1A & B regions

[Hampton Roads 6]

I wasn't good at math in high school, but these regions have me confused. According to the way I understand this new realignment, Region 1 A has 17 teams and 1B has only 7. Thus, in 1A, 8 teams make playoffs and 9 do not. In 1B , everyone makes playoffs, (except 1 school that's ineligible).

Is my "math" correct ?

 

[Twobyfour]

That is the way it is going down. Regions decide their own formula for producing their champion.

 

[Hampton Roads 6]

regions should be balanced, and all regions should use same formula. I have never understood why VHSL delegates down so much. After all, the V in VHSL is for Virginia.

 

[THEGOATFROMJMU]

The only problem is 1A geography -- when east and west were implemented the line was around Blacksburg....

I believe they changed it across the board to keep travel down but in 1A the regions can't be balanced because of school locations to keep line with reducing travel expenses for schools.

 

[Baseball215]

Parry McClure only 30 minutes from Riverheads Covington 1 hour these two could have easily been in region b. William Campbell and Altivista are farther don't make sense

 

[ArtfulOne]

Please understand that Athletic Directors and administrators take part in this process and have more of a say than almost anyone. Let's not sit here and pretend that this was handed down from the pearly gates and nobody had any say. Your favorite school, my favorite school, everybody's favorite school's A.D. had a say in this and did very little if anything about it. I dislike the format very much but I can't sit here and blame VHSL for it. That's too easy! The sad truth is our individual schools determined this or at least had major say in it and did nothing because that would involve a little more effort than they wanted to put in.

 

[Twobyfour]

Was left up to AD's and administrators so they could have more control over the travel and expenses of their program. That makes sense. So yes it is not on VHSL. I do think VHSL should mandate that all regions play same amount of playoff games. Maybe that means one less regualar season at the beginning of the season for smaller region. IDK

 

[89Charger]

How many schools(if any) in Region A would want to transfer to Region B to balance out the numbers? The best team in Region A, would be the second best team in Region B this season and for the past couple of seasons.
Travel wise, I don't know what the best scenario is. If you were to move Riverheads and Stonewall Jackson to Region C and move Sussex, Surry, Windsor and Franklin to Region B, you still have a long distance of travel between Altavista and Franklin(two extremes). That move would balance out Region A and B better, but still will create issues.

 

[HighestPoint]

I may be remembering things that never happened, but didn't 1A/2A start the east vs West format while the other classes were still doing 4 regions?
That's probably the best solution is allow each class to align the way they see best fits them. Or do no regions and 1 through 32. In each class. Travel would be a nightmare but would be interesting

 

[NND Sports Fan]

no. I believe the semifinal crossover was started at the 1A level when there were still 4 regions. The East-West thing didn't start until the 6 class system began in 2013

 

[ArtfulOne]

How many schools(if any) in Region A would want to transfer to Region B to balance out the numbers? The best team in Region A, would be the second best team in Region B this season and for the past couple of seasons.
Travel wise, I don't know what the best scenario is. If you were to move Riverheads and Stonewall Jackson to Region C and move Sussex, Surry, Windsor and Franklin to Region B, you still have a long distance of travel between Altavista and Franklin(two extremes). That move would balance out Region A and B better, but still will create issues.

From what I understand (which isn't much) West Point was planned to go to Region B due to their proximity compared to a number of the other schools in Region A along with Charles City. That plan did not go through because West Point didn't want that move and the ties of WP principal Mr. Dorsey and VHSL so they refused to move and therefore they couldn't justify making Charles City make the move. Again this is from what I hear and I could be very wrong.

 

[Hampton Roads 6]

Normally 3 or 4 schools actually run the VHSL. And I sometimes wonder if anyone owns a map of the state.
17 schools in one region , and only 7 in the other. Leads me to believe their math is worse than mine. I believe 17+7=24. Thus there should be 12 schools in each region A/B.

 

[WP02alum]

From what I understand (which isn't much) West Point was planned to go to Region B due to their proximity compared to a number of the other schools in Region A along with Charles City. That plan did not go through because West Point didn't want that move and the ties of WP principal Mr. Dorsey and VHSL so they refused to move and therefore they couldn't justify making Charles City make the move. Again this is from what I hear and I could be very wrong.

No offense Art, but the geography on that doesn't really add up...

 

[Hampton Roads 6]

I guess under current format every school in region B will make playoffs even if they never win a game.

 

[obguthr]

Geography sucks sometimes. The Tri-Rivers schools should be in Region B. Make it so.

