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New Ranking Plan Pitched In Florida

glamourbyjim

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Aug 2, 2013
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Proposal would incorporate MaxPreps rankings to set up divisions for six major sports
In an effort to create better competitive balance, the Florida High School Athletic Association may turn to a new plan for its six major sports by incorporating the MaxPreps rankings into the equation.

The proposal came during the Florida Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association athletics director conference and the FHSAA compliance seminar Sunday in Orlando.

To create more excitement in the state series games, football, girls volleyball, basketball, soccer, baseball and softball would be divided into six divisions based on rankings this past season and the upcoming season.

The first two classes would house the highest ranked teams with 64 in each. All 64 make the state series playoffs. The regular season would be to determine postseason seedings.

Divisions three to six would include approximately 115 to 130, depending on the sport, also based on ranking, in each division. The top 64 in those classes, based on the MaxPreps rankings at the end of the regular season, would make the state series.

The MaxPreps rankings goes four deep based on ranked on how a team does against an opponent. Quality wins against teams ranked higher and losses against teams ranked lower are all factors that determine rankings. (MaxPreps’ explanation of how its ranking system works is at the bottom.)

The divisions would be divided into eight regions. There will be no district contests or district tournaments.

How the MaxPreps Rankings work

MaxPreps does not poll coaches, sportswriters, or fans. Nor does its staff make any judgments on the merits of any individual team. Prior season history, school size and comments on message boards are also not considered in the MaxPreps Computer Rankings.

The system utilizes the huge number of game results stored in the MaxPreps database. Generally, the more a team wins the higher the ranking, but the system takes into account quality wins (against other highly ranked opponents) and strength of schedule.

For example, a team’s ranking is hurt more by losing to a team that is ranked below them verses a team ranked ahead.
Other factors that will affect the rankings are times when MaxPreps has incomplete or inaccurate information. It will correct errors when they are reported. If MaxPreps is missing a score it encourages teams to report that score. If it is missing a game on the schedule, it also wants a correction request.

Playoff wins are weighed higher compared to a regular season game.

In the state series, eight teams per region would qualify based on the MaxPreps rankings. The higher-seeded team would play host throughout the entire tournament with either the state semifinals and finals or just finals at a neutral site.

The proposal is aimed to eliminate student enrollment, a basis of the districts since 1931, a lack of fairness, repeat winners, losing student/athletes to non-school teams, transfers, lopsided contests and improve on the loss of school time with uneven districts and regions.

There would be a two-year division cycle.

The potential gains are growth in programs, hope for all teams, a more competitive environment, increased excitement and better state series matchups.

How the MaxPreps Rankings work

An explanation of the MaxPreps Rankings.

We do not poll coaches, sportswriters, or fans. Nor does our staff make any judgments on the merits of any individual team. Prior season history, school size, and comments on message boards are not considered in the MaxPreps Computer Rankings.

The system utilizes the huge number of game results stored in the MaxPreps database. Generally, the more a team wins the higher the ranking, but the system takes into account quality wins (against other highly ranked opponents) and strength of schedule.
For example, a team’s ranking is hurt more by losing to a team that is ranked below them verses a team ranked ahead.

Other factors that will affect the rankings are times when MaxPreps has incomplete or inaccurate information. We will correct errors when they are reported to us. If we are missing a score, report it to us on the team’s MaxPreps page. If we are missing a game on the schedule, send us a correction request.

Playoff wins are weighed higher compared to a regular season game.
 
Seems like the coaches at lesser competitive schools really like it and the ones at good schools, especially the good smaller schools, don't. At least that's the perspective I'm getting from someone who's currently coaching in Florida and talking to other coaches in the state.

My only hangup is that you're essentially punishing schools for being good. The 64th best team in class 6A will be better than the state champs in the lower classes. Florida can also argue that school size doesn't matter much because it is total open enrollment for all schools, public, private and charter. You can commute an hour plus to a public high school if you provide your own transport.
 
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Interesting that Fla would consider this. MaxPreps has been discussed at length on the Sun Board. Most don't give them much credit. Especially since they will allow anyone to post scores, highlights, etc.... Not to mention that a lot of their info is inaccurate. There was even a discussion that MaxPreps uses Cal Preps for their rankings. If that is true, why doesn't Fla just use Cal Preps for their rankings.

I think that PA still has the best system. You play the teams in your region, and the top teams from there advance to the playoffs at the end of the season, or in PA's case, after week nine. Any other system simply encourages lazy teams to look for an easy way into the post season. At any rate, it was a good read, thanks for the post.
 
Interesting that Fla would consider this. MaxPreps has been discussed at length on the Sun Board. Most don't give them much credit. Especially since they will allow anyone to post scores, highlights, etc.... Not to mention that a lot of their info is inaccurate. There was even a discussion that MaxPreps uses Cal Preps for their rankings. If that is true, why doesn't Fla just use Cal Preps for their rankings.

I think that PA still has the best system. You play the teams in your region, and the top teams from there advance to the playoffs at the end of the season, or in PA's case, after week nine. Any other system simply encourages lazy teams to look for an easy way into the post season. At any rate, it was a good read, thanks for the post.
My Pleasure.....Jim
 
Interesting that Fla would consider this. MaxPreps has been discussed at length on the Sun Board. Most don't give them much credit. Especially since they will allow anyone to post scores, highlights, etc.... Not to mention that a lot of their info is inaccurate. There was even a discussion that MaxPreps uses Cal Preps for their rankings. If that is true, why doesn't Fla just use Cal Preps for their rankings.

I think that PA still has the best system. You play the teams in your region, and the top teams from there advance to the playoffs at the end of the season, or in PA's case, after week nine. Any other system simply encourages lazy teams to look for an easy way into the post season. At any rate, it was a good read, thanks for the post.

Yep, PA has done it correctly other than letting private schools into the system with public schools with disregard for enrollments. In other words if private schools in Maryland were combined with public they can't make St. Frances a Class 1A school based on their small enrollment. Private schools competition level has zero to do with enrollment because they recruit.

You are very correct...teams should have to play each other to make the playoffs. That is what they do in PA. Anything else absolutely encourages every team to look for an easy way into the post season to get their participation trophy. The more that try to take the easy way in, the more that try to take the easy way in.
 
My only hangup is that you're essentially punishing schools for being good. The 64th best team in class 6A will be better than the state champs in the lower classes. Florida can also argue that school size doesn't matter much because it is total open enrollment for all schools, public, private and charter. You can commute an hour plus to a public high school if you provide your own transport.

You're not "punishing" schools for being good if you're simply accurately rating the teams. For example in Maryland last year Dunbar (12-1) were 1A champs and finished #19 on Max Preps (Maryland state rankings), but Northwest finished #32 on Max Preps. Northwest (8-3) only had losses to #4 Good Counsel and #16 QO (twice). Whatever calculations Max Preps uses clearly doesn't factor SOS at all. I'm quite sure the people at Dunbar don't want to hear it, but there are at least 12 4A schools (and probably closer to 18) better than they were last year.
 
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