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Post by theicecreamfish on Feb 28, 2024 0:05:31 GMT -6
There’s already been a big enough debate on select vs. non-select school divisions. Seems like nothing will be done about that. This is a separate question I had about this season after looking at playoff results. Is a 32 or 24 team playoff system better?
I find that in the 32 team playoff, more teams get to play, but the bottom seeds *usually* get blown out in the first round to the point to where there was no point in holding the match in the first place. There are a few exceptions to this that happened this year, such as the #4 Dutchtown 2-0 W over #29 Woodlawn. This was a close game.
In the 24 team playoff, there are less teams that see the playoff pitch, but the matchups *seem* to be much closer.
While this also may never be changed, I just wanted to see what people thought about it because I feel like there were a lot of blowouts in the first round this year (especially on the girls side). I’m not sure if blowouts are very entertaining for either team involved. There’s always a chance for a low end upset like that (such as the #28 ASH upset over #5 Mandeville), in which case with the 24 team playoff, this game would’ve never happened. Is the occasional upset like this instance worth the multiple blowouts seen in the first round?
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Post by sbkicksfan on Feb 28, 2024 2:11:59 GMT -6
IMO there is zero reason to have a 32 team playoff. Last year we traveled almost 5 hours and lost in a blowout. I’m glad our boys had a playoff berth, but at the end of the day there are more mismatches with 32 teams. Something that will eventually have to be addressed to is non-select vs select type teams. Football and basketball separated for a reason. It’s the same in soccer… private schools have a huge advantage over public. Regular season games vs private schools are fine, but come playoff time it’s just not the same playing field the majority of the time.
The percentage of teams that make it to the quarters and semis, much less the finals is nearly one sided.
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Post by JoshuaC on Feb 28, 2024 7:36:05 GMT -6
32 Team Playoff. We had this same debate last time it was 24 teams as well to move it back to 32.
More playoff teams means more playoff games for those teams and programs that do not usually make it. The kids do not care if they get blown out for a 5 hour bus drive. They get to leave school early, travel across the state with their teammates/friends, and they get to enjoy their last day of soccer together with their team.
Even if they get blown out, they get to see what hard work and dedication looks like from the top teams and they can try and emulate that going forward. 2021 - Dutchtown smokes Rummel 8 - 1 in the 1st Rd. Our boys were motivated and used that to have success the next 3 years after swearing on that bus ride home we would never let that type of beat down happen again in the playoffs. Most teams I would argue have a similar mindset.
2022 - #30 Minden at #3 Rummel. 8-0 in one half. Minden Coach walks up to me at full time and tells me "Coach thank you for being hospitable to our boys and allowing us to come down here and view your program and team. This experience has allowed us to now understand what type of level we need to be at come playoff time" Further cemented my opinion on this matter after hearing that.
Only 1 Team wins every year at the end, that's the goal for 40 something teams in each division. High School Sports for most are just a fun experience with friends and that is it since most will never come close to a state title. Let the kids experience the playoffs even if they get mercy ruled.
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Post by theicecreamfish on Feb 28, 2024 8:26:51 GMT -6
For context, I'm not pushing for change or anything like that. Just trying to get insight from the coaches'/spectators' perspective. I finished playing my last high school season this year, so I'm just trying to learn more about what others think of high school soccer in Louisiana right now.
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Post by retired_thibodaux_coach on Feb 28, 2024 8:40:39 GMT -6
32 teams.
For pretty much the exact reasons JoshuaC has mentioned.
I've been part of that situation, we went to #1 Catholic-BR and got beat badly 9-0 by half. My players were amazed at their talent level, and so was I. They were completely on another level. That Catholic team went on to win state. I remember a few of my players talking to me at the end of it all about even though they lost, they enjoyed the playoff environment and getting to play a state champion.
I'm sure Catholic was able to give many of their bench players minutes in that half we played. So to me it was a win-win situation for both teams. Both teams got experience where they needed it.
I also feel some programs rather play the 1st round game than have a bye and possibly go 7+ days without a game.
