Don't be surprised if MSHSAA changes District format in the next couple years.

[BearsCountry]

Here is what if they go back to 16 team districts would look like with 5 classes. Class 3 is the new catch all class. 64 teams in 5,4,2 and 1. 55 in Class 3. Districts start in week 10. Bracket style with the points system. Week 11 is District Championships. Week 12 is Sectionals. Week 13 Quarterfinals. Week 14 Semi Finals. Week 15 State Championship.

Class 5
1 – Jackson, Northwest, Poplar Bluff, Seckman
2 – Fox, Lindbergh, Mehlville, Oakville
3 – Eureka, Francis Howell, Lafayette, Marquette
4 – CBC, Kirkwood, Parkway South, Vianney
5 – Chaminade, DeSmet, MICDS, SLUH
6 – Hazelwood Central, Hazelwood West, Pattonville, Ritenour
7 – Francis Howell Central, Francis Howell North, Ft. Zumwalt North, Ft. Zumwalt West
8 – Battle, Liberty, Timberland, Troy
9 – Hickman, Lebanon, Rock Bridge, Waynesville
10 – Kickapoo, Nixa, Ozark, Springfield Central
11 - Carthage, Joplin, Neosho, Republic
12 – Lee’s Summit, Lee’s Summit West, Rockhurst, Ray-Pec
13 – Blue Springs, Blue Springs South, Lee’s Summit North, Smith-Cotton
14 – Fort Osage, Raytown, Truman, William Chrisman
15 – North Kansas City, Oak Park, Park Hill, Park Hill South
16 – Liberty, Liberty North, Staley, St. Joe Central

Class 4
1 – Cape Central, Farmington, North County, Sikeston
2 – DeSoto, Festus, Hillsboro, Windsor
3 – Clayton, Ladue Horton Watkins, Rockwood Summit, Webster Groves
4 – Confluence Prep, Gateway, Soldon, Vashon
5 – Hazelwood East, McCluer, McCluer North, Riverview Gardens
6 – Parkway Central, Parkway North, Parkway West, St. Charles
7 – Ft Zumwalt East, Ft Zumwalt West, Holt, St. Dominic
8 – Hannibal, Kirksville, North Point, Warrenton
9 – Pacific, Rolla, Union, Washington
10 – Bolivar, Camdenton, Hillcrest, Marshfield
11 – Branson, Glendale, Parkview, West Plains
12 – Carl Junction, McDonald County, Webb City, Willard
13 – Capital City, Helias, Jefferson City, Warrensburg
14 – Belton, Grandview, Raytown South, Ruskin
15 – Grain Valley, Lincoln College Prep, KC East, Van Horn
16 – Kearney, Platte County, Smithville, Winnetonka

Class 3
1 – Dexter, Fredericktown, Perryville
2 - Park Hills Central, Potosi, Valle Catholic
3 – Owensville, Salem, St. Clair, Sullivan
4 – Afton, Bayless, Bishop DuBourg
5 – Cardinal Ritter, Roosevelt, St. Mary’s
6 – Jennings, Lutheran North, Normandy, University City
7 – Lutheran St. Charles, St. Charles West, Westminster Christian
8 – Orchard Farm, Winfield, Wright City
9 – Fulton, Mexico, Southern Boone
10 – Boonville, Marshall, Moberly
11 – Eldon, Logan-Rogersville, Osage
12 – Aurora, Cassville, Monett, Reeds Spring
13 – Clinton, Harrisonville, Nevada, Pleasant Hill
14 – Center, Central, Northeast, University Academy
15 – Excelsior Springs, Oak Grove, Odessa, St. Pius X
16 – Benton, Chillicothe, Lafayette, Savannah

