Is Bigger Better?

Can you rephrase this post?

 

The NCHSAA has argued for years that they did not want to change baseball playoffs because of length-if you used double elimination format as i posted before-the playoffs would end a week earlier than now and you would see a better product at playoff time and the best teams would be there in the end because they would have proven themselves worthy of being there.

 

Teams with losing records in playoffs...how dumb

This really says it all and proves that some people love watered down competition. Idiots in power once again!!!

 

You hope its not because of money because that would make absolutely no sense. Most people know that the gate receipts during the playoffs go directly to the NCHSAA, but I would suggest that a potential 3 game series in every round with stronger teams would generate much more interest and, obviously, larger attendance.

I believe I can say this with certainty. The interest across the state with HS baseball has risen tremendously. To attend a game during playoff time at South Caldwell (4,000 in attendance) or at Butler (sold out; no place to stand) is an indication of the increased level of interest in HS baseball. And I believe the wave of interest is just starting across our state.

 

Braves & Partin what a pair

And it is all due to the folks on TBR!!!!!!

 

I would agree that it is money. Although, the total numbers would not ever be known due to the top secert clearance one would need to see anything from the NCHSAA. It would be nice if someone would look at the numbers and see which is better. The playoff system is rocky in most sports with trying to insure that little johnny and sally have a chance at a playoff game. There is a lot lost.

 

Absolutely! (just kidding) The members that post on here and the visitors (which are the majority) that read this site do add to the excitement of watching HS baseball and the players.

But when TBR is at its best is when the season rolls around and members post details about the games.

 

iT is money, but the funny thing is that only through Basketball and Football is money actually made... However the coaches organizarions of the other sports wanted equity and got it.

 

As the 2010 season quickly approaches (not fast enough in some people’s opinion) it is appropriate that we revisit this topic.

The Charlotte Observer reported in their May 6th edition that the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) had asked members to shorten the playing season. “In light of the difficult economic times which have hit our state, (the NCHSAA) strongly encourages local school systems and member schools to consider voluntary reductions in regular season contests . . . the Board (NCHSAA) will also put together a study committee to review other issues, such as number of playoff berths, number of regular season contest and length of season.”

This is not unique to North Carolina, as high school athletic association across the country looked to take similar measures. The Denver Times reported that the Colorado High School Athletic Association Executive Committee is recommending a reduction in the number of contests allowed. “This was something that came out of the executive committee as a way of addressing the issue that everyone has to look at doing things differently these days; it’s more of a philosophical discussion,” CHSAA assistant commissioner Bert Borgmann said, noting that there has been “both support and resistance to the proposal since it was announced.”

This week, the Silver City News in New Mexico reported on proposals by the New Mexico Athletic Association on competition reduction. “I have mixed feelings on game reductions," said Louis Alvarez, director of athletics at Silver High School. “I know they think that it's going to help the budget because sports are the most visible areas of all schools. It doesn't take as much as people think from the budget.” Cobre High principal Christina Rigtrup has similar thoughts on the subject, reported the Silver City News. "We are living in very unfortunate times right now, and the economy is tough," Rigtrup said. "I think the NMAA is trying to make concessions with the least amount of pain as possible. Limiting some sports is not the ideal situation. . .”

The National Federation of State Associations (NFSA), the governing body for prep sports in America, in their publication “The Case for High School Activities” reported that the benefits of activity programs are some of the very best value dollars spent in education. “Activity programs make up only one to three percent of the overall education budget in a school. In the Midwest, South, and West that figure is even less. . . In the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area, their Board of Education proposed in their overall 2008 $1.2 billion dollars. Their activity programs received only $4.7 million dollars, one-third of one percent (.0038).”

This discussion leads to the fact that the NCHSAA is considering reducing the number of regular season contests in baseball by 15% (from 23 to 20 games) and reducing the number of playoff qualifiers from 64 to as little as 32 per classification. In January, the North Carolina Baseball Coaches Association will have their annual meeting, (this year at Keenan Stadium on the campus of UNC 1/22-23) where the executive committee will be developing arguments on how to best server the interest of their sport and athletes.

In support of not lowering the regular season:

• The cost savings by reducing the schedule by three games is minimal. There is no savings on coaches salary (and if salary is reduced accordingly, I as a coach, would not hesitate to “make less” as that is not the reason the vast majority are in the business), uniforms, or facilities. The loss of gate and concession revenue would at least equal and probably out weigh the cost of game officials. The NCHSAA has 386 member schools. Taking that number and dividing by 2 (teams play each other) and then multiplying by three (three games) we get a total of 579 games. The only factor that we then need to consider is the travel for these games. If we say a team will travel 60 miles (average of 30 miles each way) and multiple by .50/mile that is $17,370. Divide that amount by the member schools of 386 that comes out to $45/school. Let’s double that amount to cover the JV programs. For less than $100 per school we are willing to reduce the program by 15 percent?

• If you look at the savings, though slight in baseball, but do the same thing with all sports then that $17,370 multiplied by the total number of sport offerings would eventually add up to a significant amount. However baseball does have an element that could allow a reduction in play dates but not games. That is you could reduce the number of play dates from 23 to 20 but allow double headers to be played on some dates to regain the total number of games to 23 or more while still receiving the budget benefits of reduced travel.

• Currently there are over 700 players from North Carolina on collegiate rosters in the state’s 38 four year colleges that are offering baseball. Even more of the state’s former prep players are on out of state college teams or have begun their college playing experience at the junior college level. Reducing the number of games reduces the number of player’s opportunities for game time (the less games the less players needed), development/improvement and evaluation leading to less appealing collegiate prospects with a net result in a reduction of North Carolina players playing at the collegiate level.

• A reduction in games will affect a team’s non-league schedule, the only games a coach has scheduling control over as he develops the course he would like his team to follow for the season. Some of the games that could be lost to the chopping block would the tournaments developed around the spring break period.

• As previously posted, a reduction in the playoffs back to a 32 team bracket is favored, but would like to see a system developed where the teams invited are the best 32 and then seeded 1-16 on each side of the bracket. A team in a split league that finishes the season with a sub five hundred record but is top seed for their classification should not automatically be placed on the bracket. You win your league, you’re in. The remaining slots on the bracket would be at-large with the best remaining teams selected. That means the non-league games become even more critical. Who you play and who you beat and who then did your opponents beat will play a roll in determining who the at-large teams are.

• Just updating the 64 team 4A bracket over the last three seasons: A number one seed lost seven times in 45 round one games. Of these seven losses, five were the same schools and leagues each year. In the 96 “extra games” played with the additional round, there were 28 “upsets” where the lower seeded team won. But a closer examination you would fine that the lower seeded teams that were winning were usually from the “power” baseball conferences in the 4A division. A simple reduction to 32 teams without some type of a plan attempting to include the best teams would be neglectful. In a predetermined draw based upon league finish like we had before the increase to 64 teams, a 4A semi-finalist in 2008 and both 4A finalist in 2009 most likely would have been left on the sidelines before the playoffs began, while teams of winning percentage of less that .300 would be included. No one should want that type of system.

Please take time to post your thoughts and ideas in support of at the very least keeping the current season length at 23 (if not increasing) and developing a format that will best assist in identifying our state champions. You never know what argument is going to make the difference in favor, but apathy will argue against if you do nothing.

 

"A simple reduction to 32 teams without some type of a plan attempting to include the best teams would be neglectful."

What else might one expect from a group that for years has played all of its state championships in only one metropolitan area? This is not a group that cares about anything but its own self interest.