FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Virginia High School League Executive Committee approved unanimously at a special called meeting today an extension of the football season by one week, with state semifinals to be played Dec. 6 and state finals to be played Dec. 13.

The new deadline for completing district football schedules is Nov. 15, with the regional playoff deadline being Nov. 29. 

The requests for an extension came primarily from schools in the eastern and central parts of the state most heavily affected by damage from hurricane Isabel.  Many schools in those areas have been affected by widespread and prolonged damage, displaced families, loss of electricity, lack of communication, school closings and the inability to practice or play games.

"In view of the extraordinary and sustained hardships experienced by so many schools and communities, this was clearly an appropriate response that reflects statewide support," said Ken Tilley, VHSL executive director.

The revisions leave schools with several options.  They may complete the regular season as scheduled or may move scheduled games to be played later, and regions may choose to follow the new playoff schedule or go ahead with regional playoffs as previously scheduled and leave a break between regions and states. 

The schedule is complicated somewhat by power points used to determine regional qualifiers in football, but if a region is unaffected by points to be determined in delayed games, they may go ahead with regional playoffs a week ahead of regions operating on the new delayed schedule.

The playoff schedule will not be adjusted for any other sport.

The change is similar to one approved a year ago when snipers shut down activities in the northern and central parts of the state for three weeks.

  In other business, the committee denied a request to extend the contest limitations for female golfers only to participate in up to two additional all-girls matches.

The committee considered a request by Nansemond River High School to participate in a basketball tournament in New York on Sunday, January 18, 2004.  A two-thirds favorable vote was necessary to approve the request, and the vote of 11-10 failed to meet that requirement; thus, participation is denied.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEMORANDUM TO:  VHSL member schools and Virginia media

FROM:  Ken Tilley, executive director and Bob Button, assistant director

RE:  Redistricting and Reclassification

DATE:  Sept. 18, 2002

The Executive Committee of the Virginia High School League adopted a plan on Wednesday, Sept. 18, for assigning member schools to district, region and group classifications effective with the 2003-04 school year for a two-year period.

The plan presented by the Redistricting and Reclassification Committee was amended and approved 25-0 following several appeals by member schools.

"The committee was very sensitive to issues of travel and flexible scheduling raised by a number of schools, and that was balanced with a concern for fair competition based on the size of schools," said Ken Tilley, VHSL executive director.

The attached chart shows the final district, regional and group assignments for all VHSL schools, including the assignment of new schools scheduled to open during the 2003-04 school year.

Prior to giving final approval, the Executive Committee heard appeals from member schools, districts and regions that had concerns with the proposal sent forward by the Redistricting and Reclassification Committee. The committee granted three variances, denied two requests and in the most difficult situation approved an alternate plan.

The most contentious issue of the day involved the Blue Ridge District in Region III, Group AA. The Redistricting and Reclassification Committee had proposed a 12-school district with the addition of Carroll County to the existing membership, with the recommendation that the district develop a proposal for splitting member schools into two districts.

However, members of the district were unable to reach consensus. Carroll County, which had requested to join the district, petitioned to return to the Southwest District in Region IV. Seven members of the district proposed a 7-4 split of remaining schools, and the other four schools requested that the Blue Ridge be retained as an 11-school district as it is in 2002-03.

The Executive Committee defeated the proposal for the 7-4 split recommended by Alleghany, Cave Spring, Christiansburg, Hidden Valley, Lord Botetourt, Northside and William Byrd by a vote of 24-0-2 and defeated the 11-school district proposed by Blacksburg, Pulaski County, Salem and William Fleming by a vote of 23-0-3.

The Committee then approved, 24-1-1, a 6-5 split of the district with Blacksburg, Cave Spring, Christiansburg, Hidden Valley, Salem and Pulaski County in the southern half and Alleghany, Lord Botetourt, Northside, William Byrd and William Fleming in the northern half.

In addition to approving 25-0-2 Carroll County’s request to remain in the Southwest District, the Executive Committee approved 24-0-1 a request by Albemarle to remain in the Commonwealth District, Northwest Region Group AAA instead of the Western Valley District and approved 27-0 a request by Henry County schools (Bassett, Fieldale-Collinsville and Laurel Park) to remain in the Piedmont District, Region IV, Group AA rather than competing as Group A schools in what would then have been a combination Piedmont District.

The Executive Committee denied two requests to play down from the group in which the schools’ enrollment placed them:

Brentsville District’s request to be allowed to play down and remain in the Bull Run District, Region B, Group A, instead of being assigned to the Northwestern District, Region II, Group AA, was denied 1-26.

Nandua’s request to be allowed to play down and remain in the combination Eastern Shore District as a Group A school in Region A instead of as a Group AA school in Region I, was denied 5-20-2.

Two appeals had been withdrawn prior to the Executive Committee meeting: Buckingham County will move to the Dogwood District, Region III, Group AA, and Prince Edward County will remain in the Dogwood District, Region III, Group AA.

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VIRGINIA HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE
Approved by Executive Committee – September 18, 2002
GROUP AAA
Assignments for 2003-04 and 2004-05

Note: Schools in boldface are newly assigned to their districts

VIRGINIA HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE
Approved by Executive Committee – September 18, 2002
GROUP AA
Assignments for 2003-04 and 2004-05

Note: Schools in boldface are newly assigned to their districts

VIRGINIA HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE
Approved by Executive Committee – September 18, 2002
GROUP A
Assignments for 2003-04 and 2004-05

Note: Schools in boldface are newly assigned to their districts