Class 2
1 – Doniphan, East Prairie, Kennett, NMCC
2 – Herculaneum, Jefferson, Kelly, Ste. Genevieve
3 – Borgia, Cuba, Lutheran South, St. James
4 – John Burroughs, Lift for Life, Principia, Priory
5 – Bowling Green, Clark County, Macon, Palmyra
6 – Centralia, Hallsville, MMA, Tolton Catholic
7 – Blair Oaks, Hermann, Montgomery County, North Callaway
8 – California, Knob Noster, Versailles, Warsaw
9 – Houston, Liberty-Mountain View, Mountain Grove, Willow Springs
10 – Ava, Forsyth, Hollister, Springfield Catholic
11 – Buffalo, Fair Grove, Skyline, Strafford
12 – Clever, East Newton, Mt Vernon, Seneca
13 – El Dorado Springs, Holden, Lamar, Stockton
14 – Hogan Prep, Pembroke Hill, Southeast, Summit Christian
15 – Higginsville, Lawson, Richmond, St. Michael
16 – Cameron, Maryville, Lathrop, Trenton

Class 1
1 -Caruthersville, Hayti, Malden, Portageville
2 – Chafee, Charleston, Scott City, St. Vincent
3 – Brentwood, Crystal City, Grandview, St. Pius X
4 – Duchesne, Louisiana, Mark Twain, Van-Far
5 – Ash Grove, Cabool, Marionville, Thayer
6 – Diamond, Miller, Pierce City, Sarcoxie
7 – Adrian, Butler, Midway, Sherwood
8 – Cole Camp, Lincoln, Tipton, Windsor
9 – Fayette, Harrisburg, Russellville, South Callaway
10 – Paris, Salisbury, Slater, Westran
11 – Brookfield, Marceline, Milan, Putnam County
12 – Highland, Monroe City, Scotland County, South Shelby
13 – Crest Ridge, Lexington, Lone Jack, Wellington-Napoleon
14 – Carrollton, Penney, Plattsburg, Polo
15 – Gallatin, Maysville, Princeton, South Harrison
16 – East Buchanan, Mid-Buchanan, North Platte, West Platte

 

[USArmyMike]

Great, except when you have to drive 9 hours from NW Missouri down to Cape for first round playoff game.

Like when Palmyra had to drive to Higginsville for wrestling districts or Mexico to Seneca for 1st round of playoffs or when Hannibal had to travel to Kearney 2 years in a row for the 1st round of playoffs.

 

[USArmyMike]

Doesn’t make sense. The entire purpose of it for privates is well, uh throughly discussed on this forum. Giving it to public schools defeats the purpose. So yeah I agree.

I'm not surprised you couldn't figure out how they were different

 

[MGHS]

I don't get why they are always changing the system....the purpose is to crown a state champion in every class that is the only reason to have a championship tournament. The powers that be seem to want to try and micro manage they system so every team rises as high as they should in the playoff bracket based on the publics perceived perception. No system will ever weed out all the flaws, every system will end up with flaws and teams and fans will have to deal with those flaws, but I guess complaining and moaning are more the norm today than not.

In the end the newer system will have teams traveling hours upon hours to play other teams across the State from east to west and north to south just to satisfy some Seeding system with built in flaws just to try and assure some team doesn't exit the playoffs a round to fast or because everybody is upset because God forbid a 1 vs 8 or 2 vs 7 ends up in a arse whipping, I mean really just because those game in general are not competitive that is a valid reason to throw the baby out with the bathwater and come up with another titled playoff system? I guess if those 7 and 8's fans, coaches and players are not into competing one more week they could bow out and forfeit and give the 1's and 2's bye weeks.

 

[USArmyMike]

I don't get why they are always changing the system....the purpose is to crown a state champion in every class that is the only reason to have a championship tournament. The powers that be seem to want to try and micro manage they system so every team rises as high as they should in the playoff bracket based on the publics perceived perception. No system will ever weed out all the flaws, every system will end up with flaws and teams and fans will have to deal with those flaws, but I guess complaining and moaning are more the norm today than not.

In the end the newer system will have teams traveling hours upon hours to play other teams across the State from east to west and north to south just to satisfy some Seeding system with built in flaws just to try and assure some team doesn't exit the playoffs a round to fast or because everybody is upset because God forbid a 1 vs 8 or 2 vs 7 ends up in a arse whipping, I mean really just because those game in general are not competitive that is a valid reason to throw the baby out with the bathwater and come up with another titled playoff system? I guess if those 7 and 8's fans, coaches and players are not into competing one more week they could bow out and forfeit and give the 1's and 2's bye weeks.

