GHSA approves earlier start to basketball practice, splits some postseason to public and private

          A major topic came and went during the Georgia High School Athletic Association’s executive committee meeting Monday.

          Instant replay in football playoffs.

          The group discussed it briefly, along with a legislative move mandating it, courtesy of the controversial Class AAA title game last December with Calhoun and Peach County.

          Executive director Robin Hines also broached the subject of reclassification and perhaps returning to the two-year cycle of reclassifying as opposed to the current four, and noted that returning to six classifications may help many schools with travel and scheduling, and thus finances.

          The committee voted on several items, none overly controversial.

          Games involving Class A sports with power rankings (baseball, basketball, football, and softball) with out-of-state teams will count.

          Soccer and volleyball championships in Class A will be split into public and private starting next year.

          The committee denied a proposal for an automatic video review of player ejections in football games, for rising eighth-graders to be eligible for JV cheerleading, softball, and volleyball at their zoned high school.

          The executive committee also approved recommendations by sport:

          In baseball, that the Gamechanger or Pitch Kount programs be used to maintain pitch counts.

          In basketball, that the first week of practice is a week earlier.

          In football, that seven field officials be used for all playoff games, removing one member of the chain crew to offset the cost, and to allow a 3-team fall scrimmage.

          In soccer, to change overtime from two five-minute periods to one 15-minute period, and to change the penalty kick order to A-B-B-A.

          In tennis, to move the start of the season back two weeks.