With all the issues that have been coming up with the current playoff system, I was just wondering why the IAHSAA went away from the conference set-up and now uses districts? They could try mirroring Indiana, which has a pretty successful system. The class alignments are as follows (I think... the website is pretty cryptic with its policies:
1A - Smallest 64 schools
2A - Next 64 smallest
3A - Next 64 smallest
4A - Next 64 smallest
5A - Remaining schools not in 6A
6A - Largest 32 Schools
Now the issue would be for 8 player teams not being able to compete in conferences. That solution would have to be worked out somehow.
All the schools play 2 non-conference games, although the first one is before the Iowa school year starts, then 7 conference games. Everyone qualifies for the playoffs, with each class being divided into 8 districts/sectionals. All teams are seeded in their districts based on regular season performance. The winner of each district tournament goes on to the 8-team state tournament. The championships are on Thanksgiving break, though. Iowa could go with just one non-conference game, then a 7 game conference slate to resolve that issue. This is assuming the schools wouldn't mind playing games a week earlier.
I just like the system because it doesn't rely on subjective factors for playoff berths, and teams can still play a rivalry game if they aren't in the same class. I also like the notion of conference football, it allows teams to play the same teams they play in other sports and hold the same rivalries, as well as allowing a fun "conference champion" feel. Then again, this won't ever happen lol. I was just hoping to start some fun deliberation on this topic, because we still have some time before they could change anything (2018-19)
1A - Smallest 64 schools
2A - Next 64 smallest
3A - Next 64 smallest
4A - Next 64 smallest
5A - Remaining schools not in 6A
6A - Largest 32 Schools
Now the issue would be for 8 player teams not being able to compete in conferences. That solution would have to be worked out somehow.
All the schools play 2 non-conference games, although the first one is before the Iowa school year starts, then 7 conference games. Everyone qualifies for the playoffs, with each class being divided into 8 districts/sectionals. All teams are seeded in their districts based on regular season performance. The winner of each district tournament goes on to the 8-team state tournament. The championships are on Thanksgiving break, though. Iowa could go with just one non-conference game, then a 7 game conference slate to resolve that issue. This is assuming the schools wouldn't mind playing games a week earlier.
I just like the system because it doesn't rely on subjective factors for playoff berths, and teams can still play a rivalry game if they aren't in the same class. I also like the notion of conference football, it allows teams to play the same teams they play in other sports and hold the same rivalries, as well as allowing a fun "conference champion" feel. Then again, this won't ever happen lol. I was just hoping to start some fun deliberation on this topic, because we still have some time before they could change anything (2018-19)
