Could drastic changes be coming to FHSAA Playoffs in 2017

[gatorman-uf]

Coachmcg,

 

I empathize with you. Fans of 1A schools freaked out when Fort White, Union County, Baldwin, and Madison which are right at the 600 and slightly over are in 1A. I can't imagine how they would react with a school of 800.

 

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Captain,

 

You are right. Reduce a classification gets rid of many of the arguments about unfair districts and losing teams making the playoffs.

 

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I keep going back to the same question, if you are stating the current system rewards you for playing a "tough" schedule, that means you think the current system punishes you for playing a tough one. I just don't see evidence of that.

 

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But Joshua, you want to avoid blowout match-ups in the first round, but the region you spotlight, didn't have those until the 2nd and 3rd rounds. Actually the first round match-ups were relatively close, 3 points, 3 points, 7 points, and 15 points. Heck, in 7A, only 5 of the 1st 16 games were won by more than 16 points (2 scores). I agree there is a problem in scheduling, but the problem is created because we only assume that school size is the only way to level the playing field.

[09mrslick]

I'm Still not sold

[09mrslick]

@Coachmcg I see you're new welcome and who's your school.

[Corey_Davis]

If I am a 8A school, do I have to play any 8A games at all, or can I schedule games against top 7A, 6A, 5A teams.

 

If there are no districts If I am Sandalwood, I don't have to play Mandarin, Palm Coast, Deland, Spruce Creek, Dr. Phillips,, Apopka, instead I schedule Niceville, Godby, St. Thomas Aquinas, Booker T Washington.   

[Tigerfan1]

While it's good to have this conversation discussing future changes in the playoff rules to say most coaches and AD want this change is not evident by the looks of this thread, Also a school with 800 kids should never be allowed in 1A, Sorry about the drug problem in your community but that has no bearing on classification or the playoff format. This new system smells of socialism society like we the little people dont know whats good for us so big brother the FHSAA and the media want to decide for us by saying WE WANT TO SEE CLOSER GAMES IN THE PLAYOFF. I dont like it and i think most on here would agree.       

[coachmcg]

I think roster size should be taken into account. Who cares how many kids are in the school if they won't play football.

[Tigerfan1]

I think roster size should be taken into account. Who cares how many kids are in the school if they won't play football.

Roster size should have zero bearing on the classification, For an example most of the larger high schools have jr and sr on the roster while a school the size of Trenton will have several 8th and 9th graders on the roster. Granted for the last few years Trenton could have played with anyone but it was not that long ago when Trenton was everyone's home coming game.

As far as kids not wanting to play football at your school has nothing to do with the amount of kids in the school but has everything to do with the culture of the school, nothing will change for your team until you change the culture of the school. I have seen that first hand and it all starts with the administration and filters down through the head coach and all of the assistance, You also need the community to get behind the program and bring pressure on the powers to be to make it happen.    

[Sharkbait]

I agree with Tigerfan1 roster size is up to schools hiring the right coaches to get the players to come out. There are 1A schools less than 250 total students having to play 1A schools with 600 students as it is. I don't think any changes need to made until we see how the new school choice legislation shakes up the balance of power in all classes. 

[DisabledAccount]

If I am a 8A school, do I have to play any 8A games at all, or can I schedule games against top 7A, 6A, 5A teams.

 

If there are no districts If I am Sandalwood, I don't have to play Mandarin, Palm Coast, Deland, Spruce Creek, Dr. Phillips,, Apopka, instead I schedule Niceville, Godby, St. Thomas Aquinas, Booker T Washington.

They would still play in the playoffs against 8A schools but can schedule any 10 they want

[Tigerfan1]

Something else concerns me is that (if i am not mistaken) that the higher seeded team would always host possibly giving one team hosting all of the playoff games. Not fair to anyone.   

[DisabledAccount]

Think about this year, we went to Lincoln a 4-6 team and best them during season but bc they in district 1 and we were district 2 we had to travel again, we should have gotten the host and if we were number 1 seed like we should have been, if there is a clear number 1 seed you should get the host of the playoff games

[JaxFootballGuy]

I think the only fair solution would be to make bigger districts with more teams getting in from each district. I believe it was agreed on, then eventually shot down because of travel a few years ago. I don't like the point system that is proposed. Like others have said, it is too complicated. I think a simple fix would be to balance the districts, or cut the amount of districts in half, and allow 4 teams from each district to get in.

 

I prefer a system that's very straight forward, I don't trust the point system completely. There's a chance that it works, but there needs to be some sort of checks to make sure there is a clear cut path to the playoffs, not something that is dependent on so many factors. If they want to still allow district champions to get in, and create some sort of point system for everyone else who did not win their district, that would be fair to me. With that, I know before the season what we need to do to get in the playoffs, which would be to win the district. If you don't do so, then you are at the mercy of this point system.

