State tourney ratings still a topic of concern
MIAA hopes to have website by end of the month
The Tournament Management Committee met for 90 minutes Wednesday to clarify the many questions surrounding the new MIAA statewide postseason.
The new power rating system continues to be a topic of discussion. The Margin of Victory (MOV) formula uses variables such as win/loss, MOV and Strength of Schedule (SOS) to produce a rating.
The TMC defends the MOV, arguing most leagues are split between large and small schools and this system provides a fair comparison of the very different leagues across the state. By capping the point differential sport by sport, it removes the motivation of coaches to run up the score and still provide a quality rating formula.
Committee member Michael Devoll of Old Rochester, who coaches the boys soccer team, pointed out that the three-goal cap in soccer could force teams to change their strategy, perhaps pushing for an extra goal in a 4-2 game. Athletic director Jared
Shannon of Wahconah questioned the prudence of lacrosse and basketball both having a similar 10-point cap, but TMC Chairman Jim O’Leary pointed out the various committees had no issue with the established cap.
Many are waiting to see what the end product is, namely an MIAA website in which the power rankings for each sport can be found. MIAA associate director Sherry Bryant and O’Leary both say it will happen shortly, and are shooting for a late September date provided the schools input the information accurately.
St. Mary’s athletic director Jeff Newhall wanted to know how far into decimal places would the ratings go before they are considered even. O’Leary suggested four at which point Newhall made a successful motion to ensure that language could be found on the website.
Down the hall from the TMC meeting, the MIAA Football Committee met regarding the 2021 fall season. They quickly went about the business of finding a successor to Jim Pignataro, who retired as the chairman of the football committee.
Stoneham athletic director David Pignone nominated Shrewsbury athletic director Jay Costa as the new chairman and he was voted in by a 14-0-1. Costa proposed Northeast Regional football coach/ athletic director Don Heres as vice chairman and he was elected 15-0. Pignone was elected unanimously as secretary of the committee.
MIAA football committee liaison Richard Pearson confirmed the TMC approved the football format in that teams had to play a minimum of seven games to qualify for the tournament. If a school lost a game due to COVID circumstances, an appeal could be requested.
There was some discussion regarding the possibility of reducing the times of quarters from the current 12 minutes. Many of the smaller schools have expressed concern that the extra time could present a potential safety concern.
It also has ramifications with trying to squeeze eight games into Gillette Stadium on state championship week. As presently constructed, games were reduced to 10-minute quarters in order to get all the games into Foxboro. Many coaches feel it is unfair to spend all season playing 12minute quarters, then go to 10 for the biggest game of the season.
Game times also present a conflict with the National Federation of High Schools, which mandates that all football games must be 12minute quarters. Pearson has tried to reach out to the NFHS in the past to explain the situation with Gillette Stadium in hope that they would bend but to no avail.
A subcommittee will meet to discuss how games can be played at Gillette with 12minute quarters.