Realignment » Proposal would make football classifications separate from other sports.

By Kyle Goon

| The Salt Lake Tribune

As realignment nears for the state’s high school athletics, the Utah High School Activities Association is considering a new plan that would make six football-specific classifications, separate from those in other sports.

On Wednesday, UHSAA Executive Committee unanimously recommended the format to the Board of Trustees, which should meet next week to discuss particulars.

At a glance

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About the realignment proposal

» What it is: A proposal to make six football-specific classifications that would help address fairness and safety concerns.

» How schools would be divided: Based on enrollment figures to be taken Oct. 1. Larger classifications would be divided by the number of juniors and seniors. Smaller classifications would include sophomores.

» Where it is in the process: The UHSAA’s Executive Committee has recommended the plan to the Board of Trustees, which will decide whether the format is acceptable. If it is approved, schools won’t be catagorized into new classifications in the fall, and then there will be hearings open to the public.

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There are several administrative steps left before any realignment plans are finalized or schools are categorized for the next realignment period starting in the fall of 2013. But based on school feedback and some perennial issues of competition, the UHSAA is giving serious consideration to the measure, officials confirmed.

"With this, you would help separate football from the other sports and hopefully give the smaller schools a better chance to compete," Executive Committee chair Craig Hammer said. "Realignment is always tough, but this could help make it more palatable to some people."

Realignment is one of the most contentious issues the UHSAA handles, and typically the debate comes down to football. Enrollment can vary greatly even within classifications — often the biggest schools have twice as many students as the smaller ones.

Year after year, the gap in enrollment has sprouted concerns about fairness of play and safety. It’s one of the reasons why schools such as Hillcrest, Murray and Roy dropped down from 5A to 4A for this year.

The new proposal would help untangle other sports from the football-specific concerns. It was borne out of surveys collected by the UHSAA’s realignment committee from schools hoping for a better chance to compete.

kgoon@sltrib.comTwitter: @kylegoon