Time to set a limit on DII and make a DIAA Division

Okay Farrington Coach Alan Silva and the rest of the Govs Boys Basketball team deserves the DII HHSAA title. They played a great game with one of the greatest treys in a HHSAA championships. Alan Silva teaches a good game and has done free clinics on shooting (remembered for his bicycle tire rim analogy) and is a super nice guy. However does Farrington belong in Division I. They currently are ranked as far as enrollment (2,569 students) as the second largest Hawaii School. Meanwhile Campbell the third largest (2,370) won the HHSAA Girls DII Basketball Title. In fact the largest school Waipahu is in division II in the OIA girls and boys division.

Compare small schools such as St Joseph of the BIIF and Kohala (297). Farrington has a student body that is 800% bigger than Kohala. Even McKinley that competes in both Boys and Girls HHSAA DII tournaments has a student body of 1,877. That means they have that many more students to build a team from. But some may argue that the school size does not guarantee quality players. I think the public schools have made too many rules that have worked against themselves. They make tough rules on off season work outs and skill training that it has put many public schools at a disadvantage to the ILH and some private schools.

The key in developing a competitive league and team is to develop off season programs for the school’s teams and players. If there is no off season skill programs you lose good players to schools that have programs that allow athletes to reach another level. In other words the day of feeder programs have changed. The local parks and recreation league is not working out as the feeder program of choice. Players are going to national tournaments at a younger age and club teams are forming as fast as the sun goes up and down. True most good public school talent gets recruited away to private schools and club teams, sometimes the public schools don’t have the facilities, modern equipment, money and coaches network like some of the private schools.

But to make excuses and to lower the bar so large schools can go to a tournament is not what DII is about. But, small outstanding programs like St Joseph, Kohala, Seabury Hall and Hawaii Baptist should enjoy their recognition they deserve. Also, this would force many mediocre athletic departments to develop a total sports program versus just putting together teams. It is about leveling the playing field, giving those small private and public schools a chance to compete against similar schools with the same number problems.

Also, there are more public school athletes that don't get developed fully because public school athletic programs have gotten too burdensome, bureaucratic and have relied on coaches, club and outside leagues to develop the athletes, but those schools give coaches limited resources. Some athletic directors have even put up walls that deter off season involvement or use of facilities. I must mention that the Kahuku football program, Kailua baseball program, Pearl City baseball program, and the Kalaheo basketbal programs are some of the exceptions. I would suggest that the HHSAA change DII criteria to schools with 1,200 students and less. I would take it one step further and make a DIAA bracket somewhat like California (multiple divisions) does and have three or more tournaments. That way larger public schools can compete in another division and the DI would truly be for the elite programs and DII for the truly small schools. That would give the larger schools some flexibility from year to year. Lets face it, we must expand as student enrollments and athletes expand. The amount of new schools has doubled but tournament slots have not kept up with expansion.

Give different options and opportunities for different levels of play. Clinging on to old ways is not practical for todays large population. We still need the competitive division for the college to be athletes (showcasing) and the other alternative divisions that don’t have the same talent. What’s your thoughts………