If you think about it the points system is spot on this year in the west...some very good games tonight...all games close at the half with the higher seeded pointed teams winning in the end....the top 4 teams advance...so if you think the points system is terrible...and sometimes I think it sucks too...but the 2a west bracket would just about be a perfect example of how it's supposed to work...hope the west doesn't beat themselves up too bad along the way...go west
In the west....the points system works
- Thread starter ghs89er
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The west is very very strong with those top 4. From here it's going to be a toss up. But you are correct. Being a Giles guy and knowing what they had as a 6th seed I thought they had to be the best 6th seed in quite sometime and arguably one of the most dangerous teams in the field. But Glenvar proved that Giles was were they belonged.
16 teams is too many just like 4 isn't enough for BCS. 8 would be better. For the small schools the extended season has too much impact on basketball. Sometimes a seed lower than 8 wins a game but infrequently I think.
I'd like to see it go to 12 teams with the top 4 earning a BYE. That would work well.
I don't like byes at all and would rather see an 8 team field if things remain as they are. Better yet would be to re-align into four classifications and fill all 16 brackets with much better teams in all sports.
That's what 4A west is doing this year. So far it has been pretty spot on. The top four got a first round bye and all except the #4 seed (Sherando) advanced to the next round. Sherando lost to 10-1 #5 Woodgrove so I don't think that flaws the system.
8 teams isn't enough. Wilson Memorial finished 8-2 in 2010, tied for district title and missed playoffs in 3A
I think 12 on each side is perfect. 24 total just like the FCS playoffs
I think 12 on each side is perfect. 24 total just like the FCS playoffs
I have been saying 16 teams was too much for a long time. Players may get hurt before the quarters, semi and title games. 5 games??? That is a half a season??? SMH. 4 A and 1 A I know don't play that many games.
I don't mind bye weeks. if a team earned it to be #1 in region. SO BE IT, cut them a break going into playoffs.
It should be 16 teams, NO EXCEPTIONS. And no team deserves a bye, "no not one". I cannot understand why some people think it should be "8" or "12" teams. When current format started in 2011, it worked out good. No need to change it. Giving teams a bye is the worst thing that can happen when designing a format. It is totally stupid. Playing field should be level. Giving a team a bye is giving them an unfair advantage. I know someone will say they earned it. No one earns a bye. Stupid polices GIVES them a bye.
As of now, high schoolers in Virginia that win a state title (or play for it) play as many games as the BCS champion and the runner up, almost a full NFL season. That sounds a bit excessive.
In case you were wondering, Woodgrove's only loss came in week one against the #2 seed, undefeated John Champe. Again I say, the system is pretty accurate in 4A west as well
16 is just too many teams....i mean come on if you are 1-9 or 2-8 or 3-7 do you really deserve a playoff game?
That's the problem now a days....giving out the participation trophy for just playing...that's sort of what this is.....hey you won 1 out of 10 games so you should be rewarded with another game....total crap
One thing I do agree on is no byes at all
Top 16, regardless of record. A few losses should not eliminate a team from opportunity to play for state championship . College football has that problem now. a team can lose 1 or 2 games and they are basically automatically eliminated from championship contention.
"A FEW" losses?????? When you are 2-8 and have A LOT of losses and don't deserve playoffs PERIOD............PERIOD!
Pathetic system
Tell that to Wm Campbell baseball. They lost 12 games, and won state championship. Had to win state just to finish with a .500 record.
What I call that is a fluke....and we're talking football not baseball....football is a lot more of a physical sport than baseball is...football once a week, baseball 3 times a week or more....16 teams is too many
I'm sorry but if you are under .500 you don't deserve to be in the playoffs. You are rewarding mediocrity. You know why the number of injuries in college and high school players is up? It's because we are increasing the amount of games they play. It's ridiculous. Baseball included.
It seems if you don't play year round you will struggle to get to the next level, so players are pushing and pushing their bodies and injuries happen. It's no wonder the amount of acl injuries is on a steady rise.
The FCS rewards their top 8 seeds with a bye. You know why? Because they were the best teams and sports aren't about feelings. If it hurts someone's feelings that they have to play an extra game you know how they fix that? You go out there in the offseason and put in the work! Everyone wants a handout. "Why did they get a bye?" "We deserve the playoffs at 3-7. Our boys don't want to feel left out"
Sports is supposed to separate the strong from the week, but instead we keep sugar coating it so feelings don't get hurt.
