PLAYOFF MEETING Mon April 16, 2018

December 2016:  The NJSFC proposal is created and vetted thoroughly by the NJFCA through polling, surveys and regional meetings. Changes are made to the plan as a result of the feedback. February 2017:  The Coalition Plan is created by another group of AD's that feel they have a more effective plan.

May 2017: The NJFCA EC realizes one could be passed that would utilize maxpreps or unknown algorithms, if both are placed on the ballot for December 2017. At that time the NJFCA EC asks the leaders of both proposals if they are open to a compromise of both plans that would be dubbed the "United Proposal". Both parties agreed and the non-partisan United Committee was formed. We also execute a state survey to elicit feedback regarding the Coalition Plan at this time to determine what elements are desirable by our coaches.

June 2017: The United Committee met on Tues June 6th and devised the “United Plan”. All parties in the meeting unanimously agreed to the proposal. At this time it was agreed upon by all parties that we would only address playoff structure and leave the playoff qualification/seeding (power points) portion out of the proposal. We also agreed to work diligently “behind the scenes” to apply several formulas that utilizes various components to test their validity and reliability. (constant communication continues through email/phone/etc. following the meeting)

September 2017: Coaching members of the United Committee are informed that a large portion of AD’s feel very strongly regarding the modification of our playoff qualification/seeding system and its application to the 2018 season. We take note of the information and continue on with our seasons.

January 2018 The NJFCA EC sends an official statement to the NJSIAA Leagues and Conference Committee along with the United Committee requesting that we temporarily hold off the modification of our playoff seeding process for the 2018 season. Our rationale being there is a great deal of new information for our coaches and administrators to process during this time of change.

January 2018 Jack Dubois and the committee thanks us for our input and is open to our position. However, it was still the position of some AD’s that we must move forward with a modified ranking system that more proportionally rewards “strength of schedule” because this is the promise they made to their constituents when formulating schedules for their conferences. Because there is not common ground regarding the issue Jack requests the United Committee meet to resolve the matter.

January 2018: The NJFCA reps on the committee state that we still felt the position of the NJFCA was the best course of action to follow at this time (holding off on change for the 2018 season). However, it was clear a change was going to be enacted with or without our input. At this time we realize we must make every effort to remove MaxPreps or any other newly devised algorithm as a component to be utilized to rank teams for playoff qualification/seeding. Enter: Born

January 31st 2018 The United Committee meets. Bill Born Is present January 31st 2018 The United Committee meets. Bill Born Is present. The NJFCA members of the committee secure the guarantee of the administrators and the NJSIAA that we would NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES utilize MaxPreps or any newly formed algorithm that has not been tested.

February – April Dialogue continues February – April Dialogue continues. Leagues & Conference Meetings and first reading of the United Power Rank (UPR) model occur. That brings us to where we are today…