|
From the Sports Desk - 06/01/06
Come one, come all to the N.C. High School Athletic Association playoffs.
That’s the result of action taken at the May 2-3 NCHSAA Board of Directors meeting to expand the playoff brackets from 48 to 64 teams in several sports.
While I’ve been critical in the past of too many teams reaching the post season, the latest expansion actually makes sense.
The move to 64 teams will eliminate first-round byes that 16 teams, mainly conference champions, have been receiving in 48-team fields for basketball and soccer.
An extra round of playoff games will be added for baseball, softball and volleyball as those fields go from 32 to 64 teams
This year’s women’s soccer playoffs, which are combined for 1-A and 2-A teams, included 64 teams with no byes.
Many coaches have felt they are better off playing a first-round game, probably against a weak opponent, than having a bye. It gives a chance to get those playoff jitters out of the way before meeting a stronger team.
Squads receiving byes sometimes struggle, and even lose, in their first games when playing an opponent that had already gotten its feet wet in the post season.
“I feel like you’re better off playing,” said Cindi Simmons, Smoky Mountain’s women’s basketball coach of eliminating byes. “It keeps you in your routine, and it helps to get rid of first-game jitters. If you have a bye, you’ll probably be playing a tough opponent in the second round.”
The Lady Mustangs were nearly upset in their first playoff game last season after having a first-round bye. The previous year, they played in the first round then knocked off a team that was off in round one.
“I don’t like byes that much,” said Dolphus Brown, SM’s men’s soccer coach. “I’d prefer to be rewarded with a game at home against a team that we should beat.”
Most of the recommendations approved by the NCHSAA Board came from committees consisting of coaches for various sports, according to Si Simmons, SM’s golf coach and a member of the NCHSAA Board.
He said the elimination of first-round byes was a key reason for the decision to expand the playoffs.
Another significant change is allowing players on JV football teams to play a maximum of eight quarters with the varsity. This will only be allowed in emergency or “lack of depth” situation, according to a news release from the NCHSAA.
“I don’t think that rule will be used much,” said Si Simmons, who added several safeguards will be put in place to limit playing time for players who cross over from JV to varsity.
Football players will not be allowed to wear shoulder pads until the fourth day of practice in the upcoming season.
The three-whistle system for soccer officiating will be eliminated in favor of a return to the diagonal system previously used. The referee in the middle of the field will be in charge of most calls.
Accumulation of five yellow cards will continue to lead to suspension in soccer, but tracking will start over before the playoffs begin. Some players with four yellow cards had been intentionally getting a fifth card in the regular season so the suspension would take place prior to the playoffs.
Once postseason play starts, three yellows will lead to a suspension for one game. Five will mean suspension from the remainder of the playoffs.
|
