Ohio schools vote down competitive balance bylaw

COLUMBUS, Ohio - For the second consecutive year, Ohio high schools have voted down a proposal that would have addressed the ongoing competitive balance problems between public and private teams, particularly in football.

A bylaw that would have changed how schools are assigned to tournament divisions in the team sports of football, soccer, volleyball, basketball, baseball and softball was voted down 339-301. A similar proposal failed by a 332-303 vote a year ago.

"The schools have spoken," said Dr. Dan Ross, commissioner of the Ohio High School Athletic Association, the sanctioning body for prep sports in the state.

Rather than place schools into tournament divisions strictly on their enrollment, the proposed bylaw would have used several factors, including a controversial one based on a school's success in that sport.