Here’s what happened at the OSSAA board meeting
The Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association‘s board of directors met Wednesday for its monthly board meeting. Here's what happened:
Neutral-site football playoff games
The OSSAA board approved a recommendation from staff which could affect some neutral-site football playoff games.
The OSSAA rules say the home team during a neutral site playoff game will be the team on an odd or even line of the bracket corresponding with the current year. For example, this year, during a neutral-site playoff game, the team on the odd-numbered line of the bracket would be the designated home team.
This addition to the OSSAA rules could change that. Executive director David Jackson said allowing the OSSAA staff to look at each neutral-site playoff game individually and determine if a change needs to be made to the rule could help with crowd control and allow schools with bigger fan bases to sit on the home sides of stadiums.
This new regulation won't be used in most cases, but if the OSSAA determines a switch needs to be made that will benefit fans attending games, then it could happen.
6A/5A state basketball tournaments
Changes could be coming to the Class 6A-5A state basketball tournaments.
Those won't be known until November, though.
The OSSAA staff tabled possible discussion and action regarding the host site for the next three Class 6A-5A state basketball tournaments. The state's largest classifications have played at Oral Roberts' Mabee Center since 2010, but that could change as soon as this season.
Multiple sites have bid to host the state tournaments, including OU, Oklahoma State and ORU, but the OSSAA received new data this week that staff wants to examine further before committing to a new contract with a bid site. The OSSAA also has to examine how each bid site handles the ticketing process and more before making a decision.
OSSAA associate director Mike Whaley said a decision is expected to be made by the November board meeting.
Soccer districts approved for 2021-22, 2022-23
The board approved soccer districts for the next two years. Here's a look at the new districts:
Class 6A
District 1: Deer Creek, Edmond Memorial, Lawton, Norman, Putnam City West, Northwest Classen, Southmoore, Yukon
h District 2: Capitol Hill, Edmond Santa Fe, Moore, Mustang, Norman North, Putnam City North, Westmoore, U.S. Grant
h District 3: Choctaw, Edmond North, Enid, Jenks, Putnam City, Sand Springs, Stillwater, Tulsa Union
h District 4: Bartlesville, Bixby, Broken Arrow, Muskogee, Owasso, Ponca City, Tahlequah, Tulsa Washington
Class 5A
District 1: Altus, Ardmore, Duncan, Elgin, Lawton Eisenhower, Lawton MacArthur, Noble, Santa Fe South
h District 2: Carl Albert, El Reno, Guthrie, Guymon, McGuinness, Midwest City, Piedmont, Southeast
h District 3: Del City, Durant, McAlester, Sapulpa, Shawnee, Tulsa Edison, Tulsa Kelley, Tulsa Memorial
h District 4: Claremore, Collinsville, Coweta, Glenpool, Grove, Tulsa Rogers, Tulsa East Central, Tulsa Hale
Class 4A
District 1: Ada, Bethany, Cache, Chickasha, Cleveland, Harrah, Madill, Newcastle
h District 2: ASTEC Charter, Classen SAS, Clinton, Elk City, Harding Charter Prep, Weatherford, Western Heights, Woodward
h District 3: Catoosa, Miami, Oologah, Skiatook, Tulsa Holland Hall, Tulsa Metro Christian, Tulsa McLain, Wagoner
h District 4: Fort Gibson, Hilldale, Poteau, Pryor, Sallisaw, Stilwell, Tulsa Cascia Hall, Tulsa Regent Prep
Class 3A
District 1: Atoka, Bridge Creek (Girls), Crooked Oak, Crossings Christian, Christian Heritage, Douglass (Boys), McLoud, Millwood (Girls), Oklahoma Christian School,
h District 2: Alva, Community Christian, Cordell, Cushing (Girls), Heritage Hall, Kingfisher, Mount St. Mary, Newkirk (Girls)
h District 3: Broken Arrow Summit Christian, Commerce, Drumright (Girls), Locust Grove, Mannford (Girls), Riverfield Country Day, Tulsa Central, Verdigris, Westville
h District 4: Bristow, Heavener, Inola (Girls), Keys Parkhill (Girls), Owasso Rejoice Christian, Porter Consolidated (Girls), Sequoyah Claremore, Hugo (Boys), Tulsa Victory Christian, Tulsa Webster