1A format changing next year?

[HighestPoint]

Looking at the vhsl minutes from October, it looks like 1A voted to go back to the east/West format. At least that's how it sounds to me.
Interesting that the Tri Rivers teams moving to B seemed to be football driven and now it will be the other sports teams having to make crazy long trips and football will not be affected by the move to region B

 

[deffenbaugh]

The 4 regions would be fine if they would just balance them out. 54 teams divided by 4 regions is 13.5 teams per region or two with 13 and two with 14. You can't have region A with 17 teams and B with 10. Easy solution is to take Franklin,Sussex,and Windsor out of A and put them in B. The travel times for those 3 schools to most of the schools in A or B is about the same. That would leave you with 14 schools in A and 13 in B and bring some competitive balance to those regions. Region D just needs to move 1 team to C and everything is fine.....Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy.

 

[HighestPoint]

The 4 regions would be fine if they would just balance them out. 54 teams divided by 4 regions is 13.5 teams per region or two with 13 and two with 14. You can't have region A with 17 teams and B with 10. Easy solution is to take Franklin,Sussex,and Windsor out of A and put them in B. The travel times for those 3 schools to most of the schools in A or B is about the same. That would leave you with 14 schools in A and 13 in B and bring some competitive balance to those regions. Region D just needs to move 1 team to C and everything is fine.....Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy.

They've already moved Franklin, Sussex and Surry to region B next year. Windsor is going up to 2A.

 

[NNDFan]

So they moved teams to Region B to only go back to East/West Format? Kind of pointless right? Or is this just a suggestion?

 

[woodlayer#952002]

Its not helping region b franklin Sussex and riverhead with be battling in the region only one will make it to the semi final round to play a west team Sussex and riverhead will be the best two teams in 1a next year hands down thats gonna be a heckuva regional final game

 

[Baseball215]

East/west with semi-finals. cross bracket definitely the way to go I thought it was the best set up by far. Plus you get to play different teams another win

 

[MT FAN 91]

Only thing I don't like about the cross bracket is there is so much traveling

 

[RedPrideNation_RollPride]

I agree about the traveling but if you point out enough by winning against winning teams, you host. I liked cross bracket better too. It seemed to have to desired effect of having the two best teams play for the chip. They could be from the same side and truthfully you knew they were just better, IMO.

 

[deffenbaugh]

They've already moved Franklin, Sussex and Surry to region B next year. Windsor is going up to 2A.

Then they don't need to go to an east west format. Moving 3 teams out of A to B and one moving up almost completely resolves the issue.

 

[RedPrideNation_RollPride]

Then they don't need to go to an east west format. Moving 3 teams out of A to B and one moving up almost completely resolves the issue.

Not that I have issue with what you said but why would you not want to go to East/West format?

Using this year as an example, let say you are Chilhowie and Galax. Every ounce of your soul believes you are both better than anyone in Region A or B. Likewise if you are Riverheads and Northumberland and you feel no one in Region C or D can even keep up with you. If those two from each side were to make it to the semifinal round and you cross bracket then either set wins out, you have proven that point. The lower seed of one side playing the higher of the other most of the time ensures that at least from that standpoint, you have the two right teams.

I am all in on the cross bracket for that reason. And like I said, if you don’t want to travel then win your games. If you are winning and still not hosting then your schedule is weak and you have to schedule better out of district opponents (even if that means traveling).

I know budgets are tight and schools do not want to be running up and down the road. It’s all some schools can do to field teams anymore. Who owns that issue? Is that the school admin, the county commissioners role, boosters?

 

[WP02alum]

If 1A goes back to the 2-region format for football playoffs, they should do away with a “Regional championship”. The only long trip for cross-bracketing would be for two teams in the state semis.

 

[deffenbaugh]

Not that I have issue with what you said but why would you not want to go to East/West format?

Using this year as an example, let say you are Chilhowie and Galax. Every ounce of your soul believes you are both better than anyone in Region A or B. Likewise if you are Riverheads and Northumberland and you feel no one in Region C or D can even keep up with you. If those two from each side were to make it to the semifinal round and you cross bracket then either set wins out, you have proven that point. The lower seed of one side playing the higher of the other most of the time ensures that at least from that standpoint, you have the two right teams.

