Maine Principals' Association

Maine Principals' Association
Abbreviation	MPA
Formation	1927
Type	Volunteer; NPO
Legal status	Association
Purpose	Athletic/Educational
Headquarters	50 Industrial Dr.; Augusta, ME 04338
Region served	Maine
Membership	153 high schools
Official language	English
Executive Director	Richard A. Durost
Affiliations	National Federation of State High School Associations
Staff	12
Website	mpa.cc
Remarks	(207) 622-0217

The Maine Principals’ Association (MPA) is the governing body for sports competitions among all public and some private high schools in the state of Maine. It is a member of the National Federation of State High School Associations. The MPA offices are located in Augusta.

History

First established in 1927 as the State Principals' Association, it became the Maine Principals' Association in 1992 as a result of a merger between the Maine Secondary School Principals' Association (est. 1951) and the Maine Elementary Principals' Association (est. 1975).

Athletic Classifications

Schools competing under the MPA are grouped into (at most) four classes, with different enrollment cutoffs for each sport (Broken down by season)[1]:

Fall

Sport	Class A	Class B	Class C	Class D
Cross Country	700+	400-699	0-399
Field Hockey	716+	475-715	0-474
Football	875+	600-874	455-599	0-454
Golf	650+	375-699	0-374
Soccer	705+	425-704	190-424	0-189
Volleyball	500+	0-499

Winter

Sport	Class A	Class B	Class C	Class D
Basketball	705+	425-704	190-424	0-189
Cheerleading	705+	425-704	192-424	0-191
Drama	525+	0-524
Boys' ice hockey	860+	0-859
Girls' ice hockey	Only One Class
Skiing	675+	500-674	0-499
Swimming	700+	0-699
Indoor Track	700+	0-699
Wrestling	685+	475-684	0-474
Unified Basketball	Only One Class

Spring

Sport	Class A	Class B	Class C	Class D
Baseball	705+	425-704	192-424	0-191
Lacrosse	750+	0-749
Softball	705+	425-704	192-424	0-191
Tennis	700+	400-699	0-399
Outdoor Track	700+	461-699	0-460

Schools are reclassified every two years. The classification thresholds are currently being adjusted and would go into effect for the fall 2013 sports season. A school may petition the Association to play in a class above or below its enrollment figure. Currently, most sports are split into "Northern" and" "Southern" regions. Championships are played at several locations around the state including Fitzpatrick Stadium (football) and basketball championships between the Cross Insurance Center, Augusta Civic Center), the Portland Exposition Building and the Cumberland County Civic Center depending on class and geographical region. The MPA uses a mathematical system called heal points to determine tournament standings, the latest heal points and an explanation on how to determine the points can be found here. Currently basketball, soccer, ice hockey, lacrosse and tennis are the only sports to have separate male and female teams, baseball is male only and softball is female only. Girls ice hockey became a sanctioned sport as of the winter 2008 season.^[1]

Other programs

Other activities the MPA also sponsors include debate, drama, National Honor Society, science fair, speech, Student Council, and E-Sports. In addition to interscholastic events, the MPA offers a "Professional Division", which provides opportunities for education and professional advancement for elementary, middle/junior high and high school principals, assistant principals, technical education center directors, assistant directors and other administrators who function primarily as building principals or assistant principals.