AHSAA pathway to championship changes for fall, winter and spring sports

Yahoo Sports2h ago13 min readOriginal source →

TL;DR

The AHSAA has announced changes to the championship pathways for fall, winter, and spring sports, following a split between public and private schools. Key decisions include the introduction of a shot clock for basketball and a new schedule for football championships.

Key points

AHSAA announced changes to championship pathways for various sports
Public and private schools will have separate championship pathways
New shot clock rule for basketball starts in the 2026-27 season
Football and flag football championships scheduled for December 2026
Curiosity exists regarding private school operations under the new structure

Mentioned in this story

Alabama High School Athletic Association

AHSAA pathway to championship changes for fall, winter and spring sports

The Alabama High School Athletic Association met on Wednesday, April 15 for a Central Board of Control meeting to handle business regarding high school athletics in Alabama.

Items like approving a shot clock and mercy rule for the 2026-27 season for boys and girls high school basketball and laying out the schedule for the football and flag football championships in December 2026 all came from the meeting on Wednesday.

After the AHSAA split public and private schools for championship play back in January, the need to work pathways to championships was needed. The private-public split was approved for fall, winter and spring sports for the next reclassification period, and in the private school classes specifically, there's curiosity as to how those might operate.

AHSAA flag football pathway to championships

Flag football went from having two classifications in 2025 before the public-private split to five classifications for the 2026 season.

The changes for the pathway to the championships are really seen in 6A, where it will follow the model of tackle football. Class 6A will consist of four regions, with the top 6 teams in each region advancing to the postseason. Twenty-four teams would make the five-round playoff format, with the top two teams of each region receiving a bye in the first round.

For the first ever private school flag football championship in 2026, it will combine Private A and Private AA with four regions between the two classes. The top two teams will advance to the playoffs, with eight teams rounding out the three-round playoff format.

Q&A

What are the new championship pathways for AHSAA sports?

The AHSAA has implemented new pathways for championships in fall, winter, and spring sports, following a split between public and private schools.

When will the new shot clock rule for basketball take effect?

The new shot clock and mercy rule for boys and girls high school basketball will take effect in the 2026-27 season.

What changes were made to the football championship schedule?

The AHSAA has laid out a new schedule for football and flag football championships, set to take place in December 2026.

How does the public-private school split affect AHSAA championships?

The split between public and private schools for championship play will impact how the pathways to championships are structured during the next reclassification period.