I am all in on the cross bracket for that reason. And like I said, if you don’t want to travel then win your games. If you are winning and still not hosting then your schedule is weak and you have to schedule better out of district opponents (even if that means traveling).

I know budgets are tight and schools do not want to be running up and down the road. It’s all some schools can do to field teams anymore. Who owns that issue? Is that the school admin, the county commissioners role, boosters?

If cross bracketing is your thing you can have region A play Region C and Region B play Region D...... You could rotate it if you want. Year 2 Region A plays D and Region B plays C. This allows teams to see other competition that they nornally don't...You could alternate home teams as well. So each region is hosting a playoff game at least every other year..... All I'm saying is that the 4 region format would work just fine if you had some balance. I look at other sports like track and field and regional championships turn into a hot mess. 2 years ago you had teams traveling from as far north as Colonial Beach, From the West Riverheads and to the East Chincoteague. What spot did they pick? Sussex. Just about the worst location you could pick. below average facilities. hard to get to, and no bleachers for fans or spectators to sit in. Splitting that up into two regions was better last year for some of teams, but we still held Region A in Sussex, again one of the worst spots for a championship meet.....It's not all just about football, and alot of these situation would work out better if people would just use a little common sense.

 

[WP02alum]

“for football playoffs”

Thought the poster was referencing football-only that the VHSL was proposing.

 

[RedPrideNation_RollPride]

That’s a fair enough argument. The one thing that I take issue with is making football conform to all other sports. Just like you would not want track and field to be broken down as it was. The simple fact is that football utilizes more resources but also generates more revenue for the vast majority of schools. Not saying one sport should be held in higher regard but there are not that many people coming out and paying to watch a cross country event(for the record I have no issue with CC).

IMO, the best of both worlds is that the big three sports have systems set up that make sense for that particular sport and the travel/number of games played. Any of the other sports take their cue from the format that most closely aligns with theirs. As you stated it takes common sense and leadership from an entity that has neither.

 

[trutiger16]

If cross bracketing is your thing you can have region A play Region C and Region B play Region D...... You could rotate it if you want. Year 2 Region A plays D and Region B plays C. This allows teams to see other competition that they nornally don't...You could alternate home teams as well. So each region is hosting a playoff game at least every other year..... All I'm saying is that the 4 region format would work just fine if you had some balance. I look at other sports like track and field and regional championships turn into a hot mess. 2 years ago you had teams traveling from as far north as Colonial Beach, From the West Riverheads and to the East Chincoteague. What spot did they pick? Sussex. Just about the worst location you could pick. below average facilities. hard to get to, and no bleachers for fans or spectators to sit in. Splitting that up into two regions was better last year for some of teams, but we still held Region A in Sussex, again one of the worst spots for a championship meet.....It's not all just about football, and alot of these situation would work out better if people would just use a little common sense.

Sussex ? Has very good facilities the schools are new and 10 miles from 95 South, what the heck you smoking ! Sorry no more free ride for. Region B.

 

[longtimerhsfan]

Last year's Riverheads/Essex game is the best argument for cross-bracketing. They were CLEARLY the two best teams in 1-A, yet they had to meet in the semi-finals instead of the championship game. I am sure there have been lots of years with similar outcomes.

 

[obguthr]

I like 4 regions and having a region championship. Re-seed in the semi-finals, 1 vs 4 and 2 vs 3. The regional matchup should rotate organically every year. Sometimes A vs. B, sometimes A vs. D, and so on. Travel may be a ***** for that one game, but I doubt the players complain. Colonial Beach at the Cliff? Yes, please. Gladiators in Galax? My gosh yes!

 

[deffenbaugh]

Sussex ? Has very good facilities the schools are new and 10 miles from 95 South, what the heck you smoking ! Sorry no more free ride for. Region B.

Clearly you cannot read. two thirds of region A is tidewater and northern neck district. 2 more teamso on the eastern shore. Proximity to i-95 south means nothing to 75% of region A. The track has ZERO seats for spectators. The discus throw area has a PowerLine smack dab in the middle and tree branches hang over the right sector and you can literally hit a tree in bounds AND the Power pole. The facilities for a Track and field championship are sub standard and the travel for 75% of the region sux. BUT other tHan that. Yeah you've got a point

 

[VHSL-helper]

If 1A goes back to the 2-region format for football playoffs, they should do away with a “Regional championship”. The only long trip for cross-bracketing would be for two teams in the state semis.