It seems if you don't play year round you will struggle to get to the next level, so players are pushing and pushing their bodies and injuries happen. It's no wonder the amount of acl injuries is on a steady rise.
The FCS rewards their top 8 seeds with a bye. You know why? Because they were the best teams and sports aren't about feelings. If it hurts someone's feelings that they have to play an extra game you know how they fix that? You go out there in the offseason and put in the work! Everyone wants a handout. "Why did they get a bye?" "We deserve the playoffs at 3-7. Our boys don't want to feel left out"
Sports is supposed to separate the strong from the week, but instead we keep sugar coating it so feelings don't get hurt.
I'm with you HR6, 16 team is the right amount. I think some higher seeded teams are afraid they will lose to a lower seeded. IE: #1 Hidden valley losing to a #16 seed last year.
Because some fee, well I will only speak for myself, I feel that high school kids, some as young as 14 years old, should not be expected to play as many games in a season as the BCS champion if they want to win a state title. I dont know about the other divisions, but the top four seeded teams all advanced. If you cut it down to 8, sure a few good teams may get left out, but the best still rise to the top and the kids won't have to play as many games. Its tough or high school kids to stay focused for 10 minutes nowadays, much less 15 games lol
My problem with it is that the MAJORITY of teams get in...not the MINORITY. It is rewarding mediocrity. Athletics is competition based...the drama and feel good stories just a by product. The regular season sould be a competition ensuring only the BEST teams get in to the playoffs to begin with. I'd be fine with 12 per side with the top 4 in each bracket getting a first round bye...but I'd be fine too if only the top 2 from each district or conference qualified. Playoffs should be EARNED...not just handed out for a mediocre season. Bottom line...16 is just way too many teams per division. If it wasn't for the all mighty dollar, that many wouldn't get in as it is.
Those that are in favor of a "16 team" playoff, don't forget that it's actually 32 teams...16 from each region. Way too many teams
No
not agreeing or disagreeing but I believe an Appalachia team won state in the 90s with either a 2-8 or 3-7...not sure if there is a really good system...one extra game is no big deal to me...my whole point to this is the top seeds have advanced and the final four are the top left and that each game seems to get harder and harder
Believe it or not, VHSL doesn't determine the playoff format. The A.D.'s of each school in the region come up with the format. Think of it like our federal government...the athletic directors are like congress, they "create the laws (the playoff format) and the VHSL is like the executive branch, they enforce the laws (they make sure the playoff formats are conducting properly)
In 1989, Appalachia won the Division 1 Title with a 5-5 regular season record. BUT, there were only 4 teams per division in Region D that made the playoffs back then. That would be the same as if only 8 teams per division (East/West) made the playoffs now. Their rating got them in as a 4 seed and they upset the 1 seed in the Regional semifinal the first week of the playoffs. So, that argument doesn't hold water if applied to the system we find ourselves with today. That 5-5 Appy team would have been the equivilent of a 5,6,or 7 seed in the present format. Cutting back the present number of qualifiers from 16 to 12 would be a good move...cutting down to 8 would be optimal IMO.
By definition the points system "works" across the board. Does the occasional upset occur? Look no further than Staunton River and WA. Maybe not a big upset but lower seeds do get better through out the season and should be given the chance to compete. The old system left out teams with 7-8 wins at times so that was flawed. This system rewards a 1,2, or 3 win team with a 4 hour bus ride in the lower divisions, flawed as well. Is the first round bye a travesty for top 4? Maybe, I don't particularly like it myself but 32 in 1A and 2A is too much so the alternative is either the 12 team 1A East option with the byes.Or if you like go back to 8, just don't think that we are doing a favor for some of these teams that want to start practicing basketball anyway by staying with 32. I am all for a solution that addresses all of the issues surrounding this but other than one involving reclassification to 4 divisions as someone mentioned in another thread, I don't see it. I suppose if this is the best alternative to what we had before I will take it everyday and twice on Sunday. I still say this whole argument revolves around gate money. I have witnessed several first round games at RHS where there was maybe 100 fans for the opposing team. One year you could hear the players wanting to quit in the first half. And this was a 2A school where there is usually a little better following than 1A. Why waste the travel money when this is the attitude and atmosphere involved? Sorry for the rant but I doubt many on this board have the pull to change it anyway. Let's just enjoy the opportunity to watch our teams and hopefully they advance and we play on.
