I didn’t want to go much further without acknowledging a regulations change in one state governing body of sport.
This year, the Virginia High School League, the governing body for the sport in the Commonwealth of Virginia, raised the upper limit for regular-season schedules from 16 to 17. It’s a small change, but it is one that could give other states pause.
I’ve always posited, for example, that neighboring Maryland needs to take a long look at its relatively short schedules. For almost every sport being contested in the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (except football), the regular seasons are shorter — sometimes significantly shorter — than its neighboring states. Have a look at the chart we posted all the way back in 2015, and you’ll see the problem.
I’m hoping that someone in the Maryland legislature will see the folly of this and allow players in The Free State to play an equitable schedule in comparison to neighboring jurisdictions.