The NJSIAA has proposed changes to the football playoffs that could take effect with the 2015 season. The announcement was made late last week, but the NJSIAA has not given a definitive timetable for implementing the changes.
Jack DuBois, the associate director of the NJSIAA, said he believes the changes will be in place by 2015.
The recommended changes must be approved by the program review committee and executive committee of the NJSIAA before they can be activated.
The new plan was created at the last meeting of the football committee. It calls for the top 32 teams from public schools in the state’s five groups to make the playoffs based on their power points.
When the 32 teams are determined, they will then be divided into four sections. Those four sections will be South, Central, North 1 and North 2. Eight teams will be sent to each section based on their geographic location.
Cinnaminson head football coach Mario Patrizi said, “It will definitely be interesting once the 32 teams are selected with their power points as to how they will divide the teams into each section. Hopefully they get the teams to as close to where they need to be, but sometimes it doesn’t work out.”
If these changes are implemented, whether this coming fall or next, Coach Patrizi said that scouting potential playoff opponents will be difficult.
“The drawback is that you’re not going to find out what’s going on until last minute. So, for scouting purposes, things will be a little crazy because you won’t be able to scout well in advance. You will only have a couple of days to prepare your team.”
Coach Patrizi said that he has not talked to his team about the proposed changes yet, but has spoken to his coaching staff.
“I spoke to the coaches. We are all on the same page. I understand what the state is doing. They want the top 32 teams. That is what you want.”
The Pirates have jumped around sections the past couple of seasons, and there is no guarantee that they will be in the same section in 2015 as they were in 2014.
“Each year is different. With the old system, we were in South 2 in 2013 and Central 2 in 2014. In terms of other sports here, boy’s soccer played in South 2, while the girls played in Central 1,” Coach Patrizi said.
The NJSIAA has not said when it will make a final decision on the proposed changes, but we will bring you the decision as soon as it is made.
