Saskatchewan High Schools

BOYS DIVISIONS

• Six-A
• Five-A
• Quad-A
• Triple-A
• Double-A
• One-AA
• Single-A

GIRLS DIVISIONS

• Six-A
• Five-A
• Quad-A
• Triple-A
• Double-A
• One-AA
• Single-A

        According to the SHSAA, changes in 1960 created new divisions. There would be three classes: A – including schools in cities over 30,000 population. B – schools in cities under 30,000 population. C – town schools. “Schools having a registration of less than 100 boys or girls in cities over 30,000 are included in the “B” division. Schools having a registration of less than 60 boys or girls, in cities under 30,000 are included in the “C” division”.

Commencing in 1981, Saskatchewan began holding regional elimination playdowns and a final four at one site. From 82-83 on, the SHSAA has held a HOOPLA in which all categories hold tournaments at one site.

        After the 2014 campaign, the SHSAA changed its classification system so that participation was based on school enrolment in grades 10 through 12, rather than regions. Only Regina and Saskatoon had been allowed to compete in the 5A division. “Now basketball is classified strictly on enrolment and the location of your school doesn’t have anything to do with it,’ Lyle McKellar, SHSAA assistant executive director Lyle McKellar told the Regina Leader-Post. The 1A classification is for schools with 30 or fewer students. It’s followed by 2A (31 to 50 students), 3A (51 to 120 students), 4A (121 to 250 students) and 5A (250 or more students). A decision to bring the 5A classification in line with other high school sports was made at the 2013 SHSAA annual general meeting. Schools were given a year to adjust to the change before it was implemented. “The standard way of classifying is based on enrolments and that’s pretty standard across all jurisdictions,” McKellar said. “Whether it’s volleyball or soccer, all of those schools are competing in those activities. Now they are competing provincially in basketball.’ The top four finishers in the boys and girls’ divisions from Regina advance to their respective regional tournaments against four teams from other southern Saskatchewan centres. Previously, the top four finishers in the boys and girls’ divisions in Regina and Saskatoon advanced directly to Hoopla after their 5A city playoffs. Now, the winners of Friday’s quarter-final games in the boys and girls 5A regional tournaments earn trips to Hoopla.

In 2005, the Saskatchewan High Schools Athletic Association passed a motion at their annual general meeting that created a new category of competition, 6A, featuring only schools from Saskatoon and Regina, as those from smaller communities hadn’t been competitive since 1993. The North East district supported a Saskatoon-Regina 5A division but wanted 4A changed to an eight-team format, taking the top-six 4A teams and adding the two small-city squads that previously competed in 5A. But the Regina district wouldn’t support such a move, apparently because it would mean its 4A schools – F.W. Johnson, Usher and Martin (average enrollment: 401 students) – would have to compete against bigger schools such as Prince Albert Carlton and Swift Current. So, by a 45-23 vote, Hoopla was revised to create a 6A division featuring four teams from Saskatoon and Regina. The 5A division featured four teams from small cities. The scheme was abandoned after one year.

As of 2017, the classifications are, as follows:

· ‘1A’ – schools with 30 or fewer male or female students in grades 10 – 12

· ‘2A’ – schools with 31 to 50 male or female students in grades 10 – 12

· ‘3A’ – schools with 51 to 120 male or female students in grades 10 -12

· ‘4A’ – schools with 121 to 250 male or female students in grades 10 -12

· ‘5A’ – schools with more than 250 male or female students in grades 10 -12