In 2011, Gretna won 7 regular season games.................and a state championship.
I have never heard a player, coach, parent, booster club member or even cheerleader complain about playing 15 games in a season. Only 2 teams end up playing 15 games anyway. Most teams play far less than 15 games even if they make the playoffs.
every time I hear the word "bye" and high school football used in same sentence, my blood pressure goes up. No team deserves a bye in high school football playoffs. That is worst thing to even happen to these different formats used around the state.
I have never heard a player, coach, parent, booster club member or even cheerleader complain about playing 15 games in a season. Only 2 teams end up playing 15 games anyway. Most teams play far less than 15 games even if they make the playoffs.
every time I hear the word "bye" and high school football used in same sentence, my blood pressure goes up. No team deserves a bye in high school football playoffs. That is worst thing to even happen to these different formats used around the state.
Haha 15 games being too much for a kid in a season, are you kidding me. Most of these kids would play football all year long if they could. Heck I wish I could have played 30 games a season. Even with all the concussion talk and injury talk, I think 90% of high school football players could care less how many games they have to play to have a chance at a state championship. 4 years of high school football fly by and many wish it would never end and would give up so much to just go back and play 1 more game.
I recall back in 2003 after a tough game on Friday night, half of the Gretna team was on the play ground at Gretna Village Apartments Saturday morning playing football.
Too many people are just "old school". reminds me of some in the old central region around Richmond. They felt unless a team went 10-0, they did not deserve playoffs.
Too many people are just "old school". reminds me of some in the old central region around Richmond. They felt unless a team went 10-0, they did not deserve playoffs.
That's ridiculous. We KNOW The long term effects of concussions and injuries in football, sure kids want to play as much as possible, BUT as adults, the potential welfare of the kid means more than playing any sport. Period. The grind of 15 games, during the school year and the holidays, can take a physical toll on anyone. High school football is not as physically demanding as big time Div I football, but the coaches are not as aware, the doctors are usually not as informed and well-trained to the specifics of football injuries, and developing kids are more likely to suffer long term injuries as their bodies are not fully developed.
7-3 deserves a playoff bid.....3-7 DON'T...........huge difference
I never said a good team with a few losses don't deserve a playoff bid....i'm saying this garbage of 2-8 or 3-7 teams making the playoffs is a joke.
Hell let's not crown a state champion anymore and give every kid in the state of Virginia a "participation trophy" just so we don't hurt any kid of their parents feelings....give me a break!
I agree that any team that fails to go at least .500, regardless of conference, deserves a playoff bid (hell the NCAA is in trouble this year, likely having more bowls than bowl-eligible teams) but with the system now, you get more of a reward for scheduling tough and taking one or two losses instead of padding wins with bad teams, which I respect. Teams should test themselves OOC, and the teams that do should be rewarded, so I don't have an answer to the system, only that 15 games for a high school kid, after practicing since June and lifting since the last season ended can be dangerous.
Sometimes you have to protect people from themselves. Growing up in VA, a lot of people were upset over the state government taking away someone's freedom to not wear a seatbelt but they legislated it anyway and now the majority of people wear their seatbelt. A kid's brain is still growing and most susceptible to long term brain injury during those years. I love football and I too would have played every Friday night of the year if they would have let me but that doesn't make it the right thing to do.
Why do you dislike teams having a first round bye so much? Just curious to your reasoning.
Teams that are given a first round bye, has too much of advantage in 2nd round. They get to rest a week, coaching staff gets to all go scout opponent. They are getting a home game, that's advantage enough. I know someone will say they earned the bye. Bull-----. They were GIVEN a bye by some stupid format. When these dumb regions give byes, there is very little difference between the 4th place team who got a bye and the 5th place team who did not. Make the playing field level for everyone.
I understand where you're coming from but, I think there should be some type of reward for at least the top two teams for doing well ib the regular season. Being able to rest a week is thier reward for having a great regular season. IMO
