I absolutely agree...I wish the SIJHSAA would consider the following...Keep your 32 L and 32 M, but of the remainding small schools, split them in half and create a VS (very small) and S (small)! This would cure the schools with 3-5 players in the 8th grade from playing the larger "small" schools with 10-15 players in 8th grade...It seems to be fairer the way I have described...The very small schools barely have a chance against the larger "small" schools!

Related to this topic, why are the K-5 students counted in the enrollment? Is it because this is a number that is more easily calculated by schools? I could see where there will be schools that could be really small in the eight grade but have a large overall enrollment or a small enrollment but have a large 8th grade class.

I also would like to see the SIJHSAA look into a 4 class system with the "very small" schools. I also wondered what the magical number of 32 is for class m and l. Why not set an enrollment number and have all schools over that size in enrollment compete against each other? It is frustrating as a coach that we have to defeat twice the number of teams to make it to state.

I also wish the SIJHSAA would look into setting a match limit for the school year in volleyball like they have in basketball. Schools that have the opportunity to play 2 season in junior high volleyball are definitely going to have an advantage over those that only have from January 1 to the state tournament to get the games in. These teams are also participating in 2 state tournaments which again gives an unfair advantage. I could play 5 nights a week, but again my main focus for my kids should be their education first. Each year we are facing teams that will have nearly 50 matches in and we really only have the opportunity to get maybe 20.

I coach at a very small school and I honestly do not agree with that. I think the system is good right now. If you made 4 different classes, I believe it would water everything down. Also if you won your regionals it wouldnt feel as good, at least thats just my opinion. 3 class system is good already, I mean yes there are some pretty big "small" schools but thats just how it is, there arent enough member schools in the sijhsaa to have 4 classes.

I think the 3 class system is good but I also agree that setting a standard enrollment number would be a lot better than the current 32 number usage. Such as 250 & under-class s, 250-600- class m, 600 & over- class l. According to this years enrollment numbers for boys basketball that would have put 34 schools into class l, 52 schools into class m, and 68 schools into class s.

well im finally glad i got some responses....Logically when you look at, the IESA goes from I-70 All the way to chicago, and they have four classes, we are just the southern part of illinois, i dont think we can justify 4 classes. I know there are very small schools, i coach one of the smallest, there is always the option to coop. I was more interested in why the 32??? NO MATTER HOW YOU DIVIDE IT, YOU ARE NOT GONNA MAKE EVERYONE HAPPY!!! To me, it just seems the fair and easy way, is to divide it into thirds. This is Just the opinion of a coach who thinks he knows more than what he does.....me.....lol