NC BASEBALL PLAYOFF IDEAS

I moved this from the previous thread because I thought it merited a thread of its own... It is a response to one of Prepster's submissions in the thread Best 4A Conference in NC.


Just a couple of thoughts IMHO.

I also think that places such as ECU and App St should also be in the mix to rotate through also. You could also include Wake Foest and UNC-G as sites. You could spread out the sites and classifications in a matter such as this: (I just arbitrarily began with 4A):

4A Championship - Wilmington or ECU
3A Championship - Triangle
2A Championship - Charlotte
1A Championship - Triad or App St.

I also think that the regional series could also be rotated in a similiar matter to spread it out so to speak. This would be great for the kids to play in these facilities...

The downside to this would be losing a "Home Field Advantage", which is big!! For example our Volleyball Team here ended up playing all playoff games at home. If you had completed the brackets with the the top seeds advancing, we would have played 1-2 games at home with the preferential seeding used by the NCHSAA, but the way it turned out, our VB team played to a rowdy full gym (est. 900 or so people at the Sectional and REgional Finals in our gym) The atmosphere was awesome!! I am not so sure that my way mentioned up top is a good situation, because I believe the crowds would be smaller, which may take away from the playoffs for the teams involoved.


Which is really better for HIGH SCHOOL Athletics anyway? The experience of playing in a college stadium or the atmosphere of a full house at the high school venues themselves?

 

Coach my first thought to answering the above question was that probably depends on which team you're on. The home team definitely benefits from the huge crowd and it creates an incredible memory I'm sure. The visiting team might see it differently.

Playing at a neutral site I agree would probably diminish the fan turn out assuming it involved significant travel for both, or one team. I do however like the neutral field approach. Assuming we are really out to determine the best team, all the other variables you would hope to have equal footing on. Yes I know that isn't always possible, and the 1 game, winner advances doesn't always quarantee the best team advances as someone else already pointed out. But the time restraints dictate that scenario unfortunately.

But rotating the different championships to major sites I think would be great, maybe you could even have back to back games the 4A and 3a Champions playing somewhere, and the 2A and 1A Championship at another College swapping early and late games each day as a way to pump up attendance and interest.

IMHO

 

Playoffs

The number one problem with the playoffs is there is no seeding process outside of #1 #2 #3 in conference etc. Also you have #1 seeds from conferences going to lower seeded teams places if the lower seed upsets a higher seed etc etc. As far as the finals I think its a great idea to play it at a neutral site. I would like to see the Eastern and Western finals played at neutral sites. Just rotate the locations and classifications each year. Personally some of you might disagree but first change I would like to see is 2 out of 3 all the way through the playoffs. For obvious reasons. Then I would like to see a seeding process for all the teams like in football. With the higher seeded team playing game 1 at home and game 3 as well if needed. Up untill you get the Eastern or Western finals then play it at neutral sites along with the finals. If it is important enough to play the Semis and Finals 2 out of 3 to get a true champion why is it not important enough to do the same thing throughout to ensure that the true teams are in the championships to start with. JMHO

 

Yeah, I agree with you coach. But I would like to see the Championships 1A- 4A and 2A-3A rotated each year from east to west at a neutral site.

But I must say, that the electricity found at the Western Divison Regional games were much higher than found at the State Championship hosted neutral site. But the players all enjoyed having a charted bus, hotel rooms and being treated like kings

 

Good Thoughts

Some good thoughts here, but a couple of things to consider...

If I am not mistaken, the seeding process will be similiar to the Volleyball Playoffs, with 2 teams in non-split conferences then the remaining spots being filled with "wildcards", based on overall records. At least that's what I remember from the Rules Meeting at the Coaches Clinic.

There was discussion about the possibility of teams padding schedules with weaker teams to get in on a wildcard berth if they dont make it through their conference play. Other traditionally strong teams have had trouble filling nonconference schedules because area teams are unwilling to play them.

As for the brackets, last year it was different because higher seeds were always home unless 2 #1's or 2 #2's etc.. Then it was based on a preferential seeding process in the handbook, where conferences rotate upward to get home field advantage.

I think that the playoff scene has improved, but there are improvements that still need to be made. I do think, however, that the home field vs. neutral site debate is a good one to have.

Which is more important, Home field advantage with tons of community support, or at a neutral site where the teams meet on even terms, but the crowds are noticably smaller? :229031_ha

 

Do you think the NCHSAA would let the playoffs extend any longer than they do now? As much as I like it, I dont see it happening... a money issue.

 

Our Experience

Lumberton played DH Conley last year in a hybrid best two of three. Because the NCHSAA wanted the games played at ECU (Conley's backyard), a compromise was worked out so the first game only was played at Lumberton and the last two played at ECU. Lumberton played well in game #1 on its home field in front of a packed house and won. Unfortunately, the next day was graduation and games 2 and 3 were Saturday. The Lumberton kids did not handle the situation well and played miserably at ECU against a great Conley team. The difference was not the crowd as the Lumberton fans travelled in very good numbers. It was more the travel itself after graduation night, the four hour break between games where the Conley kids went about their normal routine while the Lumberton coaches had to improvise, and of course Aubrey Edens!!! I think the Lumberton kids will long remember getting to play at ECU. But I am also sure the Lumberton coaches would have wanted game #3 back at Lumberton on the next day.

 

No..I don't see it happening either. I'm looking forward to posting the information for the NC coaches association meeting here in Charlotte. It will be a great one with a lot of great college coaches participating, also. One of the things that I didn't realize is that anybody can become a member....it should be interesting and it gives the college and HS coaches a chance to intermingle and get to know each other.

 

As far as I know right now, I will be there... maybe we can get the as many as possible involved in the organization.

 

Yeah...I talked to Hal Bagwell about this. I know he is hosting it, so it will be a first class event. He has a lot of information he wants to get out about it and so as we get closer, I'm going to have a special announcement.

I sure hope that you will be there coach, as well as all of your coaches and supporters.

Man...I'd love to have you, Coach May, Coach Pope and all the coaches that view or post as members.