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Coaches Propose Tournament Restructure

November 25, 2025
Cooper Trinkle
Scouting Director

Members of the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association (IHSBCA) Executive Council presented a proposal to modify the IHSAA baseball playoff format last week.

This has been a hot topic for years, debated by many with all-kinds of different ideas in how this should be best put into practice. Regardless of thought, changes are long overdue. Our current system makes the regular season essentially meaningless, outside of conference championships and pride, which is unique to only our level of baseball. If we look at how the playoffs are structured at every level, wether it be MLB, MiLB, NCAA, NJCAA, NAIA, and even the travel baseball circuit, tournaments are structured in order to figure out who the best teams are. 

Find the direct proposals, with comments from IHSBCA Executive Director Brian Abbott, at the conclusion of this article...

My Take

So the goal is to find who the best team in the state for each classification, correct? If so, our current structure hardly allows that to happen. Rather, we create instances like Sectional 8, where 5 of our top 14 4A programs were forced to 'duke it out' in the opening round last year. There are several instances in which this is the case, and it ultimately delutes the tournament as we move into later rounds. While this is hard to be completely mitigated, the IHSBCA has proposed a structure to change the way we do things, ultimately making the regular season matter (if passed), and setting the stage for monster playoff matchups in the rounds they're supposed to take place in.

I remember five years ago, Blake Hibler creating some buzz about a new structure, proposing on social media a seeded tournament that works within the guidelines of the regional constraints that are impossible to mitigate fully. Hibler, a long time influence in our community, proposed a seeded tournament where every team has to play the same amount of games to win a championship - much like the proposal delivered by the IHSBCA. Unfortunately, we cannot simply take all the teams from a sectional like Sectional 8, or take the 3A powers from the Region, and just move them to a different sectional in an opposite part of the state where they play "lesser" teams, because of the financial constraints that come with long travel. We can, however, seed the playoffs to where the best teams in the sectional are not blindly drawn to square off in round 1, or at least make a fair path for all teams involved. 

The IHSBCA proposal works in a similiar fashion, and I've added some context below. 

New Structure

+ Beyond making the regular season more important & more exciting, our current system is flawed due to the nature of our sport. Unlike any other sport, ours is largely impacted by one player (or position) - and that is who is on the mound. If we are truly searching for the BEST team, why have a structure that could allow for instances like we saw last year in a particular sectional; where the two best teams in the sectional squared off in the opening round, forced to play three games to win the sectional championships, while a team who went 7-20 blindly earns a bye and only needs to win twice? Intelligently, the IHSAA implemented a pitch count rule back in 2016 in order to mitigate the overuse of pitchers in the hopes to prevent arm injuries that seemingly became more prevalent with each season. However, this creates a large disadvantage in situations like the one above, and we are the only sport where a rule prohibits the team from having its full complement of players available for each contest. The pitch count, on top of the blind draw, creates unfair competitive advantages in 6-8 team sectionals. 

+ The new proposal plans to double the sectionals that we currently have, creating a landscape with 2-4 team sectionals. Because of this, at least a loaded sectional would be completely fair from the start, if the idea to seed the playoff doesn't come to fruition. While some could argue a 3-team sectional would offer a competitive advantage, which the proposal limits if able, the seeding aspect that comes in proposal 4 shoots that argument down. Want the bye in your 3-team sectional? 

Earn it. 

+ The IHSCBA proposes to seed teams based upon the MaxPreps RPI. This system is largely similiar to the RPI in place for NCAA Division I baseball, factoring in head-to-head matchups, strength of schedule, and win/loss records. Like all other levels of baseball, this would in turn put a major shift in the way the regular season goes for high school baseball. Not only would it make every game matter, thus making a random Wednesday night matchup in April more exciting, but it would also encourage programs of similiar talents to play each other - bringing more exciting matchups to the regular season. 

While our sport continues to grow, the goal is to bring more visability to the game we all love. How does that happen? Make every game matter and incentivize the best of the best to play the best of the best. 

Conclusion

+ My opinions are strongly for this change. As someone who is aggressively passionate about our sport and community, this proposal does nothing but lift up the programs that continue to do the right things, and forces those who are behind to catch up, rather than relying on "what we've always done". No longer should a program hope to keep their seasons alive by the luck of the draw. Instead, we take action and make our game stronger by making every game matter and deleting unfair, unearned competitive advantages. Two years ago, I dove into some of these unfortunate early round matchups, and subsequent early exits. Find that article by clicking this link.