Why is travel always the main complaint. Teams are already traveling hours upon hours. No system is going to fix that. Look at some of the districts now, You think Strafford to Doniphan or Kirksville to Wentzville are short trips? If travel is such a problem play the game on Saturdays or find a neutral location. The object should hopefully be to have the best 2 teams to meet at state. As messed up as Illinois is as a state, when is the last time they revamped their playoff system?

 

[MGHS]

Travel is a huge issue and trying to limit long bus rides and long commutes for Fans should be a bigger priority than trying to engineer the two best teams advance to the playoffs. As long as the best team wins it all that is fine and dandy.

Hundreds of Teams and thousands of Fans don't want to have complicated situations which involve playing on Saturdays or neutral site games and entails burdensome travel distances so the supposed second best team arrives in the title game.

Having a great experience in the playoffs for Players and Fans is more important than making sure the second best team advances a few more rounds to face the best team. If the second best team get's eliminated in districts or in the next two rounds it's a Big who cares! That effects one team and one fan base while developing some lame system that will NOT engineer the two best teams making the title game every year effects Thousands of fans and hundreds of teams who have ignorant travel times thrust upon them, sure not all of that can be avoided but as much as possible should be the goal . Also Strafford to Doniphan is 3 hrs and KVille to Wville is 2hr 40 min. I don't think 3/4 hrs trips are the issue. It's anything above that on a regular bases during the playoffs that would be a problem.

Making a the playoff games more Difficult to attend for the fans and Less enjoyable for the players to experience from undo travel is not a Smart approach at all in this day and age.

 

[USArmyMike]

Travel is a huge issue and trying to limit long bus rides and long commutes for Fans should be a bigger priority than trying to engineer the two best teams advance to the playoffs. As long as the best team wins it all that is fine and dandy.

Hundreds of Teams and thousands of Fans don't want to have complicated situations which involve playing on Saturdays or neutral site games and entails burdensome travel distances so the supposed second best team arrives in the title game.

Having a great experience in the playoffs for Players and Fans is more important than making sure the second best team advances a few more rounds to face the best team. If the second best team get's eliminated in districts or in the next two rounds it's a Big who cares! That effects one team and one fan base while developing some lame system that will NOT engineer the two best teams making the title game every year effects Thousands of fans and hundreds of teams who have ignorant travel times thrust upon them, sure not all of that can be avoided but as much as possible should be the goal . Also Strafford to Doniphan is 3 hrs and KVille to Wville is 2hr 40 min. I don't think 3/4 hrs trips are the issue. It's anything above that on a regular bases during the playoffs that would be a problem.

Making a the playoff games more Difficult to attend for the fans and Less enjoyable for the players to experience from undo travel is not a Smart approach at all in this day and age.

But it’s ok in your eyes for a team that’s struggling with numbers to take 65-6 thumping in order to appease fans?

You contradict yourself. Are the games about convenience or competition? You can’t have both.

 

[Veer2Eternity]

Better yet, go back to pre-1968... and let everyone on here debate who the best team is. No playoffs, no champions, just rankings.

Right. MyTeamXyz in 1843 was the bestest ever everer . They beat some bad teams 2234234-0 and never played out of their area but hey!

Best.

Ever.

 

[Rufus R. Jones]

The object should hopefully be to have the best 2 teams to meet at state.

That has never been the goal, nor should it be. The goal is to determine the best team. It does that now. Who cares who is the second best team?

 

[503_Maple]

I'm not surprised you couldn't figure out how they were different

I’m not at all surprised you continue to have the worst nobody agrees with you takes. It’s awesome.

 

[503_Maple]

That has never been the goal, nor should it be. The goal is to determine the best team. It does that now. Who cares who is the second best team?

He’s a tad slow

 

[Veer2Eternity]

Travel is a huge issue and trying to limit long bus rides and long commutes for Fans should be a bigger priority than trying to engineer the two best teams advance to the playoffs. As long as the best team wins it all that is fine and dandy.

Hundreds of Teams and thousands of Fans don't want to have complicated situations which involve playing on Saturdays or neutral site games and entails burdensome travel distances so the supposed second best team arrives in the title game.

