The push to split into classes. Let's talk about it!

A lot of very smart coaches have been working hard to get the ball rolling on the MSHSAA letting us split boys and girls swimming into two classes.  We are very close to the numbers needed but there is a push to go ahead and let us split now.

So far the discussion has centered around these factors that many think are vital to the health of the sport:

   1. Fairness/Competitive Balance - larger cities have an advantage
where smaller municipalities may be discouraged from having a team due
to fear of being non competitive or creating a feeling of hopelessness.

   2. Growth - more schools, including those that are currently Co-oped,
will be encouraged to start their own program.

   3. With "Value of Participation" being a MSHSAA goal, this by-law may
increase minority participation.

There are some who worry that a split might decrease the competitiveness of the state meet.  Others are concerned with the difficulty in planning two championship meets with the availability of officials to run both being a factor.  Still more concerns arise when we discuss where the lines may be drawn regarding which schools will end up in each class.  Some of our traditional swimming powers might end up in the smaller class.  

I personally support the split because I have seen all of the positives that have come from it in Oklahoma and Kansas, who have both split into two classes even though their participation numbers are smaller than ours.  What are your thoughts?  Please help us get a discussion started below.  We are hoping to hear from coaches on both sides of the argument, and to get this initiative far enough along to be discussed with the right people at the MSHSAA will take involvement from all of us!

I hope that some of the MISCA members who have been involved with this process can keep us informed here with details and what steps are next that we can all be involved in.