Just noticed that in 8a St. Charles East has to play on Friday night at 6pm CT in Edwardsville.
Kinda made me curious how that game date and time was determined.
Kinda made me curious how that game date and time was determined.
Who sets the game date and time for the playoffs?
- Thread starter markmacaluso
- Start date
as far as I know the game is Saturday unless they agree to Friday. Home team picks the time.
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The teams have to agree on a time or the IHSA determines it.
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The teams have to agree on a time or the IHSA determines it.
Why would SCE agree to this.....only benefit is keeping extra day of rest for next round. In a situation like this, considering the opponent and driving distance, seems like waiting would be a better option. I imagine the players families are thrilled to try and rearrange work schedules to be off so they can attend.
This is the only play off game I can ever remember Sterling playing on a Friday night as well, I wondered the same thing.
They get to veto Friday game if they don't want to play on Friday. Home team sets the time.
Determining the Host Team and the Date and Time of the Game
In the first round, the higher seed hosts the game. In subsequent rounds, the school that has hosted fewer times during the current playoff series hosts the game. If both teams have hosted an equal number of times, the higher seed hosts.
When circumstances warrant, a site other than the designated host school's field may be requested by either school and may be used subject to the approval of the IHSA Board of Directors and the host school.
The game must be played on Saturday, unless both schools agree to play the game on Friday. Friday games must not be scheduled during school hours. Saturday games must start between 1 pm and 7 pm. The schools must agree on the starting time of the game. If they cannot come to an agreement, the IHSA Office will set the starting time.
For state championship games played played at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb, the home team is from the "northern bracket" (top bracket) and occupies the west grandstand. For state championship games played played at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, the home team is from the "southern bracket" (bottom bracket) and occupies the west grandstand.
In the first round, the higher seed hosts the game. In subsequent rounds, the school that has hosted fewer times during the current playoff series hosts the game. If both teams have hosted an equal number of times, the higher seed hosts.
When circumstances warrant, a site other than the designated host school's field may be requested by either school and may be used subject to the approval of the IHSA Board of Directors and the host school.
The game must be played on Saturday, unless both schools agree to play the game on Friday. Friday games must not be scheduled during school hours. Saturday games must start between 1 pm and 7 pm. The schools must agree on the starting time of the game. If they cannot come to an agreement, the IHSA Office will set the starting time.
For state championship games played played at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb, the home team is from the "northern bracket" (top bracket) and occupies the west grandstand. For state championship games played played at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, the home team is from the "southern bracket" (bottom bracket) and occupies the west grandstand.
Thanks CB, still the question is why agree to a 6pm start Friday if its a 4 hour drive?
I believe last year West Aurora drove near IWU got out stretched and practiced. There has to be an angle here I'm missing. Maybe the team prefers night games vs day games. There is a difference if you're not used to it.
I believe last year West Aurora drove near IWU got out stretched and practiced. There has to be an angle here I'm missing. Maybe the team prefers night games vs day games. There is a difference if you're not used to it.
True, but they could also ask for a 7 p.m. Saturday night start if they like night games.
So then I am not alone at being confounded by STCE deciding to agree to this game date and time.
I’m looking for any plausible reason this makes sense beyond wanting to discourage any of your fans from attending the game.
I’m looking for any plausible reason this makes sense beyond wanting to discourage any of your fans from attending the game.
Are there any other sports being played Friday night or Saturday? Is Soccer still in the playoffs? Volleyball? Cross-Country? Is the field already reserved for use on Saturday and they don’t want to cancel the potential income? There may be some circumstance that is forcing the Edwardsville AD to ask for it to be earlier than normal on a Friday, and it’s a good enough reason for the SCE AD to agree.
There could also be some gamesmanship and politics involved. The ADs may have worked something out in another sport before, or SCE AD is banking a favor for the future.
There are a lot of reasons to schedule a game at a certain day and time. Or both teams may want to stick as close as possible to the routine they’ve had throughout the season, and Friday at 6 is what they agreed to.
There could also be some gamesmanship and politics involved. The ADs may have worked something out in another sport before, or SCE AD is banking a favor for the future.
There are a lot of reasons to schedule a game at a certain day and time. Or both teams may want to stick as close as possible to the routine they’ve had throughout the season, and Friday at 6 is what they agreed to.
Want to play on Friday though a bit surprised at 6pm. How many more fans are really traveling the 5 hours on Saturday?
Ok I read that carefully twice and really tried to give the thoughts you laid out some serious consideration but in the end I wound up with nah, nope and no way. Did you say Volleyball?
Serious. Does St. Charles East have a fan base that will travel five plus hours if they do not have kids in the program? Not many do.