Having a great experience in the playoffs for Players and Fans is more important than making sure the second best team advances a few more rounds to face the best team. If the second best team get's eliminated in districts or in the next two rounds it's a Big who cares! That effects one team and one fan base while developing some lame system that will NOT engineer the two best teams making the title game every year effects Thousands of fans and hundreds of teams who have ignorant travel times thrust upon them, sure not all of that can be avoided but as much as possible should be the goal . Also Strafford to Doniphan is 3 hrs and KVille to Wville is 2hr 40 min. I don't think 3/4 hrs trips are the issue. It's anything above that on a regular bases during the playoffs that would be a problem.

Making a the playoff games more Difficult to attend for the fans and Less enjoyable for the players to experience from undo travel is not a Smart approach at all in this day and age.

I love playing on Saturdays.

Nothing beats a big playoff game on a Saturday afternoon.

Nobody says much about basketball and wrestling traveling all over the state. Why is it an issue in football?

 

[hangmanbobbyjaggers]

The real issue is the fans and the blowouts the fans don't want to see them. Well no system is perfect you had blowouts even in the 4 team districts sometimes in all three games for way to many schools.

With the old 4 team districts many times you had meaningless games after the 7 game for way to many schools. Because many times teams were eliminated and still had to play two more meaningless games and you still had week 10 blowouts but usually on a Thursday.

Not saying the current system is perfect but at least you are playing for something week 10... and there are no decent teams left at home, you get to decide it on the field. If you every played in the 70's and 80's and went 9-1 and watched a team you beat get to go to the playoffs you would never complain about todays format.

Maybe we need to do something like basketball were the top seeds get a bye, now the regular season just got more interesting.

Not always getting a bye in BBall. If there are 8 teams, which usually happens, they play. In football, usually 1-4/5 match up are blow outs too, but they have a chance. I have seen some 6 and 7 seeds with upsets.

 

[MoSooner69]

Most basketball districts dont have 8 teams and many football ones do not either. So I can see the comparisons, Those blowouts are just part of it.

 

[MoSooner69]

If we really want to make a change: Lets get rid of conferences for Football. Everyone plays a ten week regular season. We have 8 team districts, you play everyone in your district and have 3 games to schedule, however you wish. After the end of the regular season, the top 4 teams in each district advance to the playoffs. And, you cross bracket. So the 1 seed from this district plays the 4 seed from another district and so on. It will prevent as many quick rematches and in some cases may be more competitive. Yes, there might be more travel but it would be worth it.

 

[USArmyMike]

I’m not at all surprised you continue to have the worst nobody agrees with you takes. It’s awesome.

Naw most just don’t comment anymore due to how vocal the sister lovers are on this board.

 

[USArmyMike]

He’s a tad slow

Did you come up with that before or after you rolled off of your sister?

My suggestion is very similar to what Illinois uses. Missouri has changed its playoff system at least 3 times since Illinois went to its playoff format and I’m the slow one 🤣

 

[TadQueasy]

No one should ever copy Illinois in anything.

 

[USArmyMike]

No one should ever copy Illinois in anything.

I would agree with that anything else but their playoff system works and is better which is why it hasn’t changed in 20+ years

 

[WFBuckely]

Here is what if they go back to 16 team districts would look like with 5 classes. Class 3 is the new catch all class. 64 teams in 5,4,2 and 1. 55 in Class 3. Districts start in week 10. Bracket style with the points system. Week 11 is District Championships. Week 12 is Sectionals. Week 13 Quarterfinals. Week 14 Semi Finals. Week 15 State Championship.

