NCISAA: Playoffs restructured, other topics discussed

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on October 17, 2016 9:57 AM

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By RUDY COGGINS

rcoggins@newsargus.com

GREENSBORO -- The N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association will give more teams the opportunity to win state championships on the Classes 1-A and 2-A levels beginning this season.

The Board of Directors approved 16-team formats in six sports -- volleyball, boys' soccer, boys' and girls' basketball, girls' soccer and baseball.

"At the 3-A level, over 60 percent of the schools got into the playoffs, but at the 1-A and 2-A level, only about 40 percent of schools were getting into the playoffs," said Michael Taylor, board member and athletics director at Wayne Country Day.

"We have been looking at the 16-team format for years."

It's not a typical 16-team format, however.

The playoffs is now four rounds with the top four seeds earning byes into the quarterfinals. The remaining 12 teams will play a "pod" format that will take place at three different sites on the same day.

Taylor said the new system "evens" out the playing field.

"You will have more competitive games," Taylor said. "It will be a different type of playoff, but an interesting one."

The soccer playoffs kick off Oct. 18 and volleyball begins Oct. 21.

Girls' tennis kept its eight-team format, but made two changes. The higher-seeded team will play host to quarterfinal- and semifinal-round matches. The two survivors meet at Campbell University for the state title.

WCDS is the three-time defending state champion.

Taylor said the season-ending NCISAA cross country state championship meets may be moved from Hagan Stone Park in Greensboro. The meet is slated for Oct. 28.

The Board of Directors and Board of Managers is considering a four-classification proposal and plans to further discuss the submission during their winter session.

The four-classification breakdown is:

• 1-A -- 100 students or less;

• 2-A -- 199 students or less;

• 3-A -- 299 students or less;

• 4-A -- 399 students or less.

Numbers are based on average daily membership from ninth to 12th grade. Charlotte Providence Day is the largest school (582 students), while Albemarle on the northeastern coast has 16 students.

Christ School, St. Mary's (Raleigh) and Salem Academy are single-gender schools. Bethel Christian and Southampton (Va.) Academy are non-NCISAA schools who participate in football.

The National Federation of High Schools (NFHS) has required that all state athletic associations develop and adopt a pitch-count policy for baseball. Board members expect to approve a policy during the winter meeting and implement it during the 2017 season.

"It is a pretty exciting time for the NCISAA," Taylor said.