MHSAA makes some changes.

Written Saturday May 20th at 4:00 PM

The MHSAA will use the Division system instead of the Class system starting in the 2018-2019 season for Volleyball, Girls Basketball, and Boys Basketball.

In Soccer, the league will not have overtimes or shootouts during the regular season and instead go with the tie. If there was a conference tournament then they can play two 10 minute overtimes and have a shootout.

In football, the league will be limited even more to just 90 minutes of physical contact during practice for each week after the first week of the season. However blocking, tacking, and technique drills will continue. The league will consider Friday State semifinal games to go along with Saturdays. All semifinal games were usually played on Saturdays but Fridays are now an option to have games.

Thoughts.

I like the MHSAA going to a Division system instead of a Class system for a few reasons, one it will decide which teams are Division One teams. Also it evens up the classes based on enrollment. It will be interesting how things shape up when the Division system takes affect.

In the OAA for Soccer they do have ties in the regular season so there was no need for the MHSAA to take that route but they did it for the entire State.

I don't like the league's decision to be limited more to just 90 minutes of physical contact. Now I did play football and yes it's a physical sport but football is suppose to be a contact sport. I think this rule benefits those teams who are faience and not those who want to be physical teams. Now I know the MHSAA has a concussion policy and new rules put in place but come on, to limit teams to 90 minutes a week for physical contact??? doesn't add up.

Stay tuned to OAA Now for the latest updates on this developing story.