VHSL supposedly changing Group A FB playoff format

[sup-rbeast]

I dont understand what you mean by cut-off at the state level instead of regional.

Could you expand on that?

In plain English, it means the divisions within the classifications will be equal halves amongst all teams in the classification in the state instead of equal halves in each region. That's how the discrepancy in school sizes at the state level was achieved.

[beamer_ball]

Still has to go through the final vote in May by the executive committee...

PREP SPORTS: VHSL football playoffs to undergo major change | TriCities

[VHSLhelper]

I'm not so sure equal halves is the plan ... hearing that a set number is the idea.

[Milk3]

Let's all hope they fix this for the shake of high school football in all of Virginia.

[VHSLhelper]

1st thought - I can't see this happening. The big A's are having their cake and eating it, too, right now, because the tough mid-sizers in Region B are Div. 1, and they'd move up to Div. 2, replacing the smaller (weaker?) teams that would be pushed down.

2nd thought - I CAN see this passing if Regions A & D were solidly for it, B against, and C split, or neutral.

It WAS Group A that got Divisions introduced for basketball.
And now they've got the numbers (fairly) evened out?
What's next ... splitting A in half?

If this is true, folks, rem. the date 3/11/10 as the first REAL step in getting rid of 3 Groups and going to 4 (or maybe even 5).

[VHSLhelper]

Okay ... I see the problems now.
No more Regional titles?
1st round games between Buffalo Gap & Nandua, Colonial Beach & William Campbell, Clintwood & Bath Co. and Lee & Giles?
SIXTEEN teams ????????????????????????????????????????

Boys, I'm sorry, but this should be killed, and FAST.
As much as I'd like to see things "evened out", this isn't the way to do it.
Seriously.

Let's see the proposed lineup...
http://www.vhsl.org/files/rr-Sept_30...ip-figures.pdf
Schools 256 thru 309 would be Div. 1 (that's 53)
Schools 255 thru 209 would be Div. 2 (that's 46, well, 44)

Div. 2 schools in the West ...
Lee, (Tazewell), Gate, Va, Glenvar, Battle, Grayson, Floyd, Lebanon, Graham, PV, Giles, Fort Chiswell & James River. That's 13, so ALL of them would get in, no matter their record; AND 3 would have a bye.

Div. 1 schools in the West ...
Wythe, Kelly, Grundy, Chil, PH, Rad, Coe, Hon, Aub, Galax, Rural, Clint, EM, Bland, Holston, N'w, Castle, Haysi, Bath, Narz, JIB, Rye, Tom, Pound, Cov, the Twins, Craig, Appy, Hurley, Erv & St. That's 32.


I'd be 1000% for this if the playoffs were top 4 from each Region, with an option to expand EITHER Div. (Div. 1 could have 4 each from C & D [8 of 13] while Div. 2 could have 8 from each [16 of 32]) AND keep the Regional Championship game.

[hoard]

IMO there's a much better way to do this than what they've proposed...

1) Divide the teams at the state level first, either in half equally or with the set 475.

2) Take each division and then subdivide them geographically into four equal-sized "regions" just for playoff purposes, which cuts down travel.

3) District winners would still automatically qualify and the wild cards would get in via the rating scale as they do now.

[hoard]

Here's what I came up with as far as grouping the schools into regions based on a 475 cutoff. Again, district winners would automatically make the playoffs and the remaining berths would be filled as they are now with the VHSL rating scale.

I used the enrollments from the 2011 VHSL modified plan here:

http://www.vhsl.org/files/rr-modified-plan-2011-13.pdf

DIVISION 1 (50 schools w/enrollment below 475)

Region D (12):

LPD (5): Appy, Burton, Clintwood, Kelly, Pound
Cumberland (7): Castlewood, Coeburn, Ervinton, Rye Cove, St.Paul, Twin Springs, T.Walker

Region C (14):

BDD (5): Haysi, Honaker, Hurley, Twin Valley, Grundy
MED (3): Bland, Galax, Narrows
Hogo (6): Chilhowie, PH, Holston, Northwood, RR, GW

Region B (12):

3 Rivers (3): Auburn, EastMont, Radford
Pioneer (4): Bath, Covington, Craig, Parry McCluer
Dogwood (2): Altavista, Wm Campbell
James River (2): Lunenburg Central, Cumberland
Bull Run (1): Rapp Co.

Region A (12):

N. Neck (4): Col. Beach, Lancaster, Northumberland, Rappahannock
Tidewater(4): King & Queen, Mathews, Middlesex, West Point
Tri Rivers (4): Charles City, Franklin, Surry, Sussex

DIVISION 2 (44 schools, enrollment over 475)

Region A (10):

E. Shore (3): Arcadia, Northampton, Nandua
N Neck (2): Essex, Washington & Lee
Tidewater (1): King William
Tri Rivers (1): Windsor
James River (partial, 3): Goochland, Amelia, Nottoway

Region B (13):

Bull Run (5): Clarke, Madison, Manassas Pk, George Mason, Strasburg
Shenandoah (8): Buffalo Gap, E. Rockingham, St. Jackson, Luray, Page, Riverheads, Stuarts Draft, Wilson Memorial

Region C (9):

Dogwood (5): Appomattox, Chatham, Dan River, Gretna, Nelson
Pioneer (1): James River
James River (partial, 3): Buckingham, Randolph Henry, Bluestone

Region D (12):

Clinch Mtn (5): Battle, Gate City, Lebanon, Lee, Va High
LPD (1): Powell Valley
Three Rivers (3): Floyd, Giles, Glenvar
MED (3): Fort Chiswell, Graham, Grayson

A few notes on this:

1) There are a couple of instances with teams from five different districts in one region, which leaves the potential for five automatic qualifiers. This should not be an issue since regions now have the option of having six teams make the playoffs.

2) I had to split the six Division 2 James River teams into different regions to balance out the regions, but this really presents no problems. All six will still be in the same district for regular season play, they would just be in different regions come playoff time.

[Counts]

SIXTEEN teams ????????????????????????????????????????

16 teams in the state total? or 16 per Half of the state?

16 for the state is preatty well what we have now 16 per half is on the high side but no more than equile to adding an extra round to the playoffs


As i have said from the begining there is no eazy fix however I do THINK this is a step in the right direction and other than some potental travel issues for some playoff teams it is a MUCH better plan than what is currently in place.

I still think that the REAL fix will be going to a 5A system with no divisions


BTW would this new div format(the split not the playoffsetup) be Football only or all sports

[VHSLhelper]

16 teams in the state total? or 16 per Half of the state?

BTW would this new div format(the split not the playoffsetup) be Football only or all sports

Playoff changes proposed

16 per HALF, which means byes.

Football only... for now.

I hope this is a first step, too.