Class 5
1 – Jackson, Northwest, Poplar Bluff, Seckman
2 – Fox, Lindbergh, Mehlville, Oakville
3 – Eureka, Francis Howell, Lafayette, Marquette
4 – CBC, Kirkwood, Parkway South, Vianney
5 – Chaminade, DeSmet, MICDS, SLUH
6 – Hazelwood Central, Hazelwood West, Pattonville, Ritenour
7 – Francis Howell Central, Francis Howell North, Ft. Zumwalt North, Ft. Zumwalt West
8 – Battle, Liberty, Timberland, Troy
9 – Hickman, Lebanon, Rock Bridge, Waynesville
10 – Kickapoo, Nixa, Ozark, Springfield Central
11 - Carthage, Joplin, Neosho, Republic
12 – Lee’s Summit, Lee’s Summit West, Rockhurst, Ray-Pec
13 – Blue Springs, Blue Springs South, Lee’s Summit North, Smith-Cotton
14 – Fort Osage, Raytown, Truman, William Chrisman
15 – North Kansas City, Oak Park, Park Hill, Park Hill South
16 – Liberty, Liberty North, Staley, St. Joe Central

Class 4
1 – Cape Central, Farmington, North County, Sikeston
2 – DeSoto, Festus, Hillsboro, Windsor
3 – Clayton, Ladue Horton Watkins, Rockwood Summit, Webster Groves
4 – Confluence Prep, Gateway, Soldon, Vashon
5 – Hazelwood East, McCluer, McCluer North, Riverview Gardens
6 – Parkway Central, Parkway North, Parkway West, St. Charles
7 – Ft Zumwalt East, Ft Zumwalt West, Holt, St. Dominic
8 – Hannibal, Kirksville, North Point, Warrenton
9 – Pacific, Rolla, Union, Washington
10 – Bolivar, Camdenton, Hillcrest, Marshfield
11 – Branson, Glendale, Parkview, West Plains
12 – Carl Junction, McDonald County, Webb City, Willard
13 – Capital City, Helias, Jefferson City, Warrensburg
14 – Belton, Grandview, Raytown South, Ruskin
15 – Grain Valley, Lincoln College Prep, KC East, Van Horn
16 – Kearney, Platte County, Smithville, Winnetonka

Class 3
1 – Dexter, Fredericktown, Perryville
2 - Park Hills Central, Potosi, Valle Catholic
3 – Owensville, Salem, St. Clair, Sullivan
4 – Afton, Bayless, Bishop DuBourg
5 – Cardinal Ritter, Roosevelt, St. Mary’s
6 – Jennings, Lutheran North, Normandy, University City
7 – Lutheran St. Charles, St. Charles West, Westminster Christian
8 – Orchard Farm, Winfield, Wright City
9 – Fulton, Mexico, Southern Boone
10 – Boonville, Marshall, Moberly
11 – Eldon, Logan-Rogersville, Osage
12 – Aurora, Cassville, Monett, Reeds Spring
13 – Clinton, Harrisonville, Nevada, Pleasant Hill
14 – Center, Central, Northeast, University Academy
15 – Excelsior Springs, Oak Grove, Odessa, St. Pius X
16 – Benton, Chillicothe, Lafayette, Savannah

Class 2
1 – Doniphan, East Prairie, Kennett, NMCC
2 – Herculaneum, Jefferson, Kelly, Ste. Genevieve
3 – Borgia, Cuba, Lutheran South, St. James
4 – John Burroughs, Lift for Life, Principia, Priory
5 – Bowling Green, Clark County, Macon, Palmyra
6 – Centralia, Hallsville, MMA, Tolton Catholic
7 – Blair Oaks, Hermann, Montgomery County, North Callaway
8 – California, Knob Noster, Versailles, Warsaw
9 – Houston, Liberty-Mountain View, Mountain Grove, Willow Springs
10 – Ava, Forsyth, Hollister, Springfield Catholic
11 – Buffalo, Fair Grove, Skyline, Strafford
12 – Clever, East Newton, Mt Vernon, Seneca
13 – El Dorado Springs, Holden, Lamar, Stockton
14 – Hogan Prep, Pembroke Hill, Southeast, Summit Christian
15 – Higginsville, Lawson, Richmond, St. Michael
16 – Cameron, Maryville, Lathrop, Trenton

