Wednesday, June 6, 2001
[ HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS ] A proposal to create a two-tiered football playoff system highlights the agenda for this week's Hawaii Interscholastic Athletic Directors Association conference on the Big Island. Football playoff
system to be examined
at HIADA meetingBy Jason Kaneshiro
Star-BulletinThe classification debate figures to be the focal point of the 41st annual conference, which starts today at the Outrigger Waikoloa Beach Resort.
The meetings open with leadership workshops for the athletic directors. On Thursday, committees will begin sorting through the 28 proposals that have been made. Items making it out of the various committees will be voted upon at a final general assembly meeting Saturday morning.
Any recommendations that come out of the HIADA meetings must be approved by the HHSAA's executive board, which will meet later this month.
The proposal for football classification submitted by Keith Amemiya, executive director of the Hawaii High School Athletic Association, will be put before the 78 athletic directors attending the conference. His plan calls for two eight-team tournaments concluding Nov. 30 with a state championship doubleheader at Aloha Stadium.
The state's large schools would compete for the Division I championship, while the smaller schools would play for the Division II title.
"I think it'll create more fan interest and hopefully encourage more football players at smaller schools to turn out, because now there's a more realistic chance of competing for a championship," Amemiya said.
The classification plan would go into effect this fall and its viability would be re-evaluated following the conclusion of the season. Hawaii and California are the only states without a classification system for football.
"I think it's a tremendous idea," said Interscholastic League of Honolulu executive secretary Clay Benham. "I think it will allow the smaller schools to experience championships. And it's no different than what schools on the mainland are doing."
Under the plan, each league would designate half their teams for either Division I or II status based on the size of a school's male enrollment, its record over the previous five seasons and its number of returning lettermen. A school's preference in classification would also be considered. The system would not affect the leagues' regular season schedules.
The Division I playoffs would include four Oahu Interscholastic Association teams and one each from the ILH, Big Island Interscholastic Federation and Maui Interscholastic League. The tournament committee would then vote for an at-large team to complete the field. The at-large team would be placed on the same side of the bracket as the ILH champion.
The Division II tournament would be made of four OIA teams and one each from the BIIF, ILH, MIL and Kauai Interscholastic Federation.
Four of the eight first-round games would be played at Aloha Stadium, two would be held on Maui and one each on the Big Island and Kauai.
"There may be concerns about added costs," Amemiya said. "But if you do some pretty simple arithmetic, any travel-related costs and stadium costs should be easily outweighed by revenue generated."
The current state tournament format includes four OIA teams and the BIIF, ILH, KIF and MIL champions. St. Louis won the first state championship in 1999 and Kahuku claimed the title last year.
Also on the HIADA agenda is a proposal to implement a state championship for paddling. The OIA is the only league with a sanctioned canoe paddling program, but BIIF, KIF and MIL officials have also expressed interest in starting paddling programs. Holding a state tournament requires participation by at least three leagues.
Star-Bulletin sports editor Cindy Luis and soccer statistician Chester Chee will receive special service awards for their contributions to high school sports at the HIADA banquet Friday night.
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