What is your Scheduling Preference?

[Streak One]

What is your preference on how league schedules get set up? Having the top expected teams match up early in league play, at the end of league play or kind of mixed up to keep some intrigue.

I started thinking about this with Jesuit and Sheldon playing last week in the Delta, Serra-St. Francis going this week, Manteca playing Central Catholic and Oakdale to end the season, etc.

 

[pastyfastquick3]

I like it mixed up. I think it makes things interesting. At least from my perspective in the SFL, the top teams are likely to meet again in the playoffs, so playing early can sort of spread out the games IMO

 

[Cal 14]

When I was at Salinas (a.k.a., "back in my day"), the big rivals always met at the end of the year in league. I'm happy to see that the Gabilan is moved back to this to a certain degree by putting Palma-Salinas as the last game, but I understood why they would open league play for a while, too (Hollister was Palma's historic rival).

I think having the big game at the regular of the year builds up the intrigue. Nothing like screwing up playoff plans for your rival.

 

[larry legend33]

Oak Ridge will be 5-0 going into first league game with Folsom which may end up being the title. Get your ticket early because sellout are EDH

 

[pastyfastquick3]

Oak Ridge will be 5-0 going into first league game with Folsom which may end up being the title. Get your ticket early because sellout are EDH

And has the worst win in the section, against a Chico team! They haven't played anyone yet.

For someone who criticized Folsom's schedule for years.....you sure give OR a pass. Wonder why.

 

[Streak One]

When I was at Salinas (a.k.a., "back in my day"), the big rivals always met at the end of the year in league. I'm happy to see that the Gabilan is moved back to this to a certain degree by putting Palma-Salinas as the last game, but I understood why they would open league play for a while, too (Hollister was Palma's historic rival).

I think having the big game at the regular of the year builds up the intrigue. Nothing like screwing up playoff plans for your rival.

I agree on big rivals/top teamsplaying to end the year. The best teams are usually improving each week so the later they play, the better the game should be.

I also like midseason because it helps break up the league play that could be top heavy.

 

[FBAddict]

What is your preference on how league schedules get set up? Having the top expected teams match up early in league play, at the end of league play or kind of mixed up to keep some intrigue.

I started thinking about this with Jesuit and Sheldon playing last week in the Delta, Serra-St. Francis going this week, Manteca playing Central Catholic and Oakdale to end the season, etc.

I like having the league key mark at the end of the season. But that would require leagues changes - for example the WCAL usually rotates one week up (or down depending on your perspective) every year for their eight league teams.

 

[Rocknrolus 95361]

I don't like that Oakdale v Sonora is now opening game. It should aways be last game. Those concrete should be freezing not burning hot!
But I have a question. At Mirimante v Oakdale game at start of second quarter they had team captains talk with officials. After watching first quarter. I think they were telling them to slow down the officials are too tired of running up and down the field! 41 points in first quarter! They listened! They only scored 39 in second quarter. Watching it online I am thinking who are those kids wearing Oakdale uniforms?. I love my Oakdale kids. But they are just not really great athletes. But on Friday night they were running away from the other team. Can't remember an Oakdale team was actually faster than the team they played. They are well coached and are hard working kids. But let's be honest Oakdale is 5 and 12 in section championship games. Now Oakdale does have good HS football players. But No one from Oakdale is going to Alabama of Georgia! Well unless they are softball players!

 

[mrbig864]

What is your preference on how league schedules get set up? Having the top expected teams match up early in league play, at the end of league play or kind of mixed up to keep some intrigue.

I started thinking about this with Jesuit and Sheldon playing last week in the Delta, Serra-St. Francis going this week, Manteca playing Central Catholic and Oakdale to end the season, etc

While I’m not naive and do understand that there are certain teams who are near the top of their league year in and year out. With that said, I think the integrity of the season requires that league schedules rotate fairly each year. You mention Jesuit and Sheldon as examples, but Sheldon was a 3rd place team last year. Folsom was a 3rd place team last year, and I feel like OR was near to bottom of the SFL last year. I’d guess my point is, the leagues can’t just ‘KNOW’ the top 2 teams every year, so why bother even trying. Set up balanced schedules and let things play out.