[JaxFootballGuy]

Think about this year, we went to Lincoln a 4-6 team and best them during season but bc they in district 1 and we were district 2 we had to travel again, we should have gotten the host and if we were number 1 seed like we should have been, if there is a clear number 1 seed you should get the host of the playoff games

 

I agree, that if you are the #1 seed, you should host. I think if you have the best record, or top seed, you've earned the right to host throughout the playoffs. 

[Tigerfan1]

I think the only fair solution would be to make bigger districts with more teams getting in from each district. I believe it was agreed on, then eventually shot down because of travel a few years ago. I don't like the point system that is proposed. Like others have said, it is too complicated. I think a simple fix would be to balance the districts, or cut the amount of districts in half, and allow 4 teams from each district to get in.

 

I prefer a system that's very straight forward, I don't trust the point system completely. There's a chance that it works, but there needs to be some sort of checks to make sure there is a clear cut path to the playoffs, not something that is dependent on so many factors. If they want to still allow district champions to get in, and create some sort of point system for everyone else who did not win their district, that would be fair to me. With that, I know before the season what we need to do to get in the playoffs, which would be to win the district. If you don't do so, then you are at the mercy of this point system.

I like a straight forward system as well, Win and your in what could be more simple than that, Some times you are just going to have a few blowouts in the playoffs it's the nature of the game. no matter how you try to stack it the correct teams in 1A where in the playoffs last year.

 

I wonder if anyone has done a proforma on the 2011 Jefferson county team, They where 5 and 5 going into the playoffs and won it all by a convincing fashion, Would they have been left out by this new system that some folks want.   

[DisabledAccount]

I agree, that if you are the #1 seed, you should host. I think if you have the best record, or top seed, you've earned the right to host throughout the playoffs.

Yeah but the location and who is district 1 getting host just because of location i.e. Lincoln was off, maybe leave things the way it is then have point system to determine seeding

[Tigerfan1]

Yeah but the location and who is district 1 getting host just because of location i.e. Lincoln was off, maybe leave things the way it is then have point system to determine seeding

Dist Champ should always host the first round at least. 

[DisabledAccount]

Well district champs would be higher then runner up in point system, that can be set up. But like this year we would have been a higher seed then Lincoln and hosted every game of the bracket

[Tigerfan1]

Well district champs would be higher then runner up in point system, that can be set up. But like this year we would have been a higher seed then Lincoln and hosted every game of the bracket

There will be no dist champs if this format is adopted. It will be points only and take away the ability to control your teams on destiny and leave you at the mercy of the point system you may have a few games at home but you may have to travel to all of them. If you are seeded 8th and if you win out you may not have a single playoff game at home. 

[Joshua Wilson]

While it's good to have this conversation discussing future changes in the playoff rules to say most coaches and AD want this change is not evident by the looks of this thread, Also a school with 800 kids should never be allowed in 1A, Sorry about the drug problem in your community but that has no bearing on classification or the playoff format. This new system smells of socialism society like we the little people dont know whats good for us so big brother the FHSAA and the media want to decide for us by saying WE WANT TO SEE CLOSER GAMES IN THE PLAYOFF. I dont like it and i think most on here would agree.       

 

That is because most of the people on here are fans, not coaches or ADs. I have reached out to numerous coaches or they have reached out to me to express opinion. Some are against the idea and come from the schools that are having a hard time getting anything done not seeing the benefits of making a schedule that benefits their team. I have also had some coaches including from a couple of the known powerhouses reach out to me. One likes it because they see it as to be the best, you have to play the best and so forth, while another of those powerhouses is so concerned they won't get games yet that one powerhouse is in a small district and was able to find 7 games on their own last year. 

 

The biggest thing I think I am seeing here is the fans don't understand how this works because they are so stuck on what they know and any idea of change won't fly with them and to me its not totally about the fans in some degree (meaning none of us going to have the final shot call to what the FHSAA does), but about what is best to encourage the best teams to be in the playoffs. Yeah you all have said shrink the classifications, but that is easier said than done and requires a policy change to make that work and it can't happen overnight. There is a reason why there are layers of things have to go through before just making a change. I agree if they don't go to this then shrink the classes. I have looked at it and we could go to 7. I will find what I did and share it in a separate post soon.

 

However, the fact is we should all give kudos to the FHSAA for even approaching this subject. They know it was going to stir talk and that is what they want it to do. In the end the member schools are going to have their say with the survey and if they are not participating to make their voices heard it is their own fault at this point. The FHSAA is trying to be open about this. Something is going to happen wither it is this or some modification to the system we have now. The playoffs need a jolt somewhere, but this playing cross district and having rematches Round 2 just doesn't do anything. I will also say though if given time to allow the FHSAA to test this new system we might see some incredible things. The data used so far is based use part of schedules with teams in districts so it is not reflecting totally of the teams possibly being in a conference in their county/area with the schedule not being mandated with district games either. 

