Louisiana to continue postseason format of select and non-select schools in major sports

With majority vote, select, non-select playoffs continue in football, basketball, baseball and softball

BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA - The principals of Louisiana have spoken. 

The Louisiana High School Athletic Association convened a special meeting Tuesday afternoon at the Marriott with only one item on the agenda - a yes or no vote on the definition of what constitutes a "select" school.

Last year around this same time, the LHSAA Executive Committee changed the definition of select schools to include charter and magnet schools, and schools in open enrollment parishes.

With the change, the number of select schools greatly increased with nearly even numbers of select and non-select schools.

Proponents praised the LHSAA for newly found parity in the playoffs. Opponents, who claimed that the Executive Committee had overstepped its authority, filed an injunction in 19th Judicial District Court that was granted on Aug. 21.

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The presiding judge ruled that the Executive Committee's definition of select should have been voted on by the members of the LHSAA. That took place on Tuesday, with 68% of the member schools voting in favor of the new select definition, according to Robin Fambrough of the Baton Rouge Advocate.

Fambrough indicated that 95% of the state's schools were represented at the meeting, which was the best turnout in decades.

While the injunction remains in place, Tuesday's vote would appear to make the issue moot.

There will be four select and four non-select playoff divisions in football; five of each in basketball, baseball and softball. Other sports, such as soccer, track and field and volleyball, are not split in the postseason.

The football, basketball, baseball and softball playoffs for the 2022-23 school year were lauded as the most competitive since the LHSAA split more than a decade ago. Every school, regardless of record, made the playoffs in some select divisions prior to last year's change - and 75% of the schools were non-select.

Private schools overwhelmingly voted to ratify the new definition.

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The opponents who filed the lawsuit were a group of nine schools from Caddo and Rapides Parish, along with some Monroe city schools. The Caddo and Rapides Parish schools were non-select prior to last year.

The LHSAA could end the split with a majority vote at its January meeting. That's another change from the past. Previously, a 2/3 vote was required. 

Photo of Ouachita Christian School football by Parker Waters 

-- Mike Coppage | @SBLiveLA