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.
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.