Playoff Format 25-26

[VolNation85]

Starting next season VHSL is delegating region playoff format to the schools of each region. What that means is that the principals and ADs of each region will determine the requirements for advancing to the playoffs and the format for the region tournament. This is a great idea because we currently have teams with losing records in the playoffs in some regions while other regions have teams that are 7-3 (Monticello Class 3 Region C) and not in the playoffs.

Each region should still use power points for seeding purposes but also have a requirement of being at least .500 to be eligible for region playoffs. Then determine the format based off of how many teams you have eligible each year with a maximum of 8 teams allowed.

For example, if a region only has 4 teams that finish the year .500 or better then, only those 4 teams make the playoffs. If a region only has 3 teams finish above .500 then the #1 seed (based on power points) gets a 1st round bye and the other two teams play for a spot in the region championship vs the #1 seed that got a bye.

This would make the playoffs much more competitive and prevent teams with higher winning percentages from risking injuries to their players in a mandatory meaningless game against an opponent that should be in the playoffs. For example, there is no reason Oscar Smith (10-0) should have to risk injury to their players by playing Grassfield (2-8) in the first round.

Just my thoughts.

 

[BleedingNavy]

@VolNation85, I generally like your idea; however, if you are going to utilize this method the VHSL needs to balance out the regions. Why should any given region be given a competitive advantage by having fewer teams thus fewer playoff games.

Example:

Region A 9 teams 5 teams with records of 5-5 or better. If you take four the maximum number of games would be 13. Very little travel.

Region C 10 teams, 5 teams with 5-5 records or better. Same as above. Very little travel.

Region D 15 teams, 10 teams with 5-5 records or better. If you take 8 then the maximum number of games is fifteen. A whole lot of travel.

Region B 17 teams, 12 teams with 5-5 records or better. Same as above with moderate to high amounts of travel.

Even with the VHSL constantly reconfiguring regions why does Region C go untouched? If they gave them the Northwestern District teams back next cycle and put Louisa with the teams in their own district I would be totally fine with your plan.

 

[DinwiddieProud]

Each Region has, and has had, the autonomy to determine its own playoff format for as long as Regions have existed. The only change next year is that the Regions and individual Class levels will calculate and provide their own rankings.

 

[VolNation85]

@VolNation85, I generally like your idea; however, if you are going to utilize this method the VHSL needs to balance out the regions. Why should any given region be given a competitive advantage by having fewer teams thus fewer playoff games.

Example:

Region A 9 teams 5 teams with records of 5-5 or better. If you take four the maximum number of games would be 13. Very little travel.

Region C 10 teams, 5 teams with 5-5 records or better. Same as above. Very little travel.

Region D 15 teams, 10 teams with 5-5 records or better. If you take 8 then the maximum number of games is fifteen. A whole lot of travel.

Region B 17 teams, 12 teams with 5-5 records or better. Same as above with moderate to high amounts of travel.

Even with the VHSL constantly reconfiguring regions why does Region C go untouched? If they gave them the Northwestern District teams back next cycle and put Louisa with the teams in their own district I would be totally fine with your plan.

This is a great point and I considered that too. The imbalance of regions is a major part of the problem as well. That would have to be addressed first.

 

[Gunz41]

This is a great point and I considered that too. The imbalance of regions is a major part of the problem as well. That would have to be addressed first.

Another thing to consider (not as much for larger classes) is the split districts and regions in the bigger picture.

Just looking at the example here with the Shenandoah district, next year there will be:

Class 3: Alleghany, Rockbridge, Staunton, Waynesboro, Wilson

Class 2: Fort Defiance and Stuarts Draft

Class 1: Buffalo Gap and Riverheads.

So lets use Buffalo Gap as the example as the smallest of the teams. Lets give them 2-0 OOD. Lets also say for argument sake they beat the 2 "lowest" teams in the expanded district in Rockbridge and Waynesboro. That only gets them to 4-6, so they would miss the playoffs with this, and the records of the teams who would have beaten them this year:

10-0, 8-2, 7-3, 7-3, 7-3, 5-5.

Or go with the reverse of another team in same Region in Buckingham. Undefeated, 4 seed with 2 teams with a loss or even 2 ahead of them in Ratings. Thats because Buckingham played a TOTAL of 2 teams above .500, one of those being 5-4.

Or another example is the most likely team by discussion to play spoiler in Class 2 Region A is King William. They finished 4-6. Those loses were to teams: 10-0, 9-1, 7-3, 7-3, and 2 Class 4 teams who finished 6-4.

There has been lots of discussion in recent years about teams who have easy schedules vs. hard and a lot of times its based on district schedules. Just look in Class 4 at 2 of the 4 #1 seeds and their own fans talk about how weak the districts are. They could very well make the State Championship game and be the 2 best teams, but its obvious that people would be more impressed if they were playing in say the Seminole.

So while I understand the premise, to me it doesn't work because of these imbalances that can't really be fixed (more than just the couple examples)

 

[CRF4Dan]

This is a great point and I considered that too. The imbalance of regions is a major part of the problem as well. That would have to be addressed first.

I know a lot of folks complain about region imbalance and I'm not saying there cannot be improvements but regions are supposed to just that, geographically fitting... if some have more schools than others it is because of how diverse our state is as far as populations.

 

[BleedingNavy]

Great points guys. I just get pissy with Region C always getting a pass. They virtually kicked out a District who lives within an hour of them while their Northwestern stepchildren must drive 3 hours for a playoff game. I just don't think that is a regional rivalry or geographically fitting.

 

[VolNation85]

I know a lot of folks complain about region imbalance and I'm not saying there cannot be improvements but regions are supposed to just that, geographically fitting... if some have more schools than others it is because of how diverse our state is as far as populations.

Absolutely. That's also why I am an advocate for having 7 or 8 classifications in Virginia. This would balance the number of teams in each region and also increase parity by having a smaller number of schools per classification.

 

[EPJr]

Each Region has, and has had, the autonomy to determine its own playoff format for as long as Regions have existed. The only change next year is that the Regions and individual Class levels will calculate and provide their own rankings.

that is what I thought.