Class 1
1 -Caruthersville, Hayti, Malden, Portageville
2 – Chafee, Charleston, Scott City, St. Vincent
3 – Brentwood, Crystal City, Grandview, St. Pius X
4 – Duchesne, Louisiana, Mark Twain, Van-Far
5 – Ash Grove, Cabool, Marionville, Thayer
6 – Diamond, Miller, Pierce City, Sarcoxie
7 – Adrian, Butler, Midway, Sherwood
8 – Cole Camp, Lincoln, Tipton, Windsor
9 – Fayette, Harrisburg, Russellville, South Callaway
10 – Paris, Salisbury, Slater, Westran
11 – Brookfield, Marceline, Milan, Putnam County
12 – Highland, Monroe City, Scotland County, South Shelby
13 – Crest Ridge, Lexington, Lone Jack, Wellington-Napoleon
14 – Carrollton, Penney, Plattsburg, Polo
15 – Gallatin, Maysville, Princeton, South Harrison
16 – East Buchanan, Mid-Buchanan, North Platte, West Platte

Yes. That system sucked.

 

[HoopsTournament]

What I find amazing is that there are blowouts during regular season and no one bats an eye, but we have one extra week with a few blowouts and some of you act like the world is coming to an end.

 

[503_Maple]

What I find amazing is that there are blowouts during regular season and no one bats an eye, but we have one extra week with a few blowouts and some of you act like the world is coming to an end.

Yeah, I really don’t understand why this is always such a hot topic every year. It’s not that bad, no set up is perfect. It is what it is.

 

[HBL Pirates fan_1990]

why are we even debating about this. I think point system and district setup is find. they're no travel issues in district's. Yes they're are teams that does travel 2+ hours away in district but they can't help it. Look at Hannibal, West Plains, Kirksville, Sikeston in C4. They're in a part of the state where they're surrounded by C1-C3 Schools. The real issue is MSHSAA. Why do they have a rotation for districts. i would rather have a East vs West Showdown every year. D1 vs D2 vs D3 vs D4 on the same side of bracket ever year.

I don't know why traveling is a issue in football, The football players probably hate it for being on a bus but the fans shouldn't, i had a fun time traveling to North County last year and Kearney 4-5 Years ago


If The districts started this week here the 5 farthest District Quarterfinals Games

1. Pierce City to Thayer 2 Hr 57 Mins
2. Winfield to Kirksville 2 hr 40 Mins
3. Lee Summit to Kickapoo 2hr 36 Mins
4. Carl Junction to Grandview 2 Hr 14 Mins
5. Westminster to Salem 2 Hr 12 Mins

 

[freezeoption]

I would love to get rid of conferences but we got some who think it's a big deal. If everyone played each other in the district I would be a little likely to say 8 and 7 don't play. I've stated earlier to take a team when they haven't played in their district is bs and if they do that then we need to get rid of Meesha. They piss me off every year and I'm usually a calm guy.

 

[MGHS]

But it’s ok in your eyes for a team that’s struggling with numbers to take 65-6 thumping in order to appease fans?

You contradict yourself. Are the games about convenience or competition? You can’t have both.

The playoffs are about both convenience and competition and any system is going to have Flaws that effect both no contradiction in that Jeez some Years the NFC has all the good teams and the AFC is weak in the NFL and vice a versa but crown winners of each division and they play in the Super bowl do people complain about that? .

A playoff system needs to service the biggest amount of Fans possible across the state with the Least amount of travel with every team getting a chance to compete in that tournament. That way things are settled on the field of competition.

If some outlier first round teams take a 65-6 beating so be it. It's part of the game players need to learn to handle that. If 3-4 of those beatings a year keep thousands of fans from having to travel further then it's clearly a good thing. I mean even if all the first round games in every class are like that it's no big deal. Tune up game for good teams, JV get's playing time, fans can watch their players dominate a weaker mentally deficient opponent and get out early and prepare for the next round. And second round games are usually competitive.

Crowing the Best team in the district and other rounds all the way up to the title game is about competition. The games are played on the field and winner takes all. The best team is crowned the State title holder through competition. And in this system that is what happens and the travel time is kept to a minimum. Why upset the applecart over a few blowouts and loaded districts?

You seem to think you can orchestrate better games that are more competitive and fair with Some man made formula running on a computer based on human data that is inputted into the system and such and spits out some numbers, just to satisfy some fantasy that you can eliminate Blow outs and loaded up districts that you feel eliminate a team here or there a round to fast, or makes for less competitive games.

