Oregon School Activities Association

The Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA) is a non-profit, board-governed organization that regulates high school athletics and competitive activities via athletic conferences in the U.S. state of Oregon, providing equitable competition among its members, both public and private. The OSAA is based in Wilsonville.

Oregon School Activities Association
AbbreviationOSAA
Formation1918
TypeVolunteer; NPO
Legal statusAssociation
PurposeAthletic/Educational
Headquarters25200 SW Parkway Ave. Suite 1
Wilsonville, OR 97070
Coordinates45°20′16″N 122°45′57″W / 45.3378°N 122.7659°W / 45.3378; -122.7659
Region served
Oregon
Official language
English
Executive Director
Peter Weber
AffiliationsNational Federation of State High School Associations
Staff
13
Websitewww.osaa.org

History

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OSAA offices in Wilsonville

Originally created in 1918 as the "Oregon State High School Athletic Association", the name changed to the "Oregon School Activities Association", or OSAA, in 1947.

Currently, the OSAA sponsors seventy-four state championships in nineteen interscholastic activities including athletics, music, and forensics and is a member of the National Federation of State High School Associations.

Starting in the 2006–07 school year, the organization's four school classifications (1A, 2A, 3A, 4A) were divided into six classifications (6A, 5A, 4A, 3A, 2A, 1A). This caused some controversy as some school districts complained about the new classifications and sought legal action.[1] OSAA voted to keep a six classification system in 2017.[2]

Classifications and leagues

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The OSAA divides schools up into classifications and leagues (or conferences).

There are six classifications, with the smallest schools in class 1A and the largest schools in class 6A. Within each classification, there are between five and eight leagues and conferences. Each league or conference has between four and 15 schools. Prior to 2006, there were four classifications (4A, 3A, 2A, 1A), prior to 1990, there were four classifications (AAA, AA, A, B), and prior to 1970, there were either three or four classifications (depending on the sport), but they were designated as A, A-2, B, B-8 for football, A-1, A-2 and B in basketball and A, A-2, & B for baseball.[3][4][5]

According to OSAA's classification system for 2022-26, a 1A school has fewer than 74 students, 2A between 75 and 145 students, 3A between 146 and 310 students, 4A between 311 and 607 students, 5A between 608 and 1004 students, and the largest schools, 6A, have 1005 or more students.[6][7] However, some schools choose to "play up" in a larger classification than they would normally be assigned.

As of the 2022-23 season, OSAA's classifications comprise the following:[8]

6A classification

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6A-1: Portland Interscholastic League

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6A-2: Metro League

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6A-3: Pacific Conference

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6A-4: Mt. Hood Conference

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6A-5: Three Rivers League

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6A-6: Central Valley Conference

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6A-7: Southwest Conference

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5A classification

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5A-1: Northwest Oregon Conference

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5A-2: Midwestern League

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5A-3: Mid-Willamette Conference

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5A-4: Intermountain Conference

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4A classification

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4A-1: Cowapa League

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4A-2: Tri-Valley Conference

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4A-3: Oregon West Conference

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4A-4: Sky-Em League

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4A-5: Skyline Conference

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4A-6: Greater Oregon League

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3A classification

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3A-1: Lewis & Clark League

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3A-2: Coastal Range League

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3A-3: PacWest Conference

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3A-4: Mountain Valley Conference

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3A-5: Far West League

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3A-6: Eastern Oregon League

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2A classification

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2A-1: Northwest League

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2A-2: Tri-River Conference

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2A-3: Central Valley Conference

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2A-6: Blue Mountain Conference

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1A classification

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1A-1: The Valley 10 League

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1A-2: Casco League

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1A-3: Mountain West League

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1A-4: Skyline League

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1A-5: Mountain Valley League

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1A-6: Big Sky League

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1A-7: Old Oregon League

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1A-8: High Desert League

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Former members

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Football Classifications

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Schools often compete in different divisions for football; in other sports, conferences are constructed to aim to preserve historic rivalries, regardless of current enrollment. As of the 2022-23 season, OSAA's classifications comprise the following:[9]

6A classification

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6A-1: Portland Interscholastic League

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6A-2: Metro League

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6A-3: Pacific Conference

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6A-4: Mt. Hood Conference

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6A-5: Three Rivers League

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6A-6: Central/Southwest Valley Conference

