AHSAA suspends competitive balance rule; moves All-Star football game to December

Alabama Christian Academy won the 2019 state softball tournament and was set to move up to Class 5A next spring. But the coronavirus pandemic caused the AHSAA Central Board of Control to suspend the competitive balance factor for the next two years. (Tim Gayle)

By TIM GAYLE

The suspension of high school athletics in 2020 saved a trio of programs from being elevated in the next classification period by the Competitive Balance Factor.

Two other programs, however, will move up despite not competing in championship play this season.

If there’s one positive from the coronavirus pandemic for area private schools, it’s the fact that Alabama Christian’s softball team, St. James’ track team and the Montgomery Academy soccer program will have the opportunity to compete for two more seasons without an artificial CBF bump.

On Thursday, the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s Central Board of Control looked over several options before adopting the one recommended by Matt Massey, chairman of the AHSAA’s Classification Task Force. The recommendation moves only those school teams that earned enough points in 2019 to be leveled up. All other school spring sports teams will continue to compete in the next classification period in the current classification the teams are in. 

All spring sports’ alignments for the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 school years will be announced on May 8.

For Montgomery Academy and St. James’ tennis teams, the suspension of play this season didn’t matter. Both the Eagles – already bumped by CBF into Class 4A-5A -- and the Trojans (in Class 1A-3A) had both their boys’ and girls’ tennis teams reach the 2019 finals, which earned each unit four points. 

As a result, Montgomery Academy will compete in Class 6A next season. St. James, which is expected to be classified as a 4A program next year, would also compete in 6A after being elevated one classification by the Competitive Balance Factor.

Those two will join Trinity, which had already been elevated from 4A-5A to 6A by the Competitive Balance Factor and will return to that classification in boys’ and girls’ tennis in 2021 and 2022.

Three programs on the verge of elevating – Alabama Christian softball, St. James outdoor track and Montgomery Academy soccer – will be allowed to return to their 2020 classification.

The Eagles earned four points with their 2019 state championship and any points earned in 2020 would have sent them to 5A. Advancing to the semifinals of the regional softball tournament would have earned the program a half point, triggering a move.

The St. James girls’ track team earned four points with their state championship a year ago and would have been the favorite to repeat this spring. Earning a spot in the final two in the points standings (or any similar finish by the boys’ team) would have elevated the Trojans by one classification. St. James is likely to move to Class 4A in 2021 and 2022 based on enrollment figures and the 1.35 private school multiplier applied to enrollment figures.

Montgomery Academy’s soccer teams earned six points last year, with the championship girls’ program earning four points and the boys’ program earning two points by reaching the semifinals. Had either team competed in the 2020 championship program and reached the semifinals, or if both teams had reached the quarterfinals, the Eagles would have been elevated one classification. MA is already playing in 4A-5A this season after having been elevated from 1A-3A by the Competitive Balance Factor.

The Competitive Balance Factor assigns a half point to any program reaching the final 16 teams in championship competition, meaning any team that competes as a solo sport and earned points in 2019 would have triggered a Competitive Balance Factor elevation by reaching the finals in their respective postseason competition in 2020.

Those teams include Trinity girls’ golf in 4A-5A; Montgomery Academy girls’ golf in 1A-3A; Catholic boys’ golf in 4A-5A; Trinity boys’ golf in 4A-5A; Montgomery Academy boys’ golf in 1A-3A; Montgomery Academy baseball in 3A; St. James baseball in 3A; and Trinity baseball in 4A. 

Sports classified as coed require more than seven points to elevate by Competitive Balance Factor. St. James soccer in 1A-3A and Trinity in 4A-5A earned points last season along with Catholic outdoor track in 4A.

AHSAA Board approves new date for All-Star Football game

The Central Board also approved on Thursday the moving of the annual North-South All-Star Football game from mid July (part of Alabama All-Star Week) to December. The game will follow the week after the annual Alabama-Mississippi All-Star game and will include seniors. The current North-South game is still set for July later this year.

The committee also approved a season and tournament for girls wrestling. The sport will be divided into three classifications, Class 1A-4A, 6A and 7A.

The board approved annual basketball areas with five or three teams to play first-round games at the site of fourth and second-seed home gyms, respectively. Remaining games will continue at the area champion home gym.

Also, the mercy rule used in the previous basketball season will be used in the state playoffs with the exception of the state semifinals and finals in Birmingham.

Coaches will also be required to complete the NFHS Mental Health course as part of the coach’s certification.