New Hampshire Index Plan stirs debate
Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com
The high schol football season isn't even a week old, and already we have controversy.
The New Hampshire Index Plan, a formula that will be used to determine playoff teams in all NHIAA sports, was the focus of some criticism in emails sent by NHIAA football coaches to New Hampshire Football Report this week.
The New Hampshire Index Plan awards more points for a road victory (five) than it does for a victory at home (four), but, unlike the previous point-rating system used in NHIAA footballl, does not factor in the quality of the opponent. The old system would reward a team more for beating an opponent with a 6-2 record than it would for beating a team with a 3-5 record.
Some coaches called the system unfair because teams don't play an equal number of home games.
There is also some question about whether or not non-league games will count this season. Winnacunnet athletic director Carol Dozibrin, chair of the NHIAA football committee, said that non-league games played during the current two-year cycle (2010 and 2011 seasons) will have no bearing on tournament position.
Dozibrin also said NHIAA football will have tiebreaking procedures different from other NHIAA sports, but that head-to-head competition will be used as the first tiebreaker.
Undoubtedly the new plan will be a topic of conversation during the upcoming season.
