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New Proposal Seeks to Reduce Student-Athlete Travel
Travel for 4J’s student-athletes could be significantly reduced under a classification proposal being considered where all of Eugene-Springfield’s high school sports teams would compete in a single 5A-6A hybrid league.
4J has lobbied the Oregon School Activities Association, high school athletics’ governing body, to reconfigure its classifications and leagues to reduce both travel time for student-athletes and the associated costs to the district of the long bus rides. Less travel to away games means student-athletes don’t have to leave class early as often and have more time for study and rest, contributing to their overall well-being.
"4J supports the proposed move of its high schools to a hybrid league," District Athletic Director Greg Borgerding said. "The best competition is sustainable competition—one that doesn't sacrifice our students' education and well-being."
The proposal from OSAA’s Classification and Districting Committee introduced Oct. 29 would combine 4J’s four high schools with Springfield, Thurston and Willamette to compete in the 6A-5A Midwestern Hybrid. Schools in the league would not be required to schedule contests against every league member so travel for away games at more distant schools could still be possible. Currently, five of the member schools in the two leagues that 4J's four high schools belong to are at least 140 miles away from Eugene.
The committee said the proposed hybrid leagues are a “creative scheduling solution” to address concerns raised by schools in regions in Oregon with fewer high schools that necessitate long travel times to and from away games. The discussion is occurring as OSAA reassesses high school enrollments and other factors to decide how schools are split into competitive classes and leagues to keep competition safe and fair, a process undertaken every four years.
OSAA’s Classification and Districting Committee has two remaining meetings on Nov. 17 and Dec. 1. The committee will forward its final recommendation to OSAA’s executive board for a decision at its Dec. 15 meeting. Committee meeting materials can be found on the OSAA website. 4J student-athletes and their families can send questions or thoughts about the classification update to 4Jathletics@4j.lane.edu.