I was curious to learn the opinions of those involved directly, so I reached out to IHSBCA Executive Committee members Justin Keever and Ryan Berryman, two of the most successful coaches in the state who are leading the charge from the front. Here is what they had to say...

"We are the only IHSAA team sport where, based on pitch count restrictions and a random draw, our best team may not be on the field in a sectional championship. If you have to use your ace for more than 100 pitches on Thursday, he’s ineligible to pitch on championship Monday. By shrinking the sectionals to 2,3, or 4 teams, now a coach can insure his best team is on the field. That would double the sectional winners, increase the odds of winning, help participation (which the IHSAA values), and would not add days to the tournament format.

Every sport is unique in its own way, but fans would find it frustrating if their basketball team was not allowed to have the starting five on the floor for the biggest game of the season due to a rule restriction. We would like to see our tournament adjusted to what makes the most sense for our sport that promotes a balanced schedule and equal opportunity.

Under the current tournament format, most sectionals present the challenge of winning 3 games in 5 days. That’s tough. We play a lot of regular season games and that builds pitching depth, which is beneficial for winning a lot in a short amount of time. As coaches, we just need access to our best roster, and from there, we can come up with a strategy to compete. But none of us can beat the calendar and the luck of the draw. 

We’ve been in situations where we can’t roll our best pitcher back because we had to use him to beat another opponent and we fall short in the championship because the team we are playing drew the worst team in the bye and have their best guy ready to go. We’ve had to throw caution to the wind and pitch backwards, like last year, to have a shot to win on Monday. Also, we’ve won and lost with our best on the mound versus their best, and that’s the way it should be. That’s all we are asking.

We have several obstacles to deal with at the sectional level, like graduations, baccelaureates, final exams, and rain. Those would not change under the new format, but less teams create less obstacles and insures games can be played in a format to promote equality and balance for all sectional teams."

"Something else to understand, our IHSBCA members make suggestions, those then become proposals that represent our membership, from 1A to 4A. 85% of our active members voted for our four proposals, and 90% support changing the tournament format to what our Executive Council presented in proposal 3. We believe the format can work and would love to see it put into action. If there needs to be modifications and discussions, the IHSBCA would be willing to lend our baseball experience to promote change for our sport. We did not put this together on a whim, collectively we have studied this three years, and we think it’s an outstanding format with incredible support. Justin Keever has done an excellent job leading this proposal and we appreciate his leadership in this"

- Coach Ryan Berryman, Western High School, 4th highest winning % amongst active coaches

“These proposals strengthen Indiana high school baseball by creating a postseason that better reflects the competitive realities of our sport. Baseball is uniquely affected by pitching availability, rest cycles, and weather factors that make bracket imbalance far more consequential than in any other sport. 

Expanding the number of sectionals while keeping the same number of sites, redistributing early-round games, and aligning rest opportunities allow for a bracket that more accurately reflects competitive merit. These changes enhance fairness, reduce avoidable competitive disadvantages, and elevate both player welfare and the integrity of tournament play.

Ultimately, these changes honor the integrity of the game, reward teams for their full season of work, and give our student-athletes the fairest championship path we’ve ever offered.”

 “These proposals give our players a fair and balanced postseason experience. Baseball depends heavily on pitching schedules, recovery time, and unpredictable weather, which makes it harder to create a level playing field than in most sports. By adjusting the format, we’re ensuring that the outcome is determined by how teams play—not by scheduling disadvantage”

- Coach Justin Keever, Noblesville High School, 2014 4A State Champion

IHSBCA 2025 Proposals

Proposal #1: the official starting date for baseball practice will be changed from M – Wk37 to M – Wk36 of the IHSAA calendar and the first official baseball contest date will be changed from M – Wk39 to M – Wk38.


RATIONALE: due to the uniqueness of our sport, we believe baseball needs to be looked at in its own context. We have pitching limitations, unbalanced sectionals at the end of season with limited time to play those sectionals, mandatory spring break time periods where schools are not
allowed to practice, graduation conflicts, weather, proms, and additional end of the year activities that dictate when games must be played.
Under the current format and counting each week as 6 potential practice / play dates: boys’ basketball has 94 dates before their sectional starts; football has 70 dates – 76 dates for 6A; and baseball has 62 dates. Asking for an additional week (now baseball will have 68 total dates)
at the beginning of the season is the only option since the option to lengthen the season on the back end has been declined.


Pros:

+ the additional week will benefit all schools in Indiana. The increase in schools that have turf facilities in all regions of the state allows outdoor practice and games to be more accessible than in previous years.