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5A classification

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5A-SD1: Special District 1

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5A-SD2: Special District 2

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5A-SD3: Special District 3

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5A-SD4: Special District 4

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5A-SD5: Special District 5

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4A classification

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4A-SD1: Special District 1

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4A-SD2: Special District 2

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4A-SD3: Special District 3

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4A-SD4: Special District

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4A-SD5: Special District 5

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3A classification

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3A-SD1: Special District 1

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3A-SD2: Special District 2

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3A-SD3: Special District 3

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3A-SD4: Special District 4

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3A-SD5: Special District 5

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3A-SD6: Special District 6

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2A classification

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2A-SD1: Special District 1

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2A-SD2: Special District 2

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2A-SD3: Special District 3

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2A-SD4: Special District 4

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2A-SD5: Special District 5

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2A-SD6: Special District 6

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1A classification, 8-man football

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No League Yet

1A[8]-SD1: Special District 1

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1A[8]-SD2-E: Special District 2, East

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1A[8]-SD2-W: Special District 2, West

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1A classification, 6-man football

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1A[6]-SD1: Special District 1

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1A[6]-SD2-N: Special District 2, North

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1A[6]-SD2-S: Special District 2, South

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Historic conferences made defunct by 2006 reclassification

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4A Southern Oregon Conference : The final year of the Southern Oregon Conference consisted of South Medford, North Medford, Klamath Union, Eagle Point, Ashland, Crater, Grants Pass and Roseburg. This league was for 4A schools located near the Oregon-California border.[10][11]

3A Tri-Valley Conference: The final year of the Tri-Valley Conference consisted of La Salle High School (Milwaukie, Oregon), Madras High School, Valley Catholic High School (Beaverton, Oregon), Estacada High School, Molalla Highschool, Sherwood High School, and Wilsonville High School. This league was for 3A sized schools located in or near the Portland-Metro area.[10][11] The Tri-Valley conference is currently active once again as of the 2009 season. It is a 4A Conference for schools located in the Portland-Metro Area.

2A Columbia Basin Conference: The final year of the Columbia Basin Conference consisted of Culver High School, Heppner Junior/Senior High School, Pilot Rock High School, Sherman High School, Stanfield High School, Umatilla High School, and Weston-McEwen High School. This league was for 2A sized schools located in central-eastern Oregon.[10][11]

2A Trico League: The final year of the Trico League consisted of East Linn Christian Academy (Lebanon, Oregon), Harrisburg High School, Jefferson High School, Waldport High School, Monroe High School, Central Linn High School, and Oakridge High School. This league was for 2A sized schools located in the central Willamette Valley.[10][11]

2A Wapiti League: The final year of the Wapiti League consisted of Grant Union High School, Vale High School, Nyssa High School, Elgin High School, Enterprise High School, and Union High School. This League was for 2A sized schools located in far-eastern Oregon.[10][11]

OSAA-sanctioned activities

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The OSAA oversees the following activities:

Two-gender sports Boys only sports Girls only sports Other activities

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "OSAA has to go to state board on six-class system". KATU. August 20, 2006. Retrieved 2019-01-20.
  2. ^ Tim Trower (October 16, 2017). "OSAA votes to keep six classifications". Mail Tribune. Medford, Ore. Retrieved 2019-02-03.
  3. ^ "OSAA Football Championships" (PDF). Oregon School Activities Association. Retrieved 2010-05-25.
  4. ^ "OSAA Basketball Championships" (PDF). Oregon School Activities Association. Retrieved 2010-05-25.
  5. ^ "OSAA Baseball Championships" (PDF). Oregon School Activities Association. Retrieved 2010-05-25.
  6. ^ "2022–2026 Classification and Districting Adopted Classifications and Districts" (PDF). Oregon School Activities Association. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2019-01-20.
  7. ^ "OSAA Executive Board approves final districting recommendations; Banks to 3A among late changes". ScorebookLive. December 14, 2021. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  8. ^ "OSAA School Classifications and Districts". Oregon School Activities Association. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  9. ^ "2022 Football Teams and Leagues". Oregon School Activities Association. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  10. ^ a b c d e "2005–06 Regular Districts" (PDF). Oregon School Activities Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-09-20.
  11. ^ a b c d e "OSAA Regular Districts 2006–2010" (PDF). Oregon School Activities Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-04-05.
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