B-Conference Divisions- Just for discussion

[Dr. Jason Stockton]

Unfortunately Mr. Rowe we HAD to change the system this season. We added 3 new teams to the B division(AC, WOU, SOU) AND had 3 A division teams drop down into the B division (PLU,WWU, Montana). 6 New teams definitely forced us to make a few changes. . .and then Evergreen dropped out in January.

I agree with you that we need to stick with one system, and I think the one used this past season will work great with a couple small tweaks. Being that this was our first year with a 13 team conference (now 12), we had no idea how well our system would work, and now we are evaluating the regular season and trying to find ways to improve if possible.

Our goal is to have a system that is not only functional, but very flexible as lacrosse continues to grow in the Northwest and teams, unfortunately, don't meet their league requirements and are forced out.

Thanks for your input. Keep it coming.

[Kojima]

good post jason. here's some more thoughts... interesting, about the point system. though if you stay in a division situation, or choose to play all teams, goal differential in head-to-head match-ups still has to be best. that's another reason why i like the idea of two divisions - it's clear cut who's in and who's out come playoff time. this is a same with a complete conference schedule - or, here's an idea,

maybe, if you do go with an 8, 9 or 10 game schedule like some have suggested, alternating opposing teams each year like dan offered, why not have the top seed from each conference win an automatic qualifer to the conference playoffs, and have each of the remaining spots, at-large, as determined by a year-end pncll b division coaches poll?! or something like that. essentially it'd be like nationals. win your division and go onto the conference finals. lose, and it's outta your hands. that could be interesting. maybe you keep the divisions, and it could be top 2 teams from each of the three conferences advancing, with the final two spots being at-large? seeds also being determined by a pncll poll. that'd be more work for those who have to keep a poll, but let's admit it, everyone loves those things and they're pretty simple to do. this may eliminate one of the concerns about legit teams not advancing cause of their geographic alignment. the problem with this tho, teams won't play each other head-to-head, and you're gonna havta go off scores between common opponents, and that's kinda weak... anyway,

just throwing thoughts out there. i still think a north/south split is best - you travel less, but still play a very competitive schedule. you could also have a master schedule, playing 6 division games, and 3 out-of-division games each year, switching your ood opponents each year so that you'd play 3 ood games against x,y,z one year, then against a,b,c the next - right now this means you'd get 9 conference games in, without having to play a team twice, which i think is a bonus, plus any other conference or out-of-conference games you choose. this option would also work with the addition of teams, it'd just be tougher to make playoffs. if a team leaves, it could hurt, but you could still get in the minimum 8 games.

playoff seeds could be determined by divisional records, only. the top four from each conference could advance to the elite eight, as in the format i suggested above.. N1 vs S4, and so on. i think this could work extremely well and satisfy the concerns of all parties, inc. those who wanna play a complete conference schedule and those who wanna travel a little less for cost concerns, etc. i'd also argue there'd be less debate over who should be in the post-season, cause really, if you can't finish top-4 in a division of 6 teams, you shouldn't advance. and if you think you're division is so much stronger than the other, that your no.4 team can take their no.1 team, you'll have the opportunity to prove it.

[Kyle Berggren]

Steve, good post.... The way I see it... it's moving to two options...

East, West, South
North, South

Regardless, and 8 team playoff would be great, and would get my vote. We have more teams, it gives more playoff action, which is always fun.

The North/South proposal means more travelling than the EWS, and more cost.

[Rowelax]

I agree that we had to change this year because of all of the add-on team. But you are going to have changes every year. I feel that this is the best system. My thing is lets say that we get 3-4 new teams next year or 2 A teams leave. Can we keep this system intack without a major overhaul again. The thing I don't want to see in the future is a major overhaul every year or couple of years. I know that is a lot to ask considering the growth of the sport.

As for the playoff system 8 team would be good and would be feasible because last weekend nothing really happened exept playing for the playoffs. So an 8 team wouldn't extend the season.