At one time it was considered progress (more money, more participation, more 'feel good', safety was minor factor ) to expand the number of teams that could qualify for the playoffs. In 2008 the number of teams, per class, expanded from 16 to 32.
As such, a lot of teams received recognition for "making the playoffs" (even though a good number of fb teams had sub .500 season records....and "participation trophies". "feel good" stuff.
Now what is considered progress (due to relative 'safety', ), is for the first time since 1972, the number of teams participating in the playoffs is being downsized, from 32 to 16 per fb class (
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/st.../iowa-high-school-football-playoffs/71257072/
All of that being said, playing sports - including football - is not an absolute safe thing to do
(yet, it very much does have its potential positive character, physical development, comradery / teamwork aspects, with risks and benefits.), but relatively, it can be more safe than other alternatives....driving...wandering the streets while watching a cell phone...etc.
p.s. For those wanting college football playoffs - just new last season with 4 teams - and some wanting to expand the 'participation' (for recognition, money, 'feel good', 'fairness', etc.)....one might want to take note of the new data point...the new progress...a reversed trend line...contraction, not expansion... les$ money..more fiscal responsibility...relative 'safety'...
"Safety" is it the wholesale, new, ever-changing, politically (in) correct reason...(while overlooking other things) ?
(like "safety" did not ever matter before? - but it did matter, especially to the parents of the developing children - people just considered, evaluated, the risks / benefits, groupthinked with the peers (pressure) and accepted them, or not. Free will, free choices, and less control (by others) over choices. )
p.s.t. And yes, there is still a 9 game regular season....and yes, some teams will ever so close to making the playoffs...but will miss out due to some tie breaker rule (just like is always the case in the make it or not process). And yes, I know what it is like to go 9-0 and not qualify for the playoffs. Twice. i.e. 18-0. It sure felt more 'safe'.
uhh....
(and for all teams, further 'progress' means that there are less 2-a-day practices, and more constraints on 'less contact' etc.....for 'safety' reasons.
So, if a team seems to be less in-sync, less prepared, on opening day etc. give the coach a break, there is a new reason beyond his current control... the participation is supposedly more 'safe' now. giggle...)
p.s.s.t. Very soon, some teams that have come around to "expect" they will make the playoffs...and being a part of the 1, 2, or 3 loss teams...there will be some hand wringing, phone call making, nashing of teeth etc. about why so 'n so is making it, but so 'n so did not....and... "but, that's not fair..." ... "so n so played a tougher schedule than such n such..." gruff claims (again). It will happen...
( and the mental adjustments will happen too... over time. If you do not make the playoffs, remember, you are more "safe" than if you had made the playoffs. That sure is a sporty, comfy feeling. lol )
Instead of placating to more 'fair' participation - to lessen the hurt feelings - they are using 'safety' as a backdrop to have some a spine and some backbone on more limited playoff qualification limits. (and yes, there will be still be hurt feelings by those that barely do not qualify ,but now it will occur with teams that have won a large share of regular season games (and it was good enough to qualify, before. )
Ahhh... the adjustments we need to learn to make, alongs life's journeys....some are tough, very tough...
(but, thank God, there is someone that can help to heal, the hurts too... )
Feel free to weigh in ... or not.
imho
I do not know
As such, a lot of teams received recognition for "making the playoffs" (even though a good number of fb teams had sub .500 season records....and "participation trophies". "feel good" stuff.
Now what is considered progress (due to relative 'safety', ), is for the first time since 1972, the number of teams participating in the playoffs is being downsized, from 32 to 16 per fb class (
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/st.../iowa-high-school-football-playoffs/71257072/
All of that being said, playing sports - including football - is not an absolute safe thing to do
(yet, it very much does have its potential positive character, physical development, comradery / teamwork aspects, with risks and benefits.), but relatively, it can be more safe than other alternatives....driving...wandering the streets while watching a cell phone...etc.
p.s. For those wanting college football playoffs - just new last season with 4 teams - and some wanting to expand the 'participation' (for recognition, money, 'feel good', 'fairness', etc.)....one might want to take note of the new data point...the new progress...a reversed trend line...contraction, not expansion... les$ money..more fiscal responsibility...relative 'safety'...
"Safety" is it the wholesale, new, ever-changing, politically (in) correct reason...(while overlooking other things) ?
(like "safety" did not ever matter before? - but it did matter, especially to the parents of the developing children - people just considered, evaluated, the risks / benefits, groupthinked with the peers (pressure) and accepted them, or not. Free will, free choices, and less control (by others) over choices. )
p.s.t. And yes, there is still a 9 game regular season....and yes, some teams will ever so close to making the playoffs...but will miss out due to some tie breaker rule (just like is always the case in the make it or not process). And yes, I know what it is like to go 9-0 and not qualify for the playoffs. Twice. i.e. 18-0. It sure felt more 'safe'.
uhh....(and for all teams, further 'progress' means that there are less 2-a-day practices, and more constraints on 'less contact' etc.....for 'safety' reasons.
So, if a team seems to be less in-sync, less prepared, on opening day etc. give the coach a break, there is a new reason beyond his current control... the participation is supposedly more 'safe' now.
giggle...)p.s.s.t. Very soon, some teams that have come around to "expect" they will make the playoffs...and being a part of the 1, 2, or 3 loss teams...there will be some hand wringing, phone call making, nashing of teeth etc. about why so 'n so is making it, but so 'n so did not....and... "but, that's not fair..." ... "so n so played a tougher schedule than such n such..." gruff claims (again). It will happen...
( and the mental adjustments will happen too... over time. If you do not make the playoffs, remember, you are more "safe" than if you had made the playoffs.
That sure is a sporty, comfy feeling. lol )Instead of placating to more 'fair' participation - to lessen the hurt feelings - they are using 'safety' as a backdrop to have some a spine and some backbone on more limited playoff qualification limits. (and yes, there will be still be hurt feelings by those that barely do not qualify ,but now it will occur with teams that have won a large share of regular season games (and it was good enough to qualify, before. )
Ahhh... the adjustments we need to learn to make, alongs life's journeys....some are tough, very tough...
(but, thank God, there is someone that can help to heal, the hurts too...
)Feel free to weigh in ... or not.
imho
I do not know
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