And for some teams, who know they won't win their district, making the playoffs is the ultimate goal for their season.
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Post by bearwatcher on Feb 28, 2024 10:00:16 GMT -6
IMO there is zero reason to have a 32 team playoff. Last year we traveled almost 5 hours and lost in a blowout. I’m glad our boys had a playoff berth, but at the end of the day there are more mismatches with 32 teams. Something that will eventually have to be addressed to is non-select vs select type teams. Football and basketball separated for a reason. It’s the same in soccer… private schools have a huge advantage over public. Regular season games vs private schools are fine, but come playoff time it’s just not the same playing field the majority of the time. The percentage of teams that make it to the quarters and semis, much less the finals is nearly one sided. Considering how the power rating calculation does not accurately reflect the strength of a team, 32 teams should be in the playoffs. A team that beats an opponent 8-0 in the first half should NEVER receive less points for that victory than the opponent received for losing the game. The formula has other quirks that reward teams equally despite playing down, but the biggest is when a strong team beats a weak team in its own division or district. When you are matched with a weaker team in a tournament or district game , you should never receive less points for winning the game than the opponent did for losing it. |
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Post by kingmonkas on Feb 28, 2024 11:36:59 GMT -6
32 teams. For pretty much the exact reasons JoshuaC has mentioned. I've been part of that situation, we went to #1 Catholic-BR and got beat badly 9-0 by half. My players were amazed at their talent level, and so was I. They were completely on another level. That Catholic team went on to win state. I remember a few of my players talking to me at the end of it all about even though they lost, they enjoyed the playoff environment and getting to play a state champion. I'm sure Catholic was able to give many of their bench players minutes in that half we played. So to me it was a win-win situation for both teams. Both teams got experience where they needed it. I also feel some programs rather play the 1st round game than have a bye and possibly go 7+ days without a game. And for some teams, who know they won't win their district, making the playoffs is the ultimate goal for their season. Completely agree with this. Being able to play an "easy" game in the first round of playoffs to get a game under your belt is much more helpful than not playing for 7+ days like mentioned above. And being able to put bench players/underclassmen on the field in a playoff atmosphere is important in building their high school experience, no matter the team that their playing. All the 25-32 seeded teams want one last game together, and most of them, if not all, don't care if they're going to get blown out by a very skilled team. |
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Post by Skippers on Feb 28, 2024 20:59:57 GMT -6
32
Hell, #28 beat #5 a few weeks ago I heard.
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Post by firebruin on Feb 29, 2024 7:52:00 GMT -6
I hated the first round bye as a coach, and I was one of the ones who pushed to go back to 32 teams at the D1 level at a minimum.
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Post by pOkLE on Feb 29, 2024 9:16:02 GMT -6
32 Hell, #28 beat #5 a few weeks ago I heard. Quality zing! And I think #2 beat #31 3-0 in first round. D1 parity, at least this year, was pretty crazy. Other divisions, maybe the level isn’t there, but as numerous posters and coaches have said: great experience for lower seeded teams and much better than lots of days off for higher seed. |
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Post by Skippers on Feb 29, 2024 11:05:48 GMT -6
32 Hell, #28 beat #5 a few weeks ago I heard. Quality zing! And I think #2 beat #31 3-0 in first round. D1 parity, at least this year, was pretty crazy. Other divisions, maybe the level isn’t there, but as numerous posters and coaches have said: great experience for lower seeded teams and much better than lots of days off for higher seed. I agree. |
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Post by rlb2024 on Feb 29, 2024 12:52:09 GMT -6
I'll use my son as an example. He played 14 years of club soccer, with 9 years of travel ball, 5 state championships, 4 trips to Regionals. Played 4 years of HS ball on a mediocre team in a tough district. He's a few years removed from the game now, but what's his favorite soccer memory? The year his 25th-seeded HS team went across the state and beat the 8-seed in the first round, then hosted the second round against the 9-seed and won the game in KFTM when his team's keeper made diving saves on the last two PKs.
It's not always about winning championships -- it's about the journey.
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