 

[HighestPoint]

1A/2A did in fact get a 2 year jump on the previous playoff format starting in 2011. They divided east/west while Division 3-6 rolled with 4 regions until 2013 when they adopted the larger regions.
There is no perfect solution but I would like to see something stick for a while instead of changing every few years. And I definitely see this changing in 2 years when 5-5 teams from region A and region C get tired of seeing teams that have poor records make it in by virtue of being in Region B where everyone gets in. Or they will cut it to 4 teams and other regions will complain about region B teams getting a bye.

http://www.heraldcourier.com/sports...cle_4d7d00a1-cac8-520a-a05c-261924243a84.html

 

[uvacavs1]

Region A - Far East 1A -

The 12 teams should be

Chincoteague, Northampton, Mathews, Lancaster, Middlesex, Northumberland, K&Q, Rapp-Warsaw, W&L, CB, Essex, and West Point.

It seems Windsor and WP are both geographically similar in regards their eastern Virginia location. Surry is just west of them.

However, the above group of 12 are more tied geographically, culturally, athletically, and historically. Therefore, Region A is those 12 and anyone else should be in Region B.

This would give Region A 12 schools and Region B 12 schools.

 

[TIGER...NATION]

Region A - Far East 1A -

The 12 teams should be

Chincoteague, Northampton, Mathews, Lancaster, Middlesex, Northumberland, K&Q, Rapp-Warsaw, W&L, CB, Essex, and West Point.

It seems Windsor and WP are both geographically similar in regards their eastern Virginia location. Surry is just west of them.

However, the above group of 12 are more tied geographically, culturally, athletically, and historically. Therefore, Region A is those 12 and anyone else should be in Region B.

This would give Region A 12 schools and Region B 12 schools.

So let me understand this correctly...Sussex and Franklin should be in Region B??? Is that because of location or competition?

 

[uvacavs1]

So let me understand this correctly...Sussex and Franklin should be in Region B??? Is that because of location or competition?

I was going strictly by geographic location. I just want a balance in the Regions that makes sense.

 

[uvacavs1]

That is why I mentioned Windsor and WP are similar in how Far East their schools are located.

Now, some Westerners mentioned that there may be some schools in Region C that should be in Region B.

I would be fine with the Tri Rivers schools remaining in Region A (as it used to be).

Right now, the few Region B powers have an easy path to states in all sports. It needs to be corrected somehow for good sportsmanship and fairness.

 

[TIGER...NATION]

I was going strictly by geographic location. I just want a balance in the Regions that makes sense.

oh ok. How close are they to Riverheads, William Campbell or Altavista? If I am correct that would be a 2+ hour drive..if not longer

 

[TIGER...NATION]

That is why I mentioned Windsor and WP are similar in how Far East their schools are located.

Now, some Westerners mentioned that there may be some schools in Region C that should be in Region B.

I would be fine with the Tri Rivers schools remaining in Region A (as it used to be).

Right now, the few Region B powers have an easy path to states in all sports. It needs to be corrected somehow for good sportsmanship and fairness.

This I agree on..

 

[b.Di3_2016RU]

oh ok. How close are they to Riverheads, William Campbell or Altavista? If I am correct that would be a 2+ hour drive..if not longer

In 2C Giles, Fort Chiswell, and Radford are all well over a two hour drive to Appomattox and even farther to Buckingham.

Or 2D Grayson county to lee or to big stone gap (home of union) are both 3 hour trips.

 

[longtimerhsfan]

This debate goes on every year and I think we could argue about it until hell freezes over and never come up with a solution that meets everyone's approval. That is simply because we are dealing with a state with a very odd shape, and we have schools in the same classification that are 500 or more miles apart (i.e. Eastern Shore vs. SW VA.) So anyway you slice it, I just don't see how the regions possibly could be equalized in number without one or more teams being forced to travel wayyyy out of their areas.

However, having said that, I do think it will be strange when the time comes that Stonewall Jackson here in the Shenandoah will "advance" to the playoffs despite the fact that they will finish 0-10 and not only that, they will have been pummeled in every game they played. That is just the reality of their current situation. Therefore a 4-team playoff in Region B might have made more sense.

But then next year Stonewall might still be the number six team, but they might have a 3-7 or 4-6 record and be more deserving. So it all comes back around to there not being a perfect solution.

 

[Hampton Roads 6]

No team should ever get a bye in playoffs. No, not one.

 

[uvacavs1]

Over the years I've heard the excuse of travel that some Virginia schools (from many classes) use as the reason to make the VHSL look at changes.

