Non-Select and Select championships remain together and new member schools will have to wait until a reclassification year to play in district competition.
• A proposal to add softball as a sport allowing the higher seed to host the quarterfinal round of the playoffs passed, 312-52, effective in 2024.
• A motion to remove added point for basketball district championships in power ratings for the 2023-24 school year failed, 182-186, at the behest of Lincoln Prep principal Gordon Ford who argued that a possible playoff restructuring meeting in June could negate the proposal.
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