1. Where INDEPENDENTS Are Celebrated PATRIOT LEAGUE & Athletic Association

2. Introduction A new athletic league/association concept is being created in the State of Ohio for schools who are independent, or who have no league affiliation for specific sports. The following slides in this presentation give you an overview of why this new league is being organized, and how it is going to be implemented. I would encourage you to review this material and share it with your coaches, building administrators, and other decision making bodies associated with your school.

3. Overview of Independent Schools in Ohio Ohio currently has approximately 35 + schools who are registered as INDEPENDENTS There is currently no organized association or “league” for these schools to create scheduling opportunities or communicate with each other Independent schools have no outlet for their programs or athletes to compete for end of season honors typically associated with “conference tournaments” or league sponsored events

4. Why No Previous League or Association for Independent Schools? In the past, some independents have chosen to be independent for various reasons Independent schools are constantly in flux Geography/Travel has been an issue Enrollment size differences Lack of effort and communication to formally organize

5. What is the Patriot League’s proposal? The concept of this new league is to provide independent schools with an opportunity to formally organize themselves into a league or association By doing so, it would give these schools an opportunity to provide their student athletes and various athletic programs with an opportunity to compete for league or conference honors at the end of the regular season – prior to the start of the OHSAA tournaments

6. Will there be a league schedule? Due to the unknown number of schools who might be interested in membership, the Patriot League will not have a traditional league schedule The focus of this league will be to provide end of season tournaments and end of the season honors for schools who do not have current opportunities for such events As membership is solidified, an effort will be made to examine the feasibility of creating a traditional league schedule for sports in which there is an interest among the membership

7. Which schools might be involved in this new league? This league/association is being designed to target schools who do not have conference affiliation for all, or some, of their athletic programs This league/association is designed to be open to any interested school that meets the basic criteria for membership There is no “voting” by membership to gain entrance into the league/association – If you qualify, then you can be a member

8. What is the Criteria for Membership? Schools with no conference affiliation for any of their sports Schools with no conference affiliation for specific sports Schools that are starting new programs and have not found conference affiliation Small conferences on the verge of dissolving due to lack of membership or program elimination

9. How long is the Membership Commitment? Each school can choose the sports that they wish to be members of the league – a school does not have to commit all of their programs to the league Each school is asked to make a minimum of a 2 year commitment for each sport that participates in the league

10. How will the league be implemented? In order to gauge interest in this league concept, sports will be implemented in phases Phase 1: Implement sports that lend themselves to having end of season tournaments which can be accomplished in 1 or 2 days – such as Tennis, Golf, Volleyball, Track, Wrestling, Cross-Country, Swimming, Baseball, Softball, Bowling Phase 2: Implement sports that would require multi-day tournaments – such as soccer and basketball Phase 3: Look at a way to create a football schedule among interested schools, or organize a way for member schools to meet at the end of the season to pick an “all league team” based on nominations and a vote of all head coaches Other sports not listed could also be added if enough member schools have teams (example: La Cross)

11. How will the league be divided? The league will have the capacity to have 3 divisions based on size – RED, WHITE, & BLUE Divisions will be broken down using current OHSAA enrollment data Using the current OHSAA football divisions as a preliminary guide, the divisions would look something like the following: RED (Div I & II) WHITE (Div III & IV) BLUE (Div V & VI)

12. Organizational Meeting For Interested Schools It is the goal of the league to establish either one large meeting, or a series of meetings, during the first week of November 2011 with interested school administrators If certain dates are preferred, please contact the league organizer with preferences

13. Contact Information Gary A. Miller, Jr. Patriot League Organizer (Marion Harding HS, Athletic Director) 1500 Harding Highway East Marion, OH 43302 gary_miller@marioncity.k12.oh.us (740) 223-4634 office (937) 243-7661 cell