 

There is a lot here, but this is going to be fun to see what the end result comes to be.

[DisabledAccount]

This seems like something people will like once they have it for like a year or 2 and it gets through the early stages but right now it looks like its all happening so fast, I like the idea because it leaves all 10 games in our hands and we no longer have any games locked in and opens up games to be the schools choice and not force games because of location

[Joshua Wilson]

Something else concerns me is that (if i am not mistaken) that the higher seeded team would always host possibly giving one team hosting all of the playoff games. Not fair to anyone.   

 

Not fair to anyone? That is an incentive. Go out and earn it. This is what aggravates me is that everyone wants things handed to them these days. Lower seed is always on the road in Georgia & Alabama and they make teams travel even further than the FHSAA would be demanding here on this proposal.

 

(Trying to not be mean, I am trying to tell it straight up as how I see it. This is the kind of stuff that aggravates me is when people call something unfair yet fail to see how our neighbors do it and they do some form of seeding already. Alabama and Georgia ready to laugh us probably calling an idea of the higher seed hosting every round unfair to lower seeds). 

[Joshua Wilson]

I think the only fair solution would be to make bigger districts with more teams getting in from each district. I believe it was agreed on, then eventually shot down because of travel a few years ago. I don't like the point system that is proposed. Like others have said, it is too complicated. I think a simple fix would be to balance the districts, or cut the amount of districts in half, and allow 4 teams from each district to get in.

 

I prefer a system that's very straight forward, I don't trust the point system completely. There's a chance that it works, but there needs to be some sort of checks to make sure there is a clear cut path to the playoffs, not something that is dependent on so many factors. If they want to still allow district champions to get in, and create some sort of point system for everyone else who did not win their district, that would be fair to me. With that, I know before the season what we need to do to get in the playoffs, which would be to win the district. If you don't do so, then you are at the mercy of this point system.

 

This is an option that is being floated about allowing district champs to get in (would be seeded still based on points but they would be seed 1-4 first) and then the other four spots are earned based on points. Very possible this happens, but I will say this coming from my own opinion is that if they did this, then expect the FHSAA to tighten up the districts and make it to where its going to be tough to appeal up or down. Play where you are assigned and see how you do. 

[DisabledAccount]

Even if they Dont go to the point system completely they can keep districts but then use the point system to determine the seeding among the district champs but they host over any wild card and use the point system to set up wild card teams, but the idea of team hosting because of being higher or lower on the bracket is dumb

[Tigerfan1]

Not fair to anyone? That is an incentive. Go out and earn it. This is what aggravates me is that everyone wants things handed to them these days. Lower seed is always on the road in Georgia & Alabama and they make teams travel even further than the FHSAA would be demanding here on this proposal.

 

(Trying to not be mean, I am trying to tell it straight up as how I see it. This is the kind of stuff that aggravates me is when people call something unfair yet fail to see how our neighbors do it and they do some form of seeding already. Alabama and Georgia ready to laugh us probably calling an idea of the higher seed hosting every round unfair to lower seeds). 

I could care less how Ga and Alabama does it, And nothing is handed to you in the system we have now win and your in, Win the district and host the first round simple as that. And to say the fans dont really matter is just stupid where do you think the money comes from Gate revenue and fund raising by you guessed it the fans and supporters. Just because I dont agree with your assessment does not mean i want anything handed to me so lets get that straight right now. You are entitled to you opinion with out being ridiculed  just as i am entitled to mine.     

[Joshua Wilson]

I could care less how Ga and Alabama does it, And nothing is handed to you in the system we have now win and your in, Win the district and host the first round simple as that. And to say the fans dont really matter is just stupid where do you think the money comes from Gate revenue and fund raising by you guessed it the fans and supporters. Just because I dont agree with your assessment does not mean i want anything handed to me so lets get that straight right now. You are entitled to you opinion with out being ridiculed  just as i am entitled to mine.     

 

Not saying the fans don't matter, but when it comes to this decision being made it is going to be the Coaches/ADs/Member Schools have the final say. We could throw out 100 ideas and they not be used at all. And to say the current system doesn't hand it to some teams, I beg to differ, but that is what you call flaws in the system. No means I am trying to ridicule anyone, I am trying to point out how crazy it is that we are thinking that something is unfair when a lot of other states have already deployed some kind of seeding for the playoffs and yet the fans don't want it here. Trying to point out that this is nothing new. I want to see teams be challenged. Districts are based on geography and enrollment and sometimes (well more times than not) it cause lopsided issues. If the teams control their own schedule that means the Bell's and Branford's can play more like teams of their own. Will they make the playoffs? Depends, but if there is a chance to level the playing field to get teams back into the mix of being potential playoff teams then I am open to it. District format doesn't totally provide it, but I get it that this is what everyone is use to and they just don't want to see change.