In an effort to level the playing field for high school athletes, changes are in the works for sports in Missouri.

Missouri high schools voted to add another classification in football (6A) and boys and girls basketball (5A) starting in 2002. Football has used five classifications since 1982, while basketball has had four classes since 1974.

"This is going to be one of the biggest administrative changes the schools have dealt with in several years," said Becky Oakes, Missouri State High School Activities Association executive director.

The football proposal, which passed 223-44, will basically split the state's largest 64 programs into two separate classes. The top 32 schools will comprise the new Class 6A and the next 32 schools will make up Class 5A.

Removed from 5A will be the likes of such powers as Jefferson City High, Kansas City Rockhurst, Hazelwood Central, Pattonville and Blue Springs.

Jackson reached the state finals in Class 4A in 1994 and 1995. Since moving up to 5A in 1996, the Indians' best finish has been a quarterfinal appearance in 1997.

"We're happy with it," said Jackson coach Carl Gross. "Basically, it means that we won't have to play against schools two or three times our size. We've had some good football players at Jackson and we will continue to have them, but for schools with twice the number of students, the talent pool is significantly greater."

"I wish it was going into effect this year with the senior class we have returning," he said.

The split will be based on Missouri Department of Education enrollment statistics for the 2001-02 school year.

Classes 4A, 3A, and 2A will have 64 teams in each class, with the remainder of the 11-man football teams falling into Class 1A. The effect on the area smaller-school football programs should be minimal, although Scott City is on the ubble between Class 3A and 2A, its present classification.

The concensus of opinion is that it is a fairer system that will provide more equity in competition.

Jackson and Poplar Bluff could possibly reap the greatest benefit from the new system. The Indians and Mules currently sit at the lower end of Class 5A under the present system, which means they have to compete against schools almost twice their size in the playoffs. That disparity in school size will be considerably diminished with the reclassification.

During the 2000-01 school year, enrollment in Class 5A schools ranged from 1,323 students at Raytown to 2,927 at Columbia Hickman. Jackson's enrollment was 1,402.

Lawrence Brookins, head coach at Cape Central (enrollment 1,282) which moved from Class 5A to 4A for the 2000-01 season, likes the changes.

"It gives more teams a better chance at advancing through the playoff system," Brookins said. "It keeps us in 4A and, if it's truly about numbers (enrollment), then we're satisfied where we are."

The Tigers are proof-positive that competing against schools of comparable size does make a difference. As a 5A team, Cape Central went 1-9 season in 1999, but in its first year of 4A improved to 7-5, advancing to the quarterfinal round of the playoffs.

The basketball proposal includes any school activity that has more than 514 participating schools. So, activities such as baseball, soccer, tennis, track and music programs will be affected, also.

Although the changes are definite, MSHSAA still has details to iron out in the coming months. Among those are such items as district alignments and playoff scheduling for Class 6A and 5A football programs, since they will have half the number of teams as the other classes.

Schroeder said those details will be lined out by the end of the 2001-02 school year.