Not good at geography, huh?????

 

[WP02alum]

Not good at geography, huh?????

Pardon? State semi would be the new region championship if they don’t cross bracket. Like it was for some classes/regions right after VHSL went to 6 classes.

What am I missing? And wondering why you are so rude right out of the gate?

 

[WP02alum]

So is it that we’re complaining about travel within A/B & C/D for early rounds?

I mean, I guess...

 

[VHSL-helper]

Just stating the obvious.
If we had 2 Regions this year, 1st round games would've included...
#16 Hurley @ #1 Chilhowie - 2h 7m (yeah, right, Google - try 2.5 hr)
#9 Grundy @ #8 Covington - 3h 20m
#13 Bath Co. @ #4 J.I. Burton (Hot Springs to Norton) - 4h 20m

No long trips there, huh?

 

[WP02alum]

No, no. Just rudely & condescendingly alluding to what you think is obvious.

 

[Optimal62]

Besides teams getting to play teams that they normally wouldn't, I don't see any other benefit myself. Virginia is a big state. Just way to much travel and expense on already thin school resources. The insurance alone is really putting a strain on these schools resources.
Cross bracketing does not always gaurantee you the two best teams play in the semi finals. It might on year but not the next.it might have been the case last year although it wasn't in 2016, and 2015.
Just my humble opinion.

 

[RedPrideNation_RollPride]

@Optimal62, I see your point but that was two bad examples for the years it wouldn’t have worked.

In 2015 the state semi final was a cross bracket as Riverheads traveled to GW (who was the best in the west) while Galax traveled to Essex (best in the East)with both road teams winning. Then they played a championship that ended 7-6. That was clearly the two best teams by that point in that season.

In 2016 the state semi was Riverheads traveling to Galax (best in the west) while GW traveled to Sussex (best in the east). Final was a lopsided affair but RH destroyed Galax the week before while Sussex came away with a narrow victory over GW. In my opinion RH was about that much better than all three of those teams but the three of them were pretty dang close.

There are examples of it not working but those are not good ones in my humble opinion.

 

[Optimal62]

Haha I think what you posted can be used as an argument for the way I see it as well. In 2015 GW beat Galax early in the year by two points I think. Galax went on a tear after and rolled off 10 or 11 straight wins. I still think Galax and Riverheads would have been in the finals either way as they was the two best teams at the end of the year.

In 2016 Riverheads was clearly the class of 1a so it wouldn't of mattered who made it to the finals especially since Galax thrashed GW in the season and GW barely lost to Sussex (that's if you consider transient properties).

Last year you can argue that point as both semis where extremely close games.

I just don't see how it can gaurantee the two best teams make the finals anymore than East vs West.

 

[RedPrideNation_RollPride]

Fair enough, I don’t think any system is perfect. I am glad that there is a legitimate playoff system, however flawed we may think it is. The playoffs generally never go completely chalk so teams that improve over the year at least get their shot. This is a far cry better than 9-1 teams sitting at home because they didn’t win their district.

 

[trutiger16]

Im sure no program will forfeit a playoff because of travel distance especially for football. People can complain but football is King!

 

[TIGER...NATION]

Where can we find those VHSL meeting minutes? I would like to see them...

 

[dringtuoti]

I don't think those changes are going to happen.

 

[GKKING]

leave it in 4 regions not east/west

 

[woodlayer#952002]

I like it

 

[THEGOATFROMJMU]

Isn't the dividing line for east and west in 1A just barely a little east of Blacksburg.... That is the problem with 1A and a oddly shaped state.

 

[woodlayer#952002]

They should draw a line through Richmond and do north and south it would split the nnd but it could work

 

[Gladiatorfencepatrol]

Isn't the dividing line for east and west in 1A just barely a little east of Blacksburg.... That is the problem with 1A and a oddly shaped state.

Dont think they have a line per say. Riverheads is darn near as far west as you can go before hitting West Va and theyre in the east. Still been trying to figure that one out.