Change My Mind 2.0

[Tom Duncan]

Correct me if I’m wrong, all or partial. TAIAO is home school and these kids have to pay out of pocket to play on these teams? Uil is, attend school and be eligible. There is money from students involved but nothing like TAIAO or private schools. It might be an advantage to have large teams in TAIAO because that means more money. If it was number of players on team in UIL, a lot, most, or all coaches would keep number of players to play in DIII and put everyone else on JV. Some of the UIL teams only have 7 or 8 total players on team now so they sure couldn’t compete with a school with 104 in high school but only carrying small numbers on varsity to stay DIII. 21+ is a lot of players on varsity for 6man anyway. My opinion, it’s ok in UIL as is.

TAIAO is not limited to home school teams. A big difference is that TAIAO does not provide district alignments, so scheduling during the regular season can be challenging. From their FAQs: TAIAO is open to Charter Schools, Private Schools and Homeschool Organizations. We currently have representation from all of these types of organizations.

I would like to add to this discussion the fact that many 2A schools just above the 105 number have trouble fielding 11 man teams and some like Fruitvale opt to play outlaw ball when they barely miss the number and have less that 15 boys playing football each year.

Also, some of the top Division I Sixman schools will often have 30 or 40 boys out for Sixman football. Perhaps a possible course of action would be to lower the Sixman number back to 95 where it once was and go back to having an Eightman division from 95.5 up to 135 or so. Eightman football is a better fit for a number of reasons especially when schools have so many players coming out each year and for the larger offensive and defensive lineman that often get left off the field in Sixman football. Many of the current smaller 2A programs could benefit with adding an Eightman division as well.

 

[CoachRollinsACS]

TAIAO is not limited to home school teams. A big difference is that TAIAO does not provide district alignments, so scheduling during the regular season can be challenging. From their FAQs: TAIAO is open to Charter Schools, Private Schools and Homeschool Organizations. We currently have representation from all of these types of organizations.

I would like to add to this discussion the fact that many 2A schools just above the 105 number have trouble fielding 11 man teams and some like Fruitvale opt to play outlaw ball when they barely miss the number and have less that 15 boys playing football each year.

Also, some of the top Division I Sixman schools will often have 30 or 40 boys out for Sixman football. Perhaps a possible course of action would be to lower the Sixman number back to 95 where it once was and go back to having an Eightman division from 95.5 up to 135 or so. Eightman football is a better fit for a number of reasons especially when schools have so many players coming out each year and for the larger offensive and defensive lineman that often get left off the field in Sixman football. Many of the current smaller 2A programs could benefit with adding an Eightman division as well.

I would like to see a good 8 man discussion also. Very intriguing to me.

 

[Jones26]

I've always been interested in an 8-man division. I think there are A LOT of things they would need to figure out, since there will be both current 6-man and 11-man schools involved.

Main one being: do you play on an 80yd or 100yd field?

 

[Tom Duncan]

I've always been interested in an 8-man division. I think there are A LOT of things they would need to figure out, since there will be both current 6-man and 11-man schools involved.

Main one being: do you play on an 80yd or 100yd field?

80 yards, see the rules here: https://cdn2.sportngin.com/attachments/document/be00-1647717/8_Man_Rules_Final.pdf

 

[Tom Duncan]

80 yards, see the rules here: https://cdn2.sportngin.com/attachments/document/be00-1647717/8_Man_Rules_Final.pdf

Here is another with a 100 yard field but, like 6 man only 40 yards wide: https://www.mhsaa.com/sites/default/files/2022-06/8playerfieldrules_0.pdf

 

[CoachRollinsACS]

I've always been interested in an 8-man division. I think there are A LOT of things they would need to figure out, since there will be both current 6-man and 11-man schools involved.

Main one being: do you play on an 80yd or 100yd

I've always been interested in an 8-man division. I think there are A LOT of things they would need to figure out, since there will be both current 6-man and 11-man schools involved.

Main one being: do you play on an 80yd or 100yd field?

What size field does Oklahoma use? They have a whole 8 man classification.

 

[coach_jshelton]

40x100 in Colorado. Old Bearkat has been pounding the table for 8man for at least 2 decades on this site. I think there’s a place for it, especially w/enrollment changes over the past decade or so.

1-75: 6man
76-130: 8man

 

[Old Bearkat]

I think the enrollments of many 6 man and small 11 man schools are too volatile for stable membership in the 8 man division. Not all schools are, but enough to create a lot of turmoil. Just look at how Water Valley keeps getting thrown back and forth.

 

[CoachMatlock]

I think an 8 man division is very interesting and makes sense.

 

[Texlonghorn75]

I've always been interested in an 8-man division. I think there are A LOT of things they would need to figure out, since there will be both current 6-man and 11-man schools involved.

Main one being: do you play on an 80yd or 100yd field?

In our modern era of 100 plus points being scored by the end of the third quarter in some games, I think making all football fields 100 yards long, including six-man football should be considered. Let's face it, how long does it take a running back or receiver to cover those extra 20 yards when he is already five yards ahead of the defensive players? Yes, it might make for a few lower scoring games, but so what. Maybe the turf monster would make a few tackles too and make for some realistic scores. It would make it easier to clock some of those stud running backs for 100-yard dash times too. Excuse me, maybe we need to make those fields 100 meters long, not 100 yards! Lol

 

[Old Bearkat]

In our modern era of 100 plus points being scored by the end of the third quarter in some games, I think making all football fields 100 yards long, including six-man football should be considered. Let's face it, how long does it take a running back or receiver to cover those extra 20 yards when he is already five yards ahead of the defensive players? Yes, it might make for a few lower scoring games, but so what. Maybe the turf monster would make a few tackles too and make for some realistic scores. It would make it easier to clock some of those stud running backs for 100-yard dash times too. Excuse me, maybe we need to make those fields 100 meters long, not 100 yards! Lol

That would make 6 man an even more of a speed game....