S.C. High School League (SCHSL) governance

By the time you read this, the South Carolina Legislature may have taken another step toward dismantling the S.C. High School League (SCHSL), the organization that has governed high school athletics since 1913. The proposal to replace the SCHSL with a state-appointed board is advancing quickly—and not everyone is celebrating.

The legislation, introduced in 2023 by Rep. Shannon Erickson (R-Beaufort) and officially filed as House Bill 4163, passed through subcommittee last week. If approved by both chambers and signed by Gov. Henry McMaster, the bill would transfer control of high school and middle school athletics from member schools to an 11-member board appointed by lawmakers.

Many coaches and administrators see the move as unnecessary and politically motivated. At the heart of the issue are disputes over how the league classifies charter and private schools, and how it handles player eligibility violations. This year, the SCHSL introduced a 3x enrollment multiplier for students who live outside a school’s designated attendance zone. The change bumped most non-traditional schools up at least one classification, prompting backlash from charter school advocates.

Adding fuel to the fire, inconsistent rulings over eligibility violations have drawn criticism. Gray Collegiate Academy was banned from the playoffs after fielding ineligible players, while Irmo High School, in a similar situation, was not.
“There is no accountability,” Erickson told The State. “Our schools and teachers have accountability, but the league doesn’t.”

Those working in high school sports disagree. The SCHSL operates through a member-driven system with regular committee meetings and policy reviews. Critics argue that legislative control would remove representation from those most familiar with the challenges facing schools of all sizes.

“Taking the representation away from the member schools and giving it to a committee that’s not versed in high school sports is a bad idea,” said May River boys soccer coach Misael Garzón.

In response to ongoing transfer and eligibility concerns, the league recently adopted a one-time free transfer rule with standardized penalties for second transfers or those lacking a bona fide address change. While imperfect, the rule reflects the league’s willingness to adapt—something supporters say is best left to education professionals, not politicians.

“State legislators have no idea the scope of what the league coordinates,” said Greg Elliott, a former coach at Hilton Head Island and Summerville. “If they did, they’d want no part of that beast. Work on roads and taxes—leave high school sports alone.”

The push for state oversight is being driven in large part by charter school advocates, some of whom are lawmakers themselves. Critics argue the plan could tilt power in favor of non-traditional schools, which have already dominated state championships in the lower classifications over the past decade.

To be clear, the SCHSL is not without flaws. Critics have valid concerns, and improvements are necessary. But removing decision-making from the educators and administrators who live this work daily—and handing it to political appointees—may be a costly mistake.

“Like any organization, the league doesn’t always get it right,” Elliott said. “But they manage more than 200 high schools fairly well.”

It’s worth noting that most of the support for this drastic and short-sighted measure is coming from advocates for charter schools, many of whom are the very legislators who would appoint the officials who rule over high school sports. Such a move would dramatically swing the balance of power back in favor of the non-traditional schools who dominated the past decade, nearly sweeping the state championships in the Class 1A and 2A divisions once populated by small, rural schools.

The SCHSL is always a work in progress, and many of its critics’ frustrations are valid. But taking the decision-making out of the hands of the people who have devoted their lives to high school athletics and consolidating even more power with our legislators and their cronies is not the move.

Justin Jarrett is the sports editor of The Island News and is the founder of Lowco Sports.