GAINESVILLE (SNN-TV) – Earlier today, the Florida High School Athletic Association’s board of directors met in Gainesville and voted on a plan that could divide football in the Sunshine State.
The Metro and Suburban plan was passed and will introduce some of the most sweeping changes for decades to high school football across Florida.
Every high school football team in Florida is affected in some form.
The plan designates the eight largest counties in Florida: Duval, Orange, Seminole, Hillsborough, Pinellas, Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade, as Metro counties.
All other counties would compete in Suburban categories.
The Metro division will have four classes based on student enrollment, while Suburban will have five, including the Rural class.
Even Panhandle teams far from any urban counties will encounter changes in the postseason, with no more trips to schools in Jacksonville, Orlando or Tampa.
The Metro-Suburban split takes effect this fall.
