Proposed VHSL alignment plan for 2017-2018 & 2018-2019

[VolNation85_rivals]

Check out the new proposed alignment plan beginning with the 2017 season. The alignment eliminates conferences and creates 24 regions (4 in each classification, similar to how it was before). The idea is it refocus the importance of district and local rivalries.

This plan is the initial proposal that was released by the VHSl today. There probably will be a few changes before it is finalized, as noted by the fine print under each section. Also, member schools have until Friday, January 8, 2016 to appeal their placement. The VHSL will then post the schedule of appeals on their website on Monday, January 11, 2016. The appeals will be heard on Wednesday, January 13, 2016.

Let the debates, complaints, and conversations begin!

http://www.vhsl.org/doc/upload/alignment-2017-19-initial-proposed-24-region-alignment-plan.pdf

 

[CRF4Dan]

I think this is rather interesting in 6A where you potentially have a region that will have only 7 or 8 schools compared to say two regions that will have 16 to 17... Will there be regional playoffs or will the playoffs exist as they are now. Will there be a move to decrease the number of teams that make the playoffs...

 

[VolNation85_rivals]

I think this is rather interesting in 6A where you potentially have a region that will have only 7 or 8 schools compared to say two regions that will have 16 to 17... Will there be regional playoffs or will the playoffs exist as they are now. Will there be a move to decrease the number of teams that make the playoffs...

I have no clue about that. I would imagine it would be up to the member schools of each region to determine their individual playoff setup. That's the way it is now except there are only 2 regions in each classification versus the proposed 4. It will be interesting to say the least.

 

[TIDEPRIDE01]

I like the change and going back to old system of 4 regions...think each region should have 6 team playoff w/#1 and #2 seeds getting bye...then cross bracket the region champs like 1A and 2A did...if the two best teams in the division come from same area then so be it...hate seeing the real state championship played the week before in state semifinals....give automatic berth back to district champs too...gives yah something to fight for again and makes district play relevant again...I wish VA would take page out of IL football playoff pairings...don't give final enrollment until playoffs and fill all brackets with district champions and teams with at least a 6-4 winning record...then take "bubble teams" w/5-5 records...until you fill up required # of teams to fill 6 divisions w/24 teams per...then take top 24 teams enrollment wise and that is 6A then separate into 4 regions ...then you continue w5A-1A....very rarely do you get a "losing" team in playoffs unless they barely make it because they played a very tough schedule....they also base off of "football enrollment" aka the # of boys in each school...IL lets private play w/public schools but add a multiplier to private boys enrollment to determine classification...not a big fan of public vs private but w/recent addition of LCA I feel it's only in due time before it happens in VA....in IL they have a "Playoff Show" where IHSA posts the brackets according to class...teams,players,parents,coaches host playoff selection parties until they find out who and what classification they play in...most of time based on enrollment you probably know what class you will play at but every now and then you might fluctuate based on changes in enrollment.