MIAA FOOTBALL AD HOC COMMITTEE

1. MIAA FOOTBALL AD HOC COMMITTEE “STATEWIDE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF PROPOSAL”

2. CONCERNS ADDRESSED SCHEDULING: • Replaced commissioner with Scheduling Committee with representationfrom eachSECTIONAL DIVISION (Principal/AD) FINANCE: • Financial decisions made by MIAA Finance Committee • AD HOC Committee recommendation: 1. Weeks 8 through 10: Gate split between home/away teams 2. State Semi-Final and Championship Game: MIAA Gate ALIGNMENT: • Please refer to “Proposed Statewide Football Alignments” supplement. Enrollment #’s based on 2007 enrollments to maintain consistency with other MIAA sport cycles (2 year cycle) • This alignment will be adjusted in 2 years (2013) • Requests for divisional appeals will be heard by the football committee as per published TMC timetable and guidelines

3. GOALS OF PROPOSAL • TO INCREASE THE # OF POST SEASON OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENT ATHLETES WHO PLAY FOOTBALL • TO PAVE THE WAY FOR A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP IN FOOTBALL • EQUITY BASED ON ENROLLMENT, DIVISIONAL SIZE & COMPETITIVE LEVEL • CONSISTENCY AMONG MIAA SPONSORED PROGRAMS

4. OUR MODEL Re-alignment by enrollment AND Geography (Consistent with other MIAA sports) **For mathematical consistency in scheduling, divisions should reflect an even number of teams** • Example: Eastern MA • 6 Divisions in the North (16 teams in each) • 6 Divisions in the South (approx. 16 teams in each) Western MA • 3 Divisions (14 teams in each) • Divisions 2, 4, 6 (to match up vs. Central and Eastern) Central MA • 3 Divisions (Div. 2=16 teams, Div. 4=20 teams, Div. 6=16) • Divisions 2, 4, 6 (to match up vs. Central and Eastern) • Alignment uses formula for Vocational, Private, Boston City, and Public 3. Cooperative teams are listed by host school and enrollments are combined.

5. Alignment Formula – Statewide(multipliers)*Used by 8 other States* The goal of this formula is to consider maintaining equality in enrollment, while balancing competitive consistency. We believe this model places schools in a competitive environment with like enrollment. All enrollments figures will be based on “male” enrollment. Public Schools = 1.0 Private Schools = 1.3 • Example: Team A – Male Enrollment 1,000 • 1,000 x 1.3 = 1,300 (adjusted enrollment for re-alignment) Vocational/Boston City Schools = .3 • Example: Team A – Male Enrollment 1,000 • 1,000 x .3 = 300 (adjusted enrollment for re-alignment)

6. MEAT & POTATOES • 10 OR 11 GAME SCHEDULE (same as current) • 13 TOTAL GAMES FOR FINALISTS (same as current) • CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES HELD ON SAME SAT. AS NOW • ELIMINATES 3 GAMES IN 9 DAYS • SCHEDULE MADE UP BY SCHEDULING COMMITTEE – CONSISTING OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM EACH SECTIONAL DIVISION (Principal or AD) • SCHEDULE GAMES WITH TEAMS IN YOUR DIVISION • 1 POSSIBLE OPEN DATE (week 10 of season) • THANKSGIVING OPPONENT REMAINS THE SAME • 8 TEAMS FROM EACH DIVISION QUALIFY FOR PLAYOFFS50% • ELIMINATES LEAGUES & LEAGUE SCHEDULES AS WE KNOW THEM

7. EXAMPLE PLANConsistent Scheduling Across State 2011 (Anticipated Format Start) August 22-24 Conditioning days August 25 1st Day of Practice September 10 Week 1 September 17 Week 2 September 24 Week 3 October 1 Week 4 October 8 Week 5 October 15 Week 6 October 22 Week 7 (last divisional game before playoffs)

8. EXAMPLE PLANcontinued….. October 29/30 Week 8 *Playoffs Begin Div.’s 2,4,6 – Div.’s 1, 3, 5 open date • Top 8 teams in each division: 1vs.8, 2vs.7, 3vs.6, 4vs.5 • Higher seed is home team • Remaining teams in division (non-qualifiers) – scheduled by Scheduling Committee November 5/6 Week 9 (9th game for all teams) *Div.’s 2,4,6: 2nd Round of Playoffs • 4 Remaining playoff teams play – remaining teams scheduled by Scheduling Committee • Teams that lost first round of playoffs scheduled *Div.’s 1,3,5: 1st Round of Playoffs • Top 8 teams in each division: 1vs.8, 2vs.7, 3vs.6, 4vs.5 • Higher seed is home team • Remaining teams in division (non-qualifiers) – scheduled by Scheduling Committee November 12/13 Week 10 (10th game for all teams) *Div.’s 2,4,6: Divisional Playoff • Top 2 teams in each division play – higher seed home team • Remaining teams may have option of open date *Div.’s 1,3,5: 2nd Round of Playoffs • 4 Remaining playoff teams play – remaining teams scheduled by Scheduling Committee • Remaining teams may have option of open date

9. EXAMPLE PLANcontinued….. November 19(Friday) *Div.’s 2,4,6: STATE SEMI-FINAL GAMES (N vs. S, C vs. W) • Winners of N/S DIVISIONAL GAME play winner of C/W games *Div.’s 1,3,5: STATE SEMI-FINAL GAMES • Top 2 teams in each division play STATE SEMI-FINAL GAMES: • Neutral Site • This date takes place of Tues. after T-day Game (eliminates 3 games in 9 days!) • Teams playing on this date still have 6 days between games November 25 Thanksgiving Day Games (as usual) • All but 2 teams in each division will have 12-13 days rest • Super bowl teams will have 6 days rest – no different than playing on a Saturday and coming back to play on the following Friday. December 4 (Sat) STATE CHAMPIONSHIP!! • True State Champion Crowned – like other sports • Same end date as current – No extension of season! • Less intrusive on winter sports!

10. Pro’s of Plan INCLUDE MORE STUDENT ATHLETES IN POST SEASON • NEW SYSTEM WOULD MORE THAN TRIPLE TEAMS ELIGIBLE FOR PLAYOFFS – 50% OF TEAMS IN! – CONSISTENT WITH OTHER MIAA TOURNAMENTS EQUITY • TEAMS WITH LIKE ENROLLMENT PLAYING FOR TITLE • BUILT IN ALIGNMENT MULTIPLIER TO ALIGN TEAMS COMPETITIVELY • CONSISTENT DIVISIONAL ALIGNMENT PAVES WAY FOR STATE CHAMPIONSHIP • CONSISTENT WITH ALL OTHER MIAA TOURNAMENTS • HONORS THANKSGIVING • ELIMINATES CONSTANT BREAKING UP OF LEAGUES • MORE PLAYOFF FOOTBALL FOR FANS/COMMUNITIES!!! • EDUCATIONALLY SOUND – ELIMINATES TUESDAY EVENING GAMES CUTS DOWN BY 50% THE # OF TEAMS OVERLAPPING WINTER SEASON

11. THANK-YOU! RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED BY THE MIAA FOOTBALL AD HOC COMMITTEE