On Monday, the Broadus School Board unanimously voted to submit their intent to MHSA to move from an 8 man to 6 man football for next fall. The Montana High School Association handles reclassifications, and have a November 1st deadline for schools to opt up or opt down in their classification.
Broadus currently sits just outside the enrollment number for 6 man football, which is 1-65 students. MHSA uses a rubric to organize schools that fall outside the enrollment numbers, looking at 8th through 11th grade boys enrollment and future enrollment, roster size for the past four years, success factor of the team over the previous four years, and the percentage of free and reduced lunch percentage students. Even if a school does not meet the criteria, they are able to opt down, but will not be eligible for the playoffs for at least one year.
When looking at expected enrollment numbers for coming years, Broadus is expected to dip below the enrollment of 65 students in coming years. Broadus currently has 71 students in 9-12, but is expected to have 63 in the next two school years, 66 in 2027-28, and 56 in 28-29. By the 2030s numbers are expected to grow to over 70, as larger classes that are now in elementary school age into high school.
Schools are able to apply to reclass on a two year basis, so Broadus would need to play 6 man for a minimum of two years.
Broadus played 6 man football in the early years, moving to 8 man and then 11 when the oil boom hit. Broadus moved back down to 8 man in………
At the September meeting, Richards noted that Broadus would likely find themselves in the Southern 6 man conference, though in October he commented that the conference would be dependent on potential re-alignments within the conferences (for instance, if some Eastern conference teams moved up to 8 man). The East (which includes perennial rivals in other sports such as Jordan and Terry, as well as teams like MonDak) is currently stacked with 9 teams.
The Southern 6 man currently has 7 teams, including Absarokee, Broadview-Lavina, Bridger, Custer-Hysham-Melstone, Reed Point-Rapelje, Fromberg, and far off Shields Valley, 300 miles from Broadus (by comparison travel to Westby-Grenora, otherwise known as Mon-Dak, would be a comparable distance).
6 man football has some glaring differences compared to 8 man, and some similarities such as sharing the 80x40 yard wide field. Some major differences: In 6 man, the offense must advance the ball 15 yards for a first down instead of 10. The ball may not be advanced past the line of scrimmage by the receiver of the snap. This means the quarterback either has to pass or hand off the ball before crossing the line of scrimmage, or the ball may be snapped to a running back then handed to the quarterback. The length of periods is 10 minutes. All players are eligible to catch a forward pass. Field goals count 4 points.
Richards noted in the Monday meeting that the activity committee, which had met last week to make a decision to send to the full board of trustees, was on board with the change, and the current high school coach was also on board. When looking at the current team, 9 players are currently active on the roster, barely making the minimum to play a game, but at the 6 man level there would be enough players to rest half a team at any point in the game. Richards commented: “Regardless of classification, we need to get more kids out to play.”
A decision from MHSA on classifications and division assignments is expected in December.
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