Competitive Balance — What Can Be Done?

Classification of Private Schools – Competitive Balance
by Dave Powers, Tuxedo HS, BCANY Past President

NOTE: This is an “Opinion Position Paper Draft”…the BCANY Board of Directors has not adopted this position, rather, it is hoped that this will lead to discussion of this isssue that is taking place in New York State as well as in many other states.

The Basketball Coaches Association of New York has become increasingly alarmed by the preponderance of private school teams participating at the NYSPHSAA boys and girls basketball championships. BCANY questions why private schools (parochial and non-parochial) are classified (by many sections) based on enrollment like their public school counterparts when in fact these private schools have the ability to draw or recruit players from a much larger geographical region. This ability to recruit puts same sized public schools at a distinct disadvantage especially in the game of basketball where 1 or 2 prized recruits can easily change the fortunes of a given teams.

Many private schools have advanced the notion that they do not recruit but it is the nature of a private schools to recruit students just to stay in business. Any program that has a modicum of success does not have to openly recruit since their winning ways recruit for them. Thus, while the success of most public schools has its highs and lows, private schools can often maintain the ability to be successful through recruiting, whether that recruiting is direct or indirect

Throughout the state there is an inconsistency when it comes to classifying private schools with some sections opting to move up highly successful teams to others that do next to nothing to one section that does not permit private schools to participate. Some sections use a formula while others do not. We find it distressing that the NYPHSAA gives such latitude to each section regarding classification but takes a much firmer stance with regards to the number of games allowed. This inconsistency lends itself to a great deal of criticism and cries of unfair advantages for the private school participants in each class.

This unfair advantage for private schools has become an increasing problem for public schools who want to maintain their quality athletes.
Many private schools use AAU as a way to subtly recruit players with some AAU coaches acting as quasi agents shopping their players to various private schools. A star player from a class AA school who suddenly decides to play at a small Class C school puts the rest of the C schools at a tremendous disadvantage especially if he/she is joining several other AAU teammates who have decided to do the same thing and form a “Dream Team.”. How can public schools compete when the playing field is not even?

An easy solution to this vexing problem and one that BCANY vigorously endorses would be for the state to follow the model used in neighboring New Jersey where they have separate classifications and championships for private schools. In New Jersey they have 4 public school classifications and 2 parochial classifications. Sections do not follow the same geographic barriers for private and public schools. Private and public schools often play in the same league but when it comes time for the state playoffs they move into their respective classifications.

We urge the NYSPHSAA to consider this proposal even if it means adding two more championships to their weekend. In the meantime, we urge the state to adopt a uniform statewide classification system for private schools which would classify private schools into two sizes A and B.
Class A private schools no matter their success would play in Class AA for sectional play while Class B size private schools would play in Class A. We believe this is the only way to temporarily level the playing field for public schools in their quest to compete for sectional titles while competing with private schools. Doing so would legitimize private schools need to recruit and would go a long way to improving relationships between private and public schools.