TheArkansas Activities Association (AAA) is the primarysanctioning body forhigh schoolsports in theU.S. state ofArkansas. AAA is a member association of theNational Federation of State High School Associations (NFSHSA). Every public secondary school in Arkansas is ade jure member of the AAA, and most private schools, save for a few schools in thedelta that belong to the Mississippi Private Schools Association and 22 Christian schools who belong to the Heartland Christian Athletic Association , are included in membership.
The Arkansas Activities Association, or "AAA," was founded in 1904 by seven high schools and colleges and was called the "Arkansas State Athletic Association." In 1912, the high schools separated from the colleges and became the "Arkansas Athletics Association." Membership increased rapidly, and eventually the name of the organization was changed to the "Arkansas Activities Association".[1]
The following member organizations exist within AAA:
Athletic Directors: Arkansas High School Athletic Administrators Association (AHSAAA)
Coaches: Arkansas High School Coaches Association (AHSCA)
Prior to integration of public schools, the AAA only governed the activities of white schools. Until 1961, the association required special permission before an integrated school could compete with an all-white school, even in band. The first AAA-sanctioned meeting between a predominantly white school and a black school occurred October 28, 1966 betweenLittle Rock Central High School andLittle Horace Mann. Some integrated schools were admitted to the AAA by 1966, and all of the African-American schools were admitted to the AAA in 1967, but maintained separate districts. This resulted in a situation in which all-black Stuttgart Holman was to play partially integrated Pine Bluff Southeast, which had been admitted to the AAA in 1966, for the African-American championship. The AAA refused to allow the title game to take place, on the grounds that Holman was not a member of the association. In 1968 the districts were realigned to include black and white schools in the same districts.[2]
Although the word "activities" is used in the name, the AAA is directly responsible only for interscholastic athletics. Other activities, including music, forensics, and spirit groups, are governed by their own associations affiliated with yet not part of the AAA, who is only responsible for sanctioning the events. These associations usually adopt the AAA's means of determining eligibility as well as its size classifications seen below, but regional classifications and means of organizing events are left only to their respective associations.
The AAA maintains affiliations with several non-sporting activities associations. These associations generally use AAA guidelines regarding a student's eligibility to participate.
Arkansas Junior Science & Humanities Symposium (AR JSHS) — annual event that is designed to challenge and engage students (Grades 9-12) in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM). Individual students compete for scholarships and recognition by presenting the results of their original research efforts before a panel of judges and an audience of their peers.
Arkansas Scholastic Press Association (ASPA) & Arkansas Journalism Advisors Association (AJAA) — provides students and educators with resources, competitions and programs focused on yearbook, newspaper, photography and digital media.
The AAA organizes its member schools by 3-year average daily membership (ADM) in grades 10-12 every two years. Each classification is organized by rank, as opposed to a minimum threshold, to maintain consistent numbers for each class.
Since 2006, the schools have been organized as follows:
Class 7A (16 largest schools)
Class 6A (next 16 largest schools)
Class 5A (next 32 largest schools)
Class 4A (next 48 largest schools that sponsor football ("football schools"), as well as all non-football schools within range)
Class 3A (next 48 largest schools that sponsor football ("football schools"), as well as all non-football schools within range)
Class 2A (next 48 largest schools and remainder of football schools)
Class 1A (all remaining schools)
The means of placing private schools within these classifications have become a key issue in Arkansas. Prior to 2002, only single-gender schools would have its enrollment altered, in this case by doubling the reported enrollment. In 2002, the enrollments reported by private schools was multiplied by 1.35. In 2006, that multiplier was increased to 1.75. Starting in 2008, the multiplier will be dropped altogether, and each private school will be placed one classification above where the enrollment would otherwise place the school. In 2012, enrollment for private schools that were segregated were combined (for example, Catholic High School for Boys with Mount Saint Mary Academy (for Girls)).
Within each classification, the schools are further grouped into conferences, each with 6-8 schools apiece. In Classes 7A-5A, the conferences are named according to directional region (i.e. 7A-West, 6A-Central, 5A-Southeast). In the smaller classes, the conferences are named according to the activity district number which the conference is centrally located (a class 4A conference in western Arkansas would be the 4A-4 conference). In smaller classes, there can be more than one conference within an activity district. These are further named according to directional area (a pair of class 2A conferences in southwest Arkansas would be the 2A-7 West and 2A-7 East). Classes 3A and 2A group conferences forfootball andbasketball separately (Mountainburg is in Conference 3A-1 for football and 3A-4 for basketball). Finally, sports with limited sponsorship, such as soccer and swimming, have their own conferences between the participants. These special conferences often transcend multiple classes.
