The Alabama High School Athletic Association today approved a major new rule for private schools as part of his biennial reclassification. The move is aimed at offsetting advantages for small private schools located in large metro areas.

The new rule -- known as competitive balance -- will cause successful private-schools teams to play against bigger schools in a higher classification. The governing body evaluates how each private school team fared in the previous three years, and the most successful teams are required to play one class higher than it previously played.

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For instance, Bayside Academy volleyball has won the last three Class 3A state titles, continuing a streak that's reached 15 straight, and will now be required to play in Class 4A. The rest of Bayside's athletic teams will remain in 3A.

At least 75 private-school teams will be required to play in a larger classification during the 2018-19 and 2019-20 school years strictly because of competitive balance, but only two in football -- Madison Academy from 4A to 5A. The point system will not be used for public schools.

The most sports with teams moving up because of the new rule were were baseball (5), volleyball (8), outdoor track (6), cross country (6) and tennis (6).

The new bylaw was passed unanimously.

"Everyone will formulate their own opinion," AHSAA executive Steve Savarese said. "Some will say we didn't do enough. Some will say we did too much. I think only time will tell. We have to start somewhere. It will take time. It may take four to six years to place teams where they truly need to be, but we will continue to evaluate."

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The creation of competitive balance, a concept that has been used in other states, continues the AHSAA's attempt to create a level playing field for teams.

That's why the classification system was initially developed, creating a system in which schools of similar enrollment compete for state championships. In 1999, the AHSAA required private school enrollment to be multiplied by 1.35 to offset private schools' perceived advantages.

In recent years, the private vs. public debate has again bubbled into controversy as rural schools have struggled to win state championships and private schools in metro areas have thrived, especially in winning state titles in non-revenue sports.

The AHSAA created a task force, with representatives from the public- and private-school members, to study the issues surrounding public vs. private and offer solutions.

The task force suggested five possible alternatives:

1.) Leave the private-school multipier at 1.35 and do nothing

2.) Create a higher multiplier, ranging from 1.85 to 2.25

3.) Place all private schools in a separate classification

4.) Bar private schools from AHSAA membership

5.) Institute competitive balance

Competitive balance became the choice because it requires superb teams -- not an entire athletic department -- to move up and play stiffer competition. If a school excels in one sport, but struggles in others, it didn't seem appropriate to force all teams to play against bigger schools.

"The task force looked a lot of options," Savarese said. "Increasing the multiplier was debated, but that would have done more damage than good. Some schools could have been moved up as many as three classes by raising it. With competitive balance, we were able to look at the schools who have the most resources and have had the most successes and advance them when needed."

In the mandated points system, private schools earn one point for a quarterfinal appearance, two points for making the semifinals and four for a championship game appearance.

For the single-gender sports of football, baseball, softball and volleyball, teams that score more than six points are required to move up a classification from where they were in the most recent classification period.

In sports in which scheduling for boys and girls is often tied together -- including basketball, soccer and tennis -- both the boys and girls point totals are added together. Sports that score more than 11 points are required to move up a classification. That makes scheduling simpler.

The one exception is golf where there are more classifications for boys than there are for girls.

St. Paul's, located in Mobile, remains in Class 5A according to the new reclassification, but the school will have football, boys and girls tennis, boys and girls golf and all of its track and cross country teams moved up to 6A.

"This was not an overnight decision," said John Hardin, president of the Central Board. "This required a lot of work on a lot of people's part. We will evaluate it again during the next classification period, but I think it's a good thing. I've taken a few questions on it, but for the most part everyone is pleased."

Savarese said the task force, comprised of approximately 25 members from both public and private schools, was in complete agreement on recommending competitive balance to the Central Board. That has not been the case in previous years when other measures have been discussed.

"All of the private school members of the task force voted for it," Savarese said. "While there is no perfect system, we feel like this is a good place to start."

St. Paul's athletic director Steve Mask, whose teams move up to Class 6A in all but a few sports, said his school was disappointed in the competitive balance rule but would not be defined by it.

"We have never been defined nor will we ever be will be defined by the championships we’ve won," he said. "Our sole goal is to provide a positive experience both academically and athletically at St. Paul’s. We strive for our students to be better citizens and to be successful in life, and that will always be our goal."