Idaho Board Sets New Classifications

A divided Idaho High School Activities Association board has tentatively set enrollment criteria for its new five-division sports realignment and reversed the classification designations.

Critics warned of community dissatisfaction with the new alignment that would take effect for the 1998 football season because it will likely end longstanding rivalries.

The board voted 9-5 on Monday in Boise to reverse designations. The largest schools, which have been classified as A-1, will be designated as 5-A and the smallest, which have been A-4, will be 1-A.

The new enrollment criteria would be 5-A at 1,200 students and up, 4-A at 600 to 1,199 students, 3-A at 300 to 599 students, 2-A at 150 to 299 students and 1-A at 149 students and under.

Classification will be based on average enrollment for the last school year and the coming one.

The final decision will be made at the board’s August meeting pending resolution of questions on how many teams will qualify for state championship play, how tournament qualification will be determined and how schools will deal with scheduling problems such as long-distance travel.

“This isn’t a done thing,” Association Director Bill Young said. “Things can change in August.”

Capital High School Athletic Director Laurence Bauwens sees the proposed realignment as a loss for communities that face losing crosstown rivalries.

“I don’t know how those communities will react if their high schools are in different divisions,” Bauwens said. “Losing rivalries is tough to deal with.”

Scates signs with CBC

Coeur d’Alene High baseball standout Mark Scates has signed a letter of intent with Columbia Basin College in Pasco, Wash.

Scates, a right-handed pitcher and outfielder, visited the school last week before signing the letter Monday. He chose CBC over Bossier Parrish in Bossier City, La.

CBC recently hired Gonzaga University assistant Scott Rogers. Rogers turned down a job at North Idaho College.

Scates is playing for the Spokane Heat, an AAU team that is playing an 86-game schedule. The team will participate in the national tournament in August that will be held in Spokane.

Scates will be an every day player at CBC. He was recently selected in the 34th round of the amateur draft by the Colorado Rockies.

WHL rule revisions in line with NHL

Overtime will be five minutes shorter in the Western Hockey League next season.

Owners approved the change from 10-minute sudden-death to five minutes to conform to the National Hockey League rule for breaking ties, Spokane Chiefs general manager Tim Speltz said Tuesday.

WHL owners also adopted the NHL’s off-sides rule.

The board of governors also agreed that kicking the puck shall be permitted in all zones, although a goal cannot be scored by an attacking player who uses a distinct kicking motion.

A goal can’t be scored by an attacking player who kicks a puck that deflects into the net off any player, goaltender or official. A puck that deflects into the net off an attacking player who does not use a distinct kicking motion is a goal.

The league at its July 16 meeting is expected to adopt an interlocking schedule in which every team meets at least once home and away.

The Chiefs expect to have three players named in Saturday’s NHL draft. Defenseman Brad Ference is projected to go early in the first round.

, DataTimes