Are you satisfied with the current format?

 

KY will have two teams outside of the top 50 playing in state quarterfinal games. The downside is there is a high probability of two non-competitive games (which is typically the case each year due to the current layout).

 

I think KHSAA would suggest the format helps promote the sport throughout the state, by providing a path to an extended post season run for all teams. Geography is potentially a challenge in the 1st round (Russell can't play at Henderson Co on a week night). If all games were played in central KY, the distance would be reasonable for most schools. The semi-state format limits travel, however it creates serious mismatches in the QFs.

 

Thoughts or suggestions?

The KHSAA has indicated they value geographically diverse state playoffs and championships over competitiveness.

Who decides the seeding? Too many chances for corruption if you try to seed it as someone will always think that got the raw end. Additionally how do you seed a team from WKY vs a team from EKY if they never played or even have common opponents?

 

Random draw is by far the best way to go, IMO.

High school sports, in KY at least, are as much about participation as winning. Probably more the former than the latter.

 

I don’t see this changing any time soon.

OH football playoffs use computer power rankings. The Maher rankings do the same for soccer and by the end of the year are a very good indicator of who is the favorite. I think Maher correctly predicted all but one of the eastern KY games last night.

 

Ryle, Highlands, Dixie, NDA, CC, Boone all play Lexington and/or Louisville schools. Computer seeding would actually encourage more of this with teams in the next tier to ensure you aren't penalized by your immediate region. Russell has understood this and will compete against central and NKY schools. This year didn't go well for them outside of E.KY but they deserve credit for trying. The better WKY schools would be smart to add an Assumption, Manual, Male, SHA. You would see fewer 18-1 records vs weak schedules, it would actually encourage better match-ups in the regular season.

 

It can be done, as long as humans are not involved in the rankings-no politics.

 

 

Who decides the seeding? Too many chances for corruption if you try to seed it as someone will always think that got the raw end. Additionally how do you seed a team from WKY vs a team from EKY if they never played or even have common opponents?

 

Random draw is by far the best way to go, IMO.

It should be classed. No small school has a shot at winning a state title in either soccer or volleyball based on the current setup.

It should be classed. No small school has a shot at winning a state title in either soccer or volleyball based on the current setup.

Except the state final was not only won by a single A school less than 10 years ago, their opponent was also a single A school. It was a repeat of the all “A” final just with a different outcome.

OH football playoffs use computer power rankings. The Maher rankings do the same for soccer and by the end of the year are a very good indicator of who is the favorite. I think Maher correctly predicted all but one of the eastern KY games last night.

 

Ryle, Highlands, Dixie, NDA, CC, Boone all play Lexington and/or Louisville schools. Computer seeding would actually encourage more of this with teams in the next tier to ensure you aren't penalized by your immediate region. Russell has understood this and will compete against central and NKY schools. This year didn't go well for them outside of E.KY but they deserve credit for trying. The better WKY schools would be smart to add an Assumption, Manual, Male, SHA. You would see fewer 18-1 records vs weak schedules, it would actually encourage better match-ups in the regular season.

 

It can be done, as long as humans are not involved in the rankings-no politics.

 

I'm just not a fan of Computer Rankings, especially if they have a preseason bias built in. I don't know where you live but travel from Western Ky to Louisville isn't a short or pleasant trip and driving from the mountains to Lexington isn't a fun time trip either.

Except the state final was not only won by a single A school less than 10 years ago, their opponent was also a single A school. It was a repeat of the all “A” final just with a different outcome.

Yes. A fluke final that has happened once in the 25 year history of the event should define whether the sport is classed. Makes total sense.

It should be classed. No small school has a shot at winning a state title in either soccer or volleyball based on the current setup.

 

This and baseball are the buffers bn basketball and classification. As long as other sports are going w 1 champ it is ok.

This and baseball are the buffers bn basketball and classification. As long as other sports are going w 1 champ it is ok.

I'm OK with every sport being classes except basketball. I get tradition, even though the KHSAA doesn't mind altering tradition despite crying from the mountain that changing tradition would ruin the Sweet 16.

 

But small schools do not compete for state titles on a regular basis in soccer and especially volleyball. Create three classes in every sport to match what they already do in track and cross country. Leave basketball alone.

Yes. A fluke final that has happened once in the 25 year history of the event should define whether the sport is classed. Makes total sense.

 

You said they don’t have a shot. Clearly they do. To further illustrate:

 

1999 St Henry boys made it, lost to Ballard

2000 Holy Cross girls made it, lost to Sacred Heart

 

We also have schools like Westport and Jefferson town in the early boys years. Admittedly I don’t know their size but let’s just say I don’t hear them mentioned anymore.

 

That’s not even counting the schools that make it to the tournament and then get knocked out. Last year Collegiate was the favorite on the boys side and barely lost to Cov Cath even when they weren’t playing their best player.

 

Let me clarify, I don’t have a problem with classing the schools. Seeding however goes against the spirit of high school athletics.

Yes. A fluke final that has happened once in the 25 year history of the event should define whether the sport is classed. Makes total sense.

 

and a fluke that's only happened in soccer. Volleyball is even more limited - only the same 4 schools have won the title the last 35 years. think about that...35 years, and the title has bounced back and forth between only 4 schools...all while volleyball has grown to become the #1 girls sport in Kentucky. The gap is incredible.

Good discussion, which is now evolving into one of competitive advantage. Soccer and volleyball are highly technical. Unlike football, track and to a lesser extent basketball, you can't simply win by having superior athletes. Proper training outside of the high school season for an additional 6-8 months in a club environment becomes more critical to success. These sports have a "pay to play" model.

 

Ultimately success and competitive imbalance becomes a product of school demographics. There aren't many schools outside of the 3 metro areas in KY, loaded with kids who have parents willing or capable of spending the thousands of dollars on training. Private schools and large public schools in more affluent zip codes have a massive advantage. That's not easy to fix, its not a matter of simple enrollment numbers.

Good discussion, which is now evolving into one of competitive advantage. Soccer and volleyball are highly technical. Unlike football, track and to a lesser extent basketball, you can't simply win by having superior athletes. Proper training outside of the high school season for an additional 6-8 months in a club environment becomes more critical to success. These sports have a "pay to play" model.

 

Ultimately success and competitive imbalance becomes a product of school demographics. There aren't many schools outside of the 3 metro areas in KY, loaded with kids who have parents willing or capable of spending the thousands of dollars on training. Private schools and large public schools in more affluent zip codes have a massive advantage. That's not easy to fix, its not a matter of simple enrollment numbers.

 

There is no fix. Everyone thinks classes are a fix. All that means then is that the smaller private schools in populated areas will win the small school division, and everything else will remain the same. I suppose KHSAA could do what OHSAA does and limit the number of players from the same club team that can be on a high school team, but honestly that hasn't really changed who wins in Ohio - plus they have like 4 classes I think.

 

The KHSAA probably feels they can't fix the demographics, so they figure they will at least cover geography.

 

And who made basketball special? classes for all sports or none.

 

But I would find a way to get the Region winner and runner-up to State across the board. Too many good teams in deep Regions being left behind in both soccer and volleyball, while the winner of Region 1 or 15 goes out and loses 10-0.