Competition

OBJECTIVES

1. Increase game competition
   1. Decrease the number of lopsided games and running-clock situations
2. Improve the on-ice product
   1. Develop players via fair and consistent competition
3. Place teams where they have the appropriate potential to compete
   1. Account for most factors influencing on-ice performance
4. Properly structure the Open Division
   1. Varying stages of the “maturation process”
5. Minimize the “human factor” in team placement
   1. Objective metrics rather than subjective opinions; repeatable

PREMISE

COMPETITIVE FORMULA

1. Account for PIAA-based enrollment
   1. Male students in grades 9-11
2. Account for 3 years of winning percentages
   1. 3 years represents a balance of recent and historical success while not giving too much credence to a single season of great success or unusual struggles
   2. Weighted values are applied for which classification in which that winning percentage was obtained
3. Sort teams based on sum of enrollment and weighted winning percentages
   1. TOTAL = ENROLLMENT + (PCT1 x WEIGHT1) + (PCT2 x WEIGHT2) + (PCT3 x WEIGHT3)

2014-15 IMPLEMENTATION

1. Open Division redefined as "Division 2"
   1. Move all pure teams into an appropriate classification
      1. No pure teams permitted in Division 2 except 2nd Varsity teams
   2. Define limitations for co-op teams
      1. A school with 12+ players and 1+ goalie in grades 9-12 from the same school shall not be permitted to partner with another school district to form a co-op team; must be “pure”
      2. Violations shall make the team ineligible for post-season play
   3. ​Divide Division 2 into two tiers by applying the Competitive Formula
      1. ​Class B is upper half (approximate) of co-op teams and all 2nd Varsity teams
      2. Class C is lower half (approximate) of co-op teams and all new co-op teams
2. Apply the Competitive Formula to all pure teams
   1. Teams are aligned into 3 classifications (AAA, AA, A)
   2. Phased approach
3. Phase 1: 2014-15 season
   1. Limited movement clause: No movement “up”; pure teams placed by the Competitive Formula
   2. Classifications divided at “competitively appropriate” points on the ranking list
4. Phase 2: future seasons
   1. Phase 1 only guaranteed to apply for one season
   2. Review process after 2014-15 season: Competitive Formula, Alignment of Classifications
   3. Long-term consideration is evenly-divided classifications

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

1. Frequency of re-alignment
   1. Initial need to re-align more frequently in order to achieve an accurate alignment
2. Teams requesting to be moved to a higher classification
   1. Process for approving request
   2. Option to move a team down
3. Entrance of existing Varsity teams
   1. Where to place a team that is new to the PIHL but has been competing in another league
4. New teams
   1. All new pure teams placed into Class A for at least their first season
   2. Apply the Competitive Formula for subsequent seasons
5. Divisional alignments
   1. Number of conferences and divisions, if necessary
6. Game schedule
   1. Total number of games
   2. Scheduling template options (balanced vs. imbalanced)
7. Playoff format
   1. Number of teams, byes, home games, etc.
   2. Considerations for differential in strength of schedules
8. Clear definition of Co-Op Team
   1. Maximum number of players from one school
9. Maturation of Co-Op Teams
   1. Process for helping/encouraging co-op schools to become pure teams
   2. Moving teams up a level within the Co-Op Division
10. Create two levels within the Co-Op Division
    1. Improve the competitive balance among those teams
    2. Options: maturity, geography, formula, opt-in, other
11. Junior Varsity and Middle School re-alignment
    1. Opt-in, formula-based, geographically-oriented, or hybrid/combination
    2. Future implementation or phased approach