 

[ThunderRam]

While I’m not naive and do understand that there are certain teams who are near the top of their league year in and year out. With that said, I think the integrity of the season requires that league schedules rotate fairly each year. You mention Jesuit and Sheldon as examples, but Sheldon was a 3rd place team last year. Folsom was a 3rd place team last year, and I feel like OR was near to bottom of the SFL last year. I’d guess my point is, the leagues can’t just ‘KNOW’ the top 2 teams every year, so why bother even trying. Set up balanced schedules and let things play out.

I’m with mrbig on this. Rotating is the best, most fair thing.

That said, I’ve seen leagues that rotate each year EXCEPT the last league game which is reserved for a rivalry game.

Back in the day when there wasn’t a traditional postseason the last game was usually played on Armistice Day (November 11th) or on Thanksgiving Day. Those games were almost always played between longstanding rivals.

For example, in the SJS, you had: Sac Hi v. McClatchy, Amador v. Jackson, Oakdale v. Sonora, Placer v. Roseville, etc.

I'd like to see all leagues establish a rivalry game to be played on the same week. Some leagues might prefer the rivalry game to be played earlier rather than later, as the last game of the season might not hold the same interest if certain teams are playoff bound and/or already have the league title wrapped up. But a rivalry week would be cool nonetheless.

I should think a good balance would be "around" the 7th or 8th game, as undefeated teams would likely still have something to play for versus the last week of the regular season. To me, it makes most sense to play a rivalry game closest to the peak of the season when things are usually still on the line for everyone.

But I can certainly see the argument for playing the rivalry game on the final week.

Now, of course, a league has to have an equal number of teams to make the above work.

Using the 6-team SFL as an example, their league rivalry week might look something like this:

Rocklin v. Whitney
Del Oro v. Granite Bay
Folsom v. Oak Ridge

For odd numbered leagues you're leaving teams out of the mix, which might be ok if they don't have a naturally rivalry with any of the teams in their league. But I suspect that's not the norm.

 

[RLS13]

Part of the issue for some leagues is the equity formula. Traditional rivals cant play at the end of the season anymore. Pacific Grove and Carmel have not been in the same division for years, they now play the first game of the season. Same for Gonzales and King City.

The "logic" behind equity means most teams are the same, so predicting who maybe the best matchups is difficult. In theory, every week should be a competitive match up.

But the PCAL Gabilan could easily take the big four (Palma, Salinas, Aptos and Hollister) and make sure they play each other over the last 3 weeks. 9 out of 10 years those game would decide the title. The other divisions maybe a little more balanced/difficult to predict.

Before the equity leagues, I always thought it was great to see the rivalries at the end of the year. Even if 1 team was better, the other team would get hypoed just to try and keep their rival form the playoffs, tittle etc...

 

[Streak One]

While I’m not naive and do understand that there are certain teams who are near the top of their league year in and year out. With that said, I think the integrity of the season requires that league schedules rotate fairly each year. You mention Jesuit and Sheldon as examples, but Sheldon was a 3rd place team last year. Folsom was a 3rd place team last year, and I feel like OR was near to bottom of the SFL last year. I’d guess my point is, the leagues can’t just ‘KNOW’ the top 2 teams every year, so why bother even trying. Set up balanced schedules and let things play out.

All very good points. I was talking more in theory if you could control schedule and not a practical change. And there are suprise teams that exceed past results every year.

 

[northbaybbguru]

I'd prefer if possible to save the potential league champion deciding game for the final league week if possible but obviously that's hard to do in alot of leagues. Not so much up here in the NBL though as it's been Rancho or CN for pretty much a decade. It's why I've preached to anyone that will listen that the Rancho vs CN game should be at the end of the schedule EVERY YEAR GOING FORWARD until another team can prove itself worthy of consideration. There have been a few 1 yr wonders over the yrs but none long term other than Rancho and CN.

Since you asked that's my preference.