For example, changes such as to form unusual conference/region or classification alignments or change successful playoff systems and formats (like the football one used last year). That football playoff 1 v 12 or 1 v 16 system was awesome overall (similar to super successful March Madness).

Even super wealthy schools like 6A Cosby would complain about driving 25 min across town (Richmond area).

The NND, Tidewater, ES, TR (I guess all of old region A) drive all over creation for basic regular season games in all sports (volleyball, field hockey, JV football etc.). No one complains. Rapp County joined the NND. You just freaking play...

Montross (W&L) to Chincoteague is about a 9 hour round bus trip. Most trips are much less than that but a two hour round trip is considered next door.

 

[stubbie46]

If less travel is the intention, I'd hate to see if was not. Between Varsity and JV Football, I have logged a lot of miles this year in WP.

 

[Hampton Roads 6]

If you play, you have to travel. Some school go 2 hours and never think about it. Some complain if they have to leave home.

 

[obguthr]

Travel for district games is a legitimate complaint that can and should easily be resolved. If you are competing in playoffs to determine who is the best in the state, be prepared to travel anywhere in the state.

 

[WestmorelandFC]

East vs West 16 teams all sports if some schools lack say wrestling, soccer, etc programs then modify playoffs for those sports lets say 12 teams. Schools that are on the imaginary border line give them option east or west and give them a one year option to switch. Do away with conference or district tourneys rank teams according to their record/strength of schedule yes sometimes teams load up on cupcakes but in the end the pretenders are always sorted out. Travel time yes stinks but let me tell you I coach soccer and in 2015 we made it to the state championship which was one heck of an experience loved every min of it. We played the Friday before the state semis won traveled the next day to the eastern shore won in 4 OTs next Friday traveled to Salem played won stayed in Christiansburg then played the next morning lost but hey I would do it all again and those young men still talk about the experience. Not all of these young men get the chance to travel to these parts of VA our state is one hell of a state to see the sights and sounds yeah we hate the drive but it is not about us. Create a fund to help schools cover costs this is not rocket science centralize some of the playoff games plenty of schools have amazing facility's let the 1A/2A kids get to experience what its like playing in a facility like a lot of the larger schools have. Athletic programs are a life line to a lot of these kids I would drive 6 hours any day of the week for these kids instead of have to see them in the local arrest section of the paper!

 

[dringtuoti]

From what I understand (which isn't much) West Point was planned to go to Region B due to their proximity compared to a number of the other schools in Region A along with Charles City. That plan did not go through because West Point didn't want that move and the ties of WP principal Mr. Dorsey and VHSL so they refused to move and therefore they couldn't justify making Charles City make the move. Again this is from what I hear and I could be very wrong.

West Point actually volunteered and proposed a plan where they and a few others were in Region B if certain parameters were met. When they weren't met, then they were put into Region A due to a previously voted on plan. The schools in the region could have adopted another plan but the vote at the time was almost unanimous in its approval (I believe only 1 school voted against it).

 

[89Charger]

West Point actually volunteered and proposed a plan where they and a few others were in Region B if certain parameters were met. When they weren't met, then they were put into Region A due to a previously voted on plan. The schools in the region could have adopted another plan but the vote at the time was almost unanimous in its approval (I believe only 1 school voted against it).

Do you know what the parameters were?

 

[longtimerhsfan]

I think Westmoreland has exactly the right attitude. Kids of all ages love anything that is new and different, so put a bunch of high schoolers on a bus and take them someplace they have never been with a chance to win a big game, and they will eat it up. Same is true for fans as any fan worth his or her salt will take a look at wherever their team is going and will say "hmmm what else can I do on that same trip?"

But sadly the schools are the ones that have to foot the bills and make all the arrangements for these long road trips, so yes, someone does suffer and face expenses. But if I was an AD or a coach and I looked up in those visiting stands and saw all those people there to support me, I would think it would all be worth it.

 

[WP02alum]

If you play, you have to travel. Some school go 2 hours and never think about it. Some complain if they have to leave home.

Haha, kinda like when you can't figure out where to park at the Siegel center even though there's a parking deck RIGHT THERE?

 

[dringtuoti]

Do you know what the parameters were?

I believe it had to do with the total number of teams in 1A East based on the preliminary "unofficial ADM numbers." There were several schools at the time that were projected to move to 2A by a significant count, when the official ADM numbers came down most of those teams remained in 1A as well as Washington & Lee dropping to 1A.