From 2010 to 2016, the rules for 7A and 6A classification for football were changed. The divisions still compete in separate playoffs, but two regional conferences that have previously been exclusive to 7A or 6A now have a mix of 7A and 6A schools so as to save on transportation expenses during the regular season.
For purposes of clarity, the activity districts with regions covered are as follows.
District 1 (northwest Arkansas)
District 2 (north central Arkansas)
District 3 (northeast Arkansas)
District 4 (west Arkansas)
District 5 (central Arkansas)
District 6 (east Arkansas)
District 7 (southwest Arkansas)
District 8 (southeast Arkansas)
The AAA has changed both the names and means of these classifications over time.
Prior to 1977, the classes ranged from Class AAAA to Class C, with AAAA including the 8 largest schools in Arkansas. In 1977, the first "class shift" added an "A" to each class, and references to Class C were removed.
In 1983, Class AAAAA merged into and was renamed Class AAAA, with all other classes relatively consistent.
In 1998, the state witnessed the second "class shift", this time removing all references to Class B.
In 2006, Class AAAAA was split in half, and Classes AAA and AA, both with over 70 schools each, were reorganized into three smaller classes. At first, the largest class was called Class AAAAAAA. The current naming conventions, changing the reference to 7A, were adopted soon after.
Prior to 2006, the activity district number was placed in front of the class for conference names (i.e. 4AAA, 7AA-East). These naming conventions changed as well, but many local media outlets still placed the district number before the class (3-4A instead of 4A-3). Prior to this, a few outlets mixed prior references to new ones (some newspapers in western Arkansas made references to the 4AAA-West, yet such a conference never existed).[4]
The conference membership within the 3A Classification are adjusted for schools that do not field a football team. The following conferences exist within the 3A classification for the 2016–18 school years:
The conference membership within the 2A Classification are adjusted for schools that do not field a football team. The following conferences exist within the 2A classification for the 2016–18 school years:
To decide a winner of each classification, each conference sends the top 4 teams within them to attend the state playoffs. All number 1 seed schools get a first round bye. The playoffs are in a single elimination tournament that decides the best teams in a classification. Rounds are played weekly until two teams remain in the tournament. The two remaining teams will play at a set location to decide the state champion in the classification. These rules for playoffs apply to football only.
List of Arkansas state high school volleyball champions
The bowling season begins each November with the state bowling championship tournament held annually in late February.
According to the AAA Bowling Handbook, all Arkansas Activities Association rules will be followed. Rules for competition shall be those of theUnited States Bowling Congress (USBC) American Bowling Alliance. Arkansas Activities Association rules prevail in case of a conflict with standard USBC rules.
School year
7A-6A state champion
5A-4A state champion
3A-2A-1A state champion
2013–14
Cabot
Stuttgart
Elkins
2012–13
Cabot
Greenbrier
Conway St. Joseph
2011–12
Cabot
Siloam Springs
Elkins
2005–06
Vilonia
2004–05
Vilonia
List of Arkansas state high school girls bowling champions
According to the AAA Bowling Handbook, all Arkansas Activities Association rules will be followed. Rules for competition shall be those of theUnited States Bowling Congress (USBC) American Bowling Alliance. Arkansas Activities Association rules prevail in case of a conflict with standard USBC rules.
School year
7A-6A state champion
5A-4A state champion
3A-2A-1A state champion
2012–13
Bentonville
Greenbriar
Riverview
2012–13
Cabot
Jonesboro Westside
Norfolk
2011–12
Rogers
Valley View
Riverside
2010–11
Cabot
Vilonia
Riverside
2009–10
FS Southside
Vilonia
Brookland
2008–09
Cabot
Greenwood
Brookland
2007–08
FS Southside
Valley View
Brookland
2006–07
Lake Hamilton
Valley View
Mountain Pine
2005–06
Hot Springs Lakeside
Valley View
2004–05
Fort Smith Southside
List of Arkansas state high school wrestling champions
Arkansas became the 49th state to add high school wrestling when the Arkansas Activities Association approved wrestling as a sanctioned sport for the 2008–09 season. The wrestling season begins each November with the statewrestling championship tournament held annually in late February. The state tournament combines wrestlers from the 7A and 6A classifications and a separate competition for the 1A through 5A classifications.
Sports teams based inArkansas