Ok...um... I’ll put it this way, even if only player parents (say 70 people) and maybe a bus or two of students, cheerleaders parents and boosters (say another 70 people) would actually drive 4.5 hours for a Saturday afternoon game. You’re literally cutting that in at LEAST half by agreeing to Friday at 6pm. Why do that?
I would not be going Fri or Sat. I would be going if I had an athlete in the game. I've heard nothing of fan buses for students, but on Saturday that could be possible. Saturday would be much easier for most folks, but not all. Probably something being made by me out of nothing.
I appreciate the well thought our response, RD. I will never be an AD, because I am simply put not as understanding nor accommodating.
At the end of the day, at least these teams are playing. The sad part is many are still wondering if they have the privilege to play either day.
I appreciate the well thought our response, RD. I will never be an AD, because I am simply put not as understanding nor accommodating.
At the end of the day, at least these teams are playing. The sad part is many are still wondering if they have the privilege to play either day.
SCE has played every game on Friday night this year. My guess would be that the coaches don't want to change the routine granted they need to include a 5 hr bus ride to Edwardsville this week. That isn't exactly driving to Wheaton on a Friday in September. Fans? 90 fans or 30 fans it's not going to matter either way. SCE will win or lose based on the preparation they put in during the week.
Ha! I appreciate the attempt. My over arching point is an AD has multiple sports to consider, and there may be multiple reasons for playing on Friday vs. Saturday.
You are right, though. I should’ve have used volleyball. My bad. Nothing against Volleyball, though. Those girls work hard I know. I don’t need any blowback.
I could be on an island alone here but between the earlier start and a 5 hour bus trip, your routine is already changed. These kids have to leave school by noon on Friday and that is definitely not routine. I agree that Fans won’t necessarily have an impact on what happens on the field but limiting their ability to attend the game and support the players in favor of trying to maintain an already blown routine doesn’t make much sense to me. At least half the 8a games are on Saturday so this routine thing hardly seems to be widely accepted by other coaches.
I think the routine argument has merit, as it could be the reverse routine coaches are looking for. For instance, Hinsdale Central has played on Saturday twice this year - DGN because of lightning on Friday night, and GBW as regularly scheduled. From looking at their schedule, it doesn’t appear BB has played on a Saturday all season. So it isn’t a reach to assume BB will be a Little discombobulated to start the game.
So play on Saturday afternoon. Your routine is messed up with a Saturday afternoon game and a 5 hr drive. Play Friday night and you only have the drive messing you up.
If your coach has a solid relationship with your AD then the coach is making the decisions and the AD is just the mouth piece.
I love how we debate these types of things on message boards, but I rarely hear that someone actually went and asked the coach "Hey dude, why in the world did you agree to a Friday night game?" Let's get the answer behind this one.
Good luck to the Saints!
If your coach has a solid relationship with your AD then the coach is making the decisions and the AD is just the mouth piece.
I love how we debate these types of things on message boards, but I rarely hear that someone actually went and asked the coach "Hey dude, why in the world did you agree to a Friday night game?" Let's get the answer behind this one.
Good luck to the Saints!
We need all the extra minutes and even seconds of practice we can get. I wouldn't be shocked if we didn't refuse a Friday night or earlier Saturday game.
You can only refuse Friday. Cannot refuse a time on a Saturday game but they do need to start no earlier than 1 p.m. and no later than 7 p.m.
sterling played on friday night in round one last year vs chicago phoenix. i can recall a handful of other times they played on friday night in round 1 going back to the 2002 season: 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, and 2009.
as for this year, sterling wanted to play on friday night. they asked marian if they wanted to as well. and they did.
You can refuse a time on Saturday, but it goes to IHSA then with both schools rational and then they set the time.
I know in previous years when Edwardsville had to travel up to Chicago they choose to play on Friday night. Not sure the reasoning, but SCE decision is not too out of the ordinary.
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OPRF went down there on a Friday night a few years ago as well and lost a close game.
Looked it up: 2016 season lost 23-20
So that would have been Epenesa’s senior season if my math is right.
That is correct. The Huskies had a chance to win that game at the end of regulation but botched a field goal. Edwardsville also had an All-State kicker that season who's now at Memphis, and the Tigers didn't hesitate as after they stopped OPRF on downs in the opening OT possession, they sent in him immediately to kick the winning points.
STCE players and fans have to leave school/work early for a Friday game, no matter the start time. If we start 90 minutes earlier, we get back 90 minutes earlier also. If I was a fan, I would like it. Leave at noon, home by 1 AM.
Don't hurt yourself Mac, we need you on these boards.. Go Saints!!
