AHSAA private schools presented with framework for proposed new athletic association

Private schools from both the Alabama High School Athletic Association and Alabama Independent Schools Association met Friday at the Cramton Bowl Multiplex in Montgomery to discuss a possible new high school athletic association.

>The proposed association reached a new stage by unveiling a concrete framework.

>According to a source who attended the meeting, approximately 100 people attended and heard organizers present district alignments, governance plans and the rationale behind the proposal.

>Friday's meeting was the first time since the AHSAA split public and private schools in postseason play back in January where AHSAA private schools had a legitimate option outside of the AHSAA.

>"I think that there was a level of confidence throughout the room that has yet to exist," the source told the Montgomery Advertiser. "Every, every time these group of schools has gotten together, it has been under a cloud of uncertainty. But today, for the first time, we were together, and someone presented a plan that says, this could be the future."

>Macon-East Montgomery headmaster and football coach Glynn Lott is spearheading the push for a new league with a goal of starting for the 2027-2028 school year.

>During the presentation led by Lott, data was presented to outline how the AHSAA's decision to split member public and private schools created a bigger divide than previously existed in regard to the previous 1.35 multiplier and competitive balance factors applied to AHSAA private schools, with the introduction of travel demands and competitive disparities.

>Lott unveiled district and regional alignments for the new athletic association that were formed using multiple factors like travel considerations as opposed to just simply using school enrollment numbers.

>The new districts and regions included all current AISA member schools and AHSAA member private schools. In the proposal, the new association would have a minimum of three divisions with the potential for four, with at least 20 teams in each division. Regions would have anywhere from seven to nine teams.

>The districts and regions were based on geography, level of pay, travel time and school size.

>Those in attendance were encouraged to electronically vote on a name for the association that would be vetted through lawyers for any trademark issues.

>The hurdles addressed in the meeting centered around cross-play challenges and if the new organization can get membership with the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS).

>Before the meeting adjourned, those in attendance were asked to reach out in the coming months with their interest levels on whether they want to join the proposed new association, when they would want to join and if they want to participate in creating policies or rulebooks.

>"It's not just talk. This is a real path forward, and the AISA schools are going to start walking that path now and AHSAA independent schools are going to have a chance to choose to join them," the source said.

class="exclude-from-newsgate">Jaeden Day covers high school sports, Alabama State football and Auburn recruiting for the Montgomery Advertiser/USA Today. You can find him on X at dayjaeden12, or reach him at JDay@montgome.gannett.com.

>This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: AHSAA private schools presented with framework for proposed new athletic association