February 7, 2025
FHSAA Clarifies District Seeding Process Following Rash of Lopsided Girls Basketball Scores
By Kyle Coppola
FHSAA Clarifies District Seeding Process Following Rash of Lopsided Girls Basketball Scores
LEESBURG, Fla. — The Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) has reaffirmed its classification and districting procedures following a string of lopsided girls basketball scores in our area. Some of the scores have been so lopsided by more than 80 or 90 points that concerned parents have taken to social media to voice their frustrations. After doing some research, I had the chance to talk to Ed Thompson who is the FHSAA Administrator of Athletics.
“Currently, FHSAA classifies schools based solely on student enrollment numbers, with no other factors considered, including artificial intelligence. Once classified, schools are grouped into districts primarily based on geography, with an emphasis on minimizing extreme travel,” said Thompson.
“Methods for classification have been roundly discussed over the years, and numerous proposals have been made,” Thompson went on to say “There is consensus among our member schools that enrollment alone isn’t sufficient for classification, but we have yet to determine what additional factors should be included.”
In an effort to address competitive disparities, FHSAA has announced a significant change set to take effect in the 2026-27 school year. “The introduction of an Open Division will place the top-ranked schools in each team sport into a separate bracket to compete for an Open Division championship, while traditional classifications will remain intact. The specific details of this division are still being finalized by FHSAA member schools,” says Thompson.
Regarding the extreme margin margines of victory in girls basketball, FHSAA acknowledged the issue. “These are not a results anyone wants to see,” Thompson says. “While the mercy rule helps mitigate such outcomes, disparities between teams—particularly in girls’ basketball—highlight the need for additional measures related to competitive balance.”
I have noticed in girls sports in particular the points spreads are at times vast. I am hopeful that the FHSAA will continue to look into these issues to offer a viable solution that appears to be coming in a few short years.
The FHSAA will no doubt continue to evaluate potential reforms, but for now, districting and classification will proceed under existing guidelines until further modifications are agreed upon by its membership. Let us know your thoughts in the comments. How would you fix this issue?
Kyle Coppola was born in Newton, Massachusetts and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communications from Curry College in 2016. After traveling to Florida on a family vacation, he decided he could not get enough of the warm weather and made the move from snowy Massachusetts to central Florida 8 years ago.
For the last decade Kyle has gained valuable experience in social media content creation, marketing and sales, writing, video production, sports announcing and even broadcasting for local radio stations, such as FM 102.9 in The Villages and FM 91.5 in Massachusetts. Every year he volunteers at The Villages Charter High School as a play-by-play sports announcer for the football games as well as a public address announcer for the basketball games, including the annual Battle at The Villages Tournament.
Outside the office Kyle is a husband and father to two beautiful girls along with their cat. In his spare time he likes to spend time with his family, travel, play golf and swim. He is also a huge sports junkie and even bigger motorsports fan and loves to attend racing events when he can.
