Changes in Florida HS Leagues

Florida Youth Rugby's Boys HS schedule is set, and the league had undergone a distinct change for the second year in a row.

Two years ago, FYR's HS league was divided into small regional pools, but that format was not ideal in part because one pool was significantly stronger than others, and as a result teams in weaker pools didn't get the level of competition they needed. The season itself was also small - teams played games, but not all counted in the standings.

So last year the Boys DI and DII leagues played in a state-wide league. The initial response from teams involved was positive; teams got to play equally tough schedules and play some teams with which they weren't familiar. However, as time went on, the travel burden on teams started to take a toll. 

In addition, according to FYR Executive Director Evan Haigh, FYR wants to encourage teams to have JV, middle-school, and U12-U10-U8 teams. Those younger teams are not going to make four-hour trips to games. Instead, said Haigh, the plan is to have a full day of rugby for various teams, whenever possible (private high schools will find it hard to have a U10 team when no one in their school is that young). 

"We're trying to help some clubs to expand, and it's starting to show some dividends," said Haigh. "And our Advisory Board felt that if we had a high school - youth event for teams, then that would improve relations with local Parks and Rec organizations as they would start to see rugby as a program for all ages, not just 15 high school kis playing smash-em-up."

So Florida Youth Rugby has combined DI and DII, putting all 28 teams in one competition. Those 28 teams have been divided into six districts - reflecting the way high school football is divvied up in Florida. Two of those Districts - 1 and 2 - are located in the North and West of the state (excluding the Panhandle), and will have two groups of four teams playing each other twice for a six-game league season. 

The other four Districts - 3 through 6 - are mostly in the South and East of the state and will feature four groups of three teams. Each team plays the other two in the District twice, and also plays two opponents from other Districts for a six-game league season.

Then the Districts will enter a playoff season starting in mid-March and going through April. Teams that finish low in their District will enter a DII playoff.

"We want everyone to be playing for something," said Haigh.