Prep Notes: WIAA approves plan to increase soccer from three to four divisions

GREEN BAY - Starting next fall the boys and girl state soccer tournaments will have a different look.

That’s because Wednesday the WIAA Board of Control approved a plan that soccer will increase its number of divisions from three to four.

It voted unanimously to support a plan that would take the largest 128 schools and divide them into two divisions of 64 based on enrollment for the boys and girls soccer tournaments. All four divisions would have four-team fields, where in the past Division 1 had an eight-team field and Divisions 2-3 had four-team fields.

“Smaller Division 1 schools were playing teams three times their size,” WIAA communications director Todd Clark said. “Now, the former Division 1 has been split into two, in essence, giving the former Division 1 two opportunities to win a championship because Division 2 is the smaller Division 1 in the four-division model.”

Therefore, this spring marks the end of three state championship games being played as now it increases to four.

Football changes

• Season can start Aug. 22: Football had a number of recommendations approved to be implemented next season. With the regular season going  back nine-games, the Board approved the coaches' recommendation to issue equipment on Aug. 5 and practice to begin on Aug. 6, which will allow the first game to be played on Aug. 22.
• Two changes for playoffs: First, the WIAA approved Friday as the default day for games at  Levels 1, 2 and 3 unless travel is more than 120 miles between opponents. By mutual agreement of the schools, the game may be played Saturday. If played Saturday it will be  a 1 p.m. start time for a game moved to a neutral site because of excessive travel - as determined by the WIAA. If schools mutually agree, the game may be played at an alternate time on Saturday.
• Adjustment to mercy rule: An adjustment to the traditional “mercy rule” was also ratified. A running clock will continue in the fourth quarter even if the score differential goes below 35 points.

Follow Doug Ritchay on Twitter @dougritchay

doug.ritchay@wluk.com