That's always been the rub....and it always will be no matter the system.

 

[MGHS]

That has never been the goal, nor should it be. The goal is to determine the best team. It does that now. Who cares who is the second best team?

100% true...the NFL/MLB/NBA doesn't even do that. More often than not the Two best teams meet deciding the Divisions/Conferences of the respective professional leagues. Not in the championship game or series.

 

[MGHS]

I’m not at all surprised you continue to have the worst nobody agrees with you takes. It’s awesome.

I hate to come across as disrespectful but it makes me question what type of logical analysis he uses? His view point is so far outside the norm plus rigid and lacks geometric thinking and understanding it makes me wonder where he developed that from?

 

[MGHS]

I love playing on Saturdays.

Nothing beats a big playoff game on a Saturday afternoon.

Nobody says much about basketball and wrestling traveling all over the state. Why is it an issue in football?

Teams usually don't travel far in district matchups in Basketball....I have no idea in wrestling as it's a niche sport down this way. Once you win a District in Basketball or Even football I think fans are far more excited and expect a bit more travel. I don't think fans want long District drives during those rounds of the playoffs just to hopefully eliminate a few blowouts and possible loaded districts which is really a suspect opinion based idea.

After teams in Football win the District I think Travel time of 3hr plus is expected and accepted. But having districts that are full of a lot of travel isn't a great option for the sport.

 

[MGHS]

If we really want to make a change: Lets get rid of conferences for Football. Everyone plays a ten week regular season. We have 8 team districts, you play everyone in your district and have 3 games to schedule, however you wish. After the end of the regular season, the top 4 teams in each district advance to the playoffs. And, you cross bracket. So the 1 seed from this district plays the 4 seed from another district and so on. It will prevent as many quick rematches and in some cases may be more competitive. Yes, there might be more travel but it would be worth it.

That just makes the Travel a issue season long.....don't get me wrong it's a fair and on the field system deciding the outcome..... But some teams would be playing every away game 3-4 hours away and long term I think that impacts fan support, player participation and the overall health of Football.

The current conferences have formed for a reason often with various sizes of schools close geographic locales. The local rivalries based on community interaction and all that entails often makes Football the vocal point of the school year that drives the culture of the game and keeps numbers up and the machine rolling.

Start having teams travel long distances 5 games a year and it will impact a lot of that, it would be extra hard on the C3,C2,&C1 programs.

 

[MGHS]

Did you come up with that before or after you rolled off of your sister?

My suggestion is very similar to what Illinois uses. Missouri has changed its playoff system at least 3 times since Illinois went to its playoff format and I’m the slow one 🤣

Maybe they are not smart enough to realize their system sucks or they really don't care about the sport in general! I mean it is Illinois and the power elites are in Chi town and they control the system so it's pretty obvious anything that they do is gonna be a massive Cluster.

 

[MGHS]

I would agree with that anything else but their playoff system works and is better which is why it hasn’t changed in 20+ years

How is it better?

 

[USArmyMike]

How is it better?

it allows for conferences and rivalries.
Regular season actually means something
Schools get in based on records and strength of schedule. not from being in a weak district.
When something works, it doesn't go though drastic changes.
It also doesn't send a 0-9 or 1-8 school that's struggling with numbers and/or injuries to face am undefeated #1 or 2 seed teams. I'm sure that's really helping grow the sport.

the current set up is just a money grab.. If I remember right the get something like 80% of all revenue from each district and playoff game plus control all streaming. And say you are the 7th or 8th seed that only has maybe 17 healthy kids and want to forfeit, well that really upsets mshsaa and the stick you with hefty fine .

 

[USArmyMike]

The playoffs are about both convenience and competition and any system is going to have Flaws that effect both no contradiction in that Jeez some Years the NFC has all the good teams and the AFC is weak in the NFL and vice a versa but crown winners of each division and they play in the Super bowl do people complain about that? .

A playoff system needs to service the biggest amount of Fans possible across the state with the Least amount of travel with every team getting a chance to compete in that tournament. That way things are settled on the field of competition.

