Fall Sports

NHIAA implements '70-percent rule' for postseason tournaments

NHIAA adds new rule to limit playoff teams.

Joe Marchilena

— 3 min read
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NHIAA implements '70-percent rule' for postseason tournaments

One of the biggest surprises in New Hampshire high school sports during the last year came in the Division III baseball tournament.

Raymond and Monadnock, seeded No. 16 and 18 respectively, pulled off a pair of first-round upsets against the top two seeds in the tournament, and eventually reach the semifinals.

It was the only time last year that the No. 1 seed in any tournament failed to win a first-round contest, and the first time it had happened since 2012. It doesn't happen often, and the New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association acknowledged that with the changes its committees made to the tournament selection process.

Starting this fall, the NHIAA will implement a "70-percent rule" when selecting teams for tournament competition. No more than 70 percent of the teams in a given division will advance to the playoffs, and in some cases, less than that will have a shot at the postseason.

"No more than that will make the tournament," NHIAA executive director Jeff Collins said Aug. 25 at the annual media day. "It was put to every committee. Some sports will take the 70-percent max, while some sports went lower than 70 percent."

Five sports - baseball, girls lacrosse, boys lacrosse, girls tennis and boys tennis - will take less than 70 percent for the postseason, with baseball taking 12 in each division while girls lacrosse and boys and girls tennis will take eight. Boys lacrosse will take eight in Division I and III while Division II will take 12.

Many of the tournaments will feature byes, according to Collins, who added that travel and competition figured into the decision to change.

"You could have No. 1 team playing a No. 16 team, they could be traveling across the entire state for an opportunity to play in the playoffs," Collins said. "Some believe that's a great opportunity, but others believe if you're traveling three hours to lose by 30 points, then what's the benefit?"

Here's a look at how each sport breaks down, based on number of teams in the division.

Baseball

  • Division I: 19 teams, 12 make the playoffs (13 is 70 percent).
  • Division II: 23 teams, 12 make the playoffs (16 is 70 percent).
  • Division III: 22 teams, 12 make the playoffs (15 is 70 percent).
  • Division IV: 21 teams, 12 make the playoffs (14 is 70 percent).

Boys Basketball

  • Division I: 19 teams, 13 make the playoffs.
  • Division II: 21 teams, 14 make the playoffs.
  • Division III: 25 teams, 17 make the playoffs.
  • Division IV: 22 teams, 15 make the playoffs.

Girls Basketball

  • Division I: 18 teams, 12 make the playoffs.
  • Division II: 23 teams, 16 make the playoffs.
  • Division III: 23 teams, 16 make the playoffs.
  • Division IV: 23 teams, 16 make the playoffs.

Field Hockey

  • Division I: 16 teams, 11 make the playoffs.
  • Division II: 17 teams, 11 make the playoffs.
  • Division III: 21 teams, 14 make the playoffs.

Ice Hockey

  • Division I: 14 teams, nine make the playoffs.
  • Division II: 15 teams, 10 make the playoffs.
  • Division III: 12 teams, eight make the playoffs.
  • Girls: 14 teams, nine make the playoffs.

Boys Lacrosse

  • Division I: 13 teams, eight make the playoffs (nine is 70 percent).
  • Division II: 21 teams, 12 make the playoffs (14 is 70 percent).
  • Division III: 17 teams, eight make the playoffs (11 is 70 percent).

Girls Lacrosse

  • Division I: 14 teams, eight make the playoffs (nine is 70 percent).
  • Division II: 15 teams, eight make the playoffs (10 is 70 percent).
  • Division III: 16 teams, eight make the playoffs (11 is 70 percent).

Boys Soccer

  • Division I: 19 teams, 13 make the playoffs.
  • Division II: 22 teams, 15 make the playoffs.
  • Division III: 25 teams, 17 make the playoffs.
  • Division IV: 20 teams, 14 make the playoffs.

Girls Soccer

  • Division I: 18 teams, 12 make the playoffs.
  • Division II: 24 teams, 16 make the playoffs.
  • Division III: 19 teams, 13 make the playoffs.
  • Division IV: 19 teams, 13 make the playoffs.

Softball

  • Division I: 18 teams, 12 make the playoffs.
  • Division II: 22 teams, 15 make the playoffs.
  • Division III: 24 teams, 16 make the playoffs.
  • Division IV: 21 teams, 14 make the playoffs.

Boys Tennis

  • Division I: 19 teams, eight make the playoffs (13 is 70 percent).
  • Division II: 17 teams, eight make the playoffs (11 is 70 percent).
  • Division III: 16 teams, eight make the playoffs (11 is 70 percent).

Girls Tennis

  • Division I: 21 teams, eight make the playoffs (14 is 70 percent).
  • Division II: 16 teams, eight make the playoffs (11 is 70 percent).
  • Division III: 17 teams, eight make the playoffs (11 is 70 percent).

Volleyball

  • Division I: 20 teams, 14 make the playoffs.
  • Division II: 19 teams, 13 make the playoffs.
  • Division III: 21 teams, 14 make the playoffs.
  • Boys: 14 teams, nine make the playoffs.

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