RICHMOND, Va. - The VHSL this week announced it will begin to accept private school members for the first time in its 101 year history. The changes come due in no small part to a anti-trust lawsuit involving Liberty Christian Academy from Lynchburg.
Though these changes are big, and we mean really big, it is not likely to cause immediate sweeping changes in our sport, yet. Right now the Richmond Times-Dispatch is reporting this will allow all non-boarding schools to apply for membership starting now. This of course rules out Fork Union and Woodberry Forest, the two biggest VISAA teams historically. Those schools also have it against them in the State of Maryland where their association disallows their public schools from competing against Category 1 private schools. This is why you never see an invitational with FUMA and MD public schools, something that is ridiculous to say the least.
There won't be an immediate jump but it would not be a surprise to see schools like Liberty Christian Academy (joining in August), St. Christopher's, Saint Catherine's, Peninsula Catholic, and some of the norther Virginia private schools jump ship in the forceable future... especially if they could do it for just certain sports. The Times-Dispatch's sources say all 5A schools in attendance voted in favor of the inclusion.
Regardless of who decides to join the VHSL, this is a great change that is well deserved for many schools and student-athletes who want a chance to get tougher competition to prepare these SA's for the collegiate ranks.
On the legal side of thing one can only speculate that the VHSL was up against the wall to start allowing non-public school members. For those unfamiliar with anti-trust (monopoly) laws, it is the only thing in the US judicial system that requires treble damages. That is to say if you sued person A for 100,000$ in an anti-trust claim, if you win you receive 300,000$.
Sports and anti-trust have a long long history together and have actually had some famous cases including when Donald Trump and the USFL sued and won against the NFL. The only catch was the jury awarded them damages totaling 1$ which in turn became about $2.70 after legal fees.