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Playoff Roster Size Limit Logic

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crimsonace1 Experienced

crimsonace1

Posted
Posted

You can certify every single player in your program, but you can only dress 75 per game. That's consistent with other sports (for basketball, for example, you can only dress 12 per tournament game). 

When the IHSAA tournament was first created in 1973, the dress limit was 33. There is a somewhat infamous story where Phil Eskew was at a tournament game (I believe, in Mishawaka), and a fan started complaining about the 33-player limit. Eskew asked the fan, "then why doesn't a player run out of bounds and then come back in before scoring a touchdown?" The fan replies, "because that's against the rules." Eskew comes back with, "so is playing more than 33 players."

I'm sure it's to create some equity but also to ensure that players who participate are certified and eligible. 

There is a tournament roster deadline - and yes, that prevents any move-ins or ringers from showing up after the entry list deadline, but the main reason is to ensure the players are academically eligible (you have to provide the number of classes each student is taking and passing on the entry list, as well as verify their age). You can make changes and pay a fine, but that's usually because a coach forgot to roster someone, not because a student enrolls in your school after the tournament begins. I do remember an incident a couple decades ago where a soccer team sent out a player for a penalty shootout who was not on the tournament roster - likely an oversight on a little-used player. He buried the winning goal and it wasn't discovered until after the game. The player was suspended for the next game (and I believe, the remainder of the tournament) and the coach was reprimanded, but the team was allowed to advance. 

Roster limits are not uncommon. The NCAA only teams in all divisions to dress 58 players in tournament games.

  • Like 1
Bash Riprock Grand Master

Bash Riprock

Posted
Posted (edited)
21 minutes ago, crimsonace1 said:

You can certify every single player in your program, but you can only dress 75 per game. That's consistent with other sports (for basketball, for example, you can only dress 12 per tournament game). 

When the IHSAA tournament was first created in 1973, the dress limit was 33. There is a somewhat infamous story where Phil Eskew was at a tournament game (I believe, in Mishawaka), and a fan started complaining about the 33-player limit. Eskew asked the fan, "then why doesn't a player run out of bounds and then come back in before scoring a touchdown?" The fan replies, "because that's against the rules." Eskew comes back with, "so is playing more than 33 players."

I'm sure it's to create some equity but also to ensure that players who participate are certified and eligible. 

There is a tournament roster deadline - and yes, that prevents any move-ins or ringers from showing up after the entry list deadline, but the main reason is to ensure the players are academically eligible (you have to provide the number of classes each student is taking and passing on the entry list, as well as verify their age). You can make changes and pay a fine, but that's usually because a coach forgot to roster someone, not because a student enrolls in your school after the tournament begins. I do remember an incident a couple decades ago where a soccer team sent out a player for a penalty shootout who was not on the tournament roster - likely an oversight on a little-used player. He buried the winning goal and it wasn't discovered until after the game. The player was suspended for the next game (and I believe, the remainder of the tournament) and the coach was reprimanded, but the team was allowed to advance. 

Roster limits are not uncommon. The NCAA only teams in all divisions to dress 58 players in tournament games.

I don't think most have an issue with roster limits....I think many don't understand why its the same for 1A through 6A schools.  

Thanks for the info and history....

Edited by Bash Riprock
Grover Mentor

Grover

Posted
Posted
35 minutes ago, crimsonace1 said:

 

When the IHSAA tournament was first created in 1973, the dress limit was 33. There is a somewhat infamous story where Phil Eskew was at a tournament game (I believe, in Mishawaka), and a fan started complaining about the 33-player limit. Eskew asked the fan, "then why doesn't a player run out of bounds and then come back in before scoring a touchdown?" The fan replies, "because that's against the rules." Eskew comes back with, "so is playing more than 33 players."

I understand it is the rule.  I would like to see the rule changed.

 

  • Like 2
TruthHammer Rookie

TruthHammer

Posted
Posted

True that it might be a rule, it doesn't make it a good rule or even "right". 

 

Hypothetical...a kid grinds it out every day being a tackling dummy for his varsity team-mates only to be told, "hey...sit in the stands at Lucas Oil". I see zero issue with allowing that kid to stand in his uni on the sideline with his team-mates.

hhpatriot04 Experienced

hhpatriot04

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, Thor77 said:

Wow, what a problem to have. Having so many kids you actually can’t dress them all. 
 

- any 1A football fan reading this thread 

Even in 3A, Heritage Hills rarely would have 75 players counting grades 9-12. Typically, 2-4 freshmen dress varsity in the regular season and around 4-6 are added for the playoffs (usually a QB, K, and a few of the better athletes). This year, I believe that Heritage Hills will actually have at least one freshman earn varsity letters and around 10 freshmen are on the playoff roster... Additionally, HH typically has a regular season roster size of around 40-50 (not typically including freshmen, but the freshmen do play a 5-9 game schedule in addition to JV).

  • 3 years later...
rob Contributor

rob

Posted
Posted

Is the playoff roster still limited to 75 players? (This thread is 3 years old).  I just got a roster with 89 players and I was wondering.  

Irishman Grand Master

Irishman

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, rob said:

Is the playoff roster still limited to 75 players? (This thread is 3 years old).  I just got a roster with 89 players and I was wondering.  

The roster limit itself is unlimited. The number of players that can dress is limited to 75 for a given playoff game. The number of medals awarded that day are also limited, but a team can buy what is needed afterward though. 

  • Like 1
Titan32 Grand Master

Titan32

Posted
Posted
On 10/30/2021 at 6:20 PM, sr1 said:

You were both right and wrong. The part you got right was "I was under the impression" everything after that is wrong. Here is the rule from the IHSAA fall bulletin:

"IX Entry List A.  A school must certify all players on the sectional entry list but dress only 75 eligible players at each level of tourney" and "J. Entry List Changes Between Tourneys No changes are permitted. A school may dress any 75 eligible players from its entry list of players."

 

If there is a lady in your life.....I hope she helps you with your issue.....soon.

tango Veteran

tango

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, Titan32 said:

If there is a lady in your life.....I hope she helps you with your issue.....soon.

Is sr1 still around? Haven't heard from him in a while...

US31 Proficient

US31

Posted
Posted (edited)

I also wish the roster limit would at least go up.  For many of the reasons discussed above...

But as an aside...from a logistical stand point, it is very tight at LOS for the State Finals even for the limited roster.  Bus parking at LOS, locker rooms (which are sized for a fifity something NFL roster), etc make space an issue at LOS.  Some big 6A schools would need 4 buses for their whole roster and significantly more locker room space than is available at LOS.  In the past I know several HCC/MIC schools have just used the large open convention spaces as a "locker room" due to how small the actual locker rooms are.

Edited by US31
sr1 Rising Star

sr1

Posted
Posted
On 11/5/2024 at 6:46 PM, tango said:

Is sr1 still around? Haven't heard from him in a while...

Still around. Just don't post as much.

 

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