Change is a constant with high school sports governing bodies, whether it be to keep up with societal demands or technological improvements or to try to keep the peace among their constituents.
Those things and more will be discussed Monday in Macon as the Georgia High School Association executive committee meets to go over numerous proposals. Several of the items would affect area schools. But the most notable thing about the annual meeting, according to area administrators, is what's not on the docket.
Though meetings have been held to discuss the looming battle over a possible split between public and private schools, there are no proposals about that as of yet.
"There's a lot of frustration right now," said Gordon Lee football coach Greg Ellis, whose school has been vocal in its support of a complete public-private separation. "We've heard some different things and right now they're just in the information-gathering stage. The reclassification committee meets in May, and hopefully some progress will be made then."
Georgia's next reclassification cycle begins with the 2016-17 school year, but while those controversial discussions will have to wait, Monday's meeting likely will put several new rules into place. Softball has the most proposals on the docket, including one with serious postseason implications.
Currently, eight teams from each classification -- including two sets of teams in Class A -- compete in Columbus to determine softball state champions. A proposal with strong backing will be voted on to cut the Columbus field to four teams from each classification. Another would adopt a "statewide" postseason bracket similar to football that would have north-south crossover games in the second round.
"I do expect the elite eight to become a final four," said Heritage softball coach Steve Chattin, who says the cramped schedule in Columbus is the impetus for the proposal. "Everybody was concerned with rainouts after adding the other division for Class A and how that has made for some very long days. We started a game with Northwest Whitfield around 10:45 (p.m.)."
Chattin also favors the statewide-bracket proposal because the great majority of softball championships are won from schools in the northern half of the state. The proposed format would reduce the possibility of highly ranked teams meeting early on.
"The way it is now, the north and south teams don't face each other until the final eight, and that usually means we see matchups between top-ranked teams too early," Chattin said. "You would still see some of that, but this would help."
Softball could also have the number of regular-season games reduced to 25 or set at 28 including region tournaments. Another proposal would require all bats to be inspected using state-of-the-art equipment before play begins at Columbus.
While softball may lose regular-season games, a proposal is on the books to add games in baseball from the current limit of 26 to 36. If approved that would put Georgia teams in line with the allowed games in Tennessee. Also to be discussed is a proposal to hold each of the baseball championships at a single neutral site.
In football, contact limitations for practices will be discussed and a proposal is on the books to allow teams that are going through spring practice to hold their scrimmages either following spring work or before the fall season.
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6296.