Arkansas Activities Association


The Arkansas Activities Association is the primary sanctioning body for high school sports in the U.S. state of Arkansas. AAA is a member association of the National Federation of State High School Associations. Every public secondary school in Arkansas is a de jure member of the AAA, and most private schools, save for a few schools in the delta 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".
The following member organizations exist within AAA:
  • Athletic Directors: Arkansas High School Athletic Administrators Association
  • Coaches: Arkansas High School Coaches Association
  • Officials: Arkansas Officials Association

    History

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 between Little Rock Central High School and Little 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.

Sanctioned sports

The AAA currently governs a total of 12 sports:

Fall

  • Bowling
  • Cheer / Dance
  • Cross Country
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Volleyball

    Winter

  • Basketball
  • Swimming and diving
  • Wrestling

    Spring

  • Baseball
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Tennis
  • Track and field

    Other activities

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.
  • — a professional non-profit organization that serves the students and teachers of Oral Communication, Debate, Forensic Activities, Theatre, and Dance in Arkansas. ACTAA is affiliated with the Arkansas District of the National Forensics League.
  • — an organization that support student government and Student Council activities; affiliated with National Association of Student Councils.
  • — annual event that is designed to challenge and engage students in science, technology, engineering or mathematics. 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.
  • — supports students and educators with competitions in a variety of marching band, jazz band, and orchestra.
  • Arkansas Scholastic Press Association & Arkansas Journalism Advisors Association — provides students and educators with resources, competitions and programs focused on yearbook, newspaper, photography and digital media.
  • — chartered in 1928 and serves as state organization within the National FFA Organization.

    Organization

The AAA organizes its member schools by 3-year average daily membership 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.

Classifications

Since 2006, the schools have been organized as follows:
  • Class 7A
  • Class 6A
  • Class 5A
  • Class 4A
  • Class 3A
  • Class 2A
  • Class 1A
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.
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. In the smaller classes, the conferences are named according to the activity district number which the conference is centrally located. In smaller classes, there can be more than one conference within an activity district. These are further named according to directional area. Classes 3A and 2A group conferences for football and basketball separately. 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.

Conferences

For purposes of clarity, the activity districts with regions covered are as follows.
  • District 1
  • District 2
  • District 3
  • District 4
  • District 5
  • District 6
  • District 7
  • District 8
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. These naming conventions changed as well, but many local media outlets still placed the district number before the class. Prior to this, a few outlets mixed prior references to new ones.

Class 7A

The following conferences exist within the 7A classification for the 2016–18 school years:
;Central
  • Bryant Hornets
  • Cabot Panthers
  • Catholic Rockets / Mt. St. Mary's Belles
  • Little Rock Central Tigers
  • Conway Wampus Cats
  • North Little Rock Charging Wildcats
  • Fort Smith Northside Grizzlies
  • Fort Smith Southside Mavericks
;West
  • Bentonville Tigers
  • Bentonville West Wolverines
  • Fayetteville Purple Bulldogs
  • Har-Ber Wildcats
  • Heritage War Eagles
  • Rogers Mountaineers
  • Springdale Bulldogs
  • Van Buren Pointers

    Class 6A

The following conferences exist within the 6A classification for the 2016–18 school years:
;East
  • Jacksonville Titans
  • Jonesboro Golden Hurricanes
  • Little Rock Hall Warriors
  • Marion Patriots
  • Mountain Home Bombers
  • Pine Bluff Zebras
  • Searcy Lions
  • West Memphis Blue Devils
;West
  • Benton Panthers
  • El Dorado Wildcats
  • Greenwood Bulldogs
  • Lake Hamilton Wolves
  • Russellville Cyclones
  • Sheridan Yellowjackets
  • Siloam Springs Panthers
  • Arkansas Razorbacks

    Class 5A

The following conferences exist within the 5A classification for the 2016–18 school years:
;East
  • Batesville Pioneers
  • Blytheville Chickasaws
  • Forrest City Mustangs
  • Greene County Tech Golden Eagles
  • Nettleton Raiders
  • Paragould Rams
  • Valley View Blazers
  • Wynne Yellowjackets
;West
  • Alma Airedales
  • Clarksville Panthers
  • Farmington Cardinals
  • Greenbrier Panthers
  • Harrison Golden Goblins
  • Maumelle Hornets
  • Morrilton Devil Dogs
  • Vilonia Eagles
;Central
  • Beebe Badgers
  • J. A. Fair War Eagles
  • Little Rock Christian Warriors
  • McClellan Crimson Lions
  • Mills Comets
  • Little Rock Parkview Patriots
  • Pulaski Academy Bruins
  • Sylvan Hills Bears
;South
  • Camden Fairview Cardinals
  • De Queen Leopards
  • Hope Bobcats
  • Hot Springs Trojans
  • Hot Springs Lakeside Rams
  • Magnolia Panthers
  • Watson Chapel Wildcats
  • White Hall Bulldogs

    Class 4A

The following conferences exist within the 4A classification for the 2016–18 school years:
;Region 1
  • Berryville Bobcats
  • Gentry Pioneers
  • Gravette Lions
  • Huntsville Eagles
  • Lincoln Wolves
  • Pea Ridge Blackhawks
  • Prairie Grove Tigers
  • Shiloh Christian Saints
;Region 2
  • Arkansas Baptist Eagles
  • Central Arkansas Christian Mustangs
  • E-Stem Mets
  • Heber Springs Panthers
  • Helena-West Helena Central Cougars
  • Lonoke Jackrabbits
  • Riverview Raiders
  • Southside–Batesville Southerners
  • Stuttgart Ricebirds
;Region 3
  • Brookland Bearcats
  • Cave City Cavemen
  • Gosnell Pirates
  • Harrisburg Hornets
  • Highland Rebels
  • Pocahontas Redskins
  • Trumann Wildcats
  • Jonesboro Westside Warriors
;Region 4
  • Booneville Bearcats
  • Dardanelle Sand Lizards
  • Dover Pirates
  • Ozark Hillbillies
  • Pottsville Apaches
  • Subiaco Academy Trojans
  • Waldron Bulldogs
  • West Fork Tigers
;Region 7
  • Arkadelphia Badgers
  • Ashdown Panthers
  • Bauxite Miners
  • Fountain Lake Cobras
  • Malvern Leopards
  • Mena Bearcats
  • Nashville Scrappers
  • Joe T. Robinson Senators
;Region 8
  • Crossett Eagles
  • DeWitt Dragons
  • Dollarway Cardinals
  • Dumas Bobcats
  • Hamburg Lions
  • Monticello Billies
  • Star City Bulldogs
  • Warren Lumberjacks