If some outlier first round teams take a 65-6 beating so be it. It's part of the game players need to learn to handle that. If 3-4 of those beatings a year keep thousands of fans from having to travel further then it's clearly a good thing. I mean even if all the first round games in every class are like that it's no big deal. Tune up game for good teams, JV get's playing time, fans can watch their players dominate a weaker mentally deficient opponent and get out early and prepare for the next round. And second round games are usually competitive.

Crowing the Best team in the district and other rounds all the way up to the title game is about competition. The games are played on the field and winner takes all. The best team is crowned the State title holder through competition. And in this system that is what happens and the travel time is kept to a minimum. Why upset the applecart over a few blowouts and loaded districts?

You seem to think you can orchestrate better games that are more competitive and fair with Some man made formula running on a computer based on human data that is inputted into the system and such and spits out some numbers, just to satisfy some fantasy that you can eliminate Blow outs and loaded up districts that you feel eliminate a team here or there a round to fast, or makes for less competitive games.

That's always been the rub....and it always will be no matter the system.

Its not just about orchestrating better games but also determining those that deserve to be there, and player safety.

I know that player safety probably through you off. 1 and 2 seeds very 7 and 8 isn't safe in the sport that's fighting participation # due to the violent nature. add on the fact the class 1 thru 5 are playing up to 15 games. I'm sorry but that's too many.

Now you keep bringing up professional sports. in no way shape or form should high school sports be compared to how the pros do it. The difference between the worse team and the best teams in the NFL are 3 players. In high school the best player on the worst team probably wouldn't even play for the best teams JV.

You think this is to "satisfy some fantasy" Its about putting the most deserving teams in and eliminating potential dangerous situation.

2 things I would defiantly question about you and @503_Maple. You've either never coached and/or played. You've never been on a bus ride with your teams and you've never put a teammate or player in an ambulance.

 

[Veer2Eternity]

Teams usually don't travel far in district matchups in Basketball....I have no idea in wrestling as it's a niche sport down this way. Once you win a District in Basketball or Even football I think fans are far more excited and expect a bit more travel. I don't think fans want long District drives during those rounds of the playoffs just to hopefully eliminate a few blowouts and possible loaded districts which is really a suspect opinion based idea.

After teams in Football win the District I think Travel time of 3hr plus is expected and accepted. But having districts that are full of a lot of travel isn't a great option for the sport.

i'm talking regular season travel.

Compare the miles.

 

[J. Kane]

i'm talking regular season travel.

Compare the miles.

 

[sw5890]

The only thing I want to change is to take away MSHSAA's asinine monopoly on the streaming which now includes all districts as well.

And the mandatory digital ticket system.

 

[Rufus R. Jones]

The only thing I want to change is to take away MSHSAA's asinine monopoly on the streaming which now includes all districts as well.

And the mandatory digital ticket system.

Major scam. Finding revenue streams to fund the payroll and expense accounts. (I mean, "It's what's best for students and student-athletes...")

 

[Veer2Eternity]

The only thing I want to change is to take away MSHSAA's asinine monopoly on the streaming which now includes all districts as well.

And the mandatory digital ticket system.

Yep I can't believe the schools allow them to get away with this.

 

[sw5890]

Major scam. Finding revenue streams to fund the payroll and expense accounts. (I mean, "It's what's best for students and student-athletes...")

I never really had a problem with the championship game because mshsaa provides a venue and they also provide an actual stream. I thought it was lousy how they required a fee to stream quarter and semis but whatever.

When they expanded it to districts and made it so the only option is to to provide mshsaa a stream to resell at their profit and your expense when they aren't providing any actual streams of their own.... that is what got me hot.

At the end of the day mshsaa does serve an important purpose and does need revenue to do their thing. It's important that they adapt as the landscape changes to ensure they can do what they need to do. The rub is if you look into the organization, like many other similar boards or pseudogoverment organizations it stinks of cronyism.

 

[Rufus R. Jones]

The rub is if you look into the organization, like many other similar boards or pseudogoverment organizations it stinks of cronyism.

And, like a lot of 'non-profits', the purpose, role, and needs of the organization does not match the expense sheet. It's taken on a life of its own. It's top heavy.