+ the additional dates allow the current sectional format to possibly play first round games on Monday or Tuesday (rather than Wednesday) to accommodate the 7 and 8 team sectionals. The pitch count, plus the blind draw, creates matchups where some teams do not have access to their full roster for each game…. this is a scenario unique to baseball.


+ the additional dates provide some length of season equity that our coaches have been desiring for some time.


+ the additional dates will give some flexibility to our coaches for scheduling purposes; more time to work with their student-athletes; more time to play their allotted number of games; and would provide benefits for the student-athletes from an academic standpoint.

IHSBCA Coaches Vote: 96% In Favor

"This extra week while our coaches to have additional time for team development and skilled development. It will give us more time to play our allotted number of games. It keeps the sectional in the same timeframe. And allows schools to deal with the spring break issue because some schools Are not allowed to practice over break so they lose that extra week." - IHSBCA Executive Director, Brian Abbott

Proposal #2: (this proposal is being submitted in conjunction with softball) change the IHSAA By-Laws to add the language in bold. RULE 51 – BASEBALL 51-3 The maximum number of season baseball games in which for any team or student may participate, excluding the IHSAA Tournament Series shall be Twenty-eight (28) and no tournament; or Twenty-six (26) and One (1) tournament.


a. If a player or team participates in more than the One (1) tournament permitted during the season, the number of games played in excess shall be included in the Twenty-six (26) games permitted during the season.
b. If a player participates in a game as a pinch hitter or pinch runner, at the Varsity level, it does not count toward the maximum number of game limitations for that player.
c. Players may not change levels of play if games are being played simultaneously. Players may only change levels of play at the completion of both games.
d. If a player participates in a sub-varsity game as a designated pitcher (covered up by a designated hitter) then it will not count towards the player’s maximum number of games played. The player is still subject to pitch count regulations and this designation cannot be used more than Five (5) times per player during a regular season (Amended pursuant to an emergency by-law of the Executive Committee on January 13, 2022).
e. If a school schedules a Varsity and JV baseball contest in the same session, meaning same school and on the same day, Varsity to be concluded prior to the JV contest, five players from the Varsity contest may participate in the JV contest. The JV roster cannot exceed 11 players in that contest on that date. No more than 12 innings can be played by one player.


RATIONALE: The ability of member schools to maintain and properly staff sub-varsity level teams is becoming increasingly more at risk. This is affecting the skill development and participation opportunities of our sub-varsity players. Allowing additional games to be played by a select number of varsity players will allow sub-varsity teams to gain more game experience since they will be able to field a fully rostered team. The reporting / designation component will only take affect after the games limit has been met; otherwise, coaches will manage their rosters as usual under the current maximum number of games guidelines. (Note: we will instruct our coaches to have the players used in this role to be placed in the batting order after the regular players / bottom of the order to help minimize any competitive advantage that could occur.) (Clarification: rule 51-3d was implemented to help with the development of the player who was a varsity position player and not a varsity level pitcher. The proposed rule 51-3e is designed to help with the actual roster size to support schools who do not have enough players in the program to field sub-varsity teams for game competition.)

The IHSAA bylaw language listed below shares additional participation opportunities for football and basketball. Basketball can play an additional quarter in up to 22 games = 5.5 additional games per year cumulative and football can play 2 additional quarters a week in up to 9 weeks = 4.5 additional games per year cumulative. Since both guidelines are designed to increase participation and assemble full rosters to facilitate competition, we felt they were solid precedents after which to model our request. 52-3 The maximum number of season basketball games in which any team may participate, excluding the IHSAA Tournament Series, shall be Twenty-two (22) games and no tournament, Twenty (20) games plus One (1) tournament, or Twenty (20) games and a maximum of Three (3) tournaments, provided the games played in Two (2) of the Three (3) tournaments, or the games played in One (1) of the Two (2) tournaments if Two (2) tournaments are played, are included in the Twenty (20) game limitations.


a. Options for player participation during any one season excluding Jamboree shall be a maximum of:
(1.) Eighty-eight (88) quarters and no tournaments; plus, One (1) additional quarter for every instance where a player participates in Five (5) quarters in the same session.
(2.) Eighty (80) quarters plus One (1) tournament; plus, One (1) additional quarter for every instance where a player participates in Five (5) quarters in the same session.
(3.) Eighty (80) and a maximum of Three (3) season tournaments (excluding IHSAA Tournament Series) provided the quarters played in the second (2nd) tournament and the third (3rd) tournament are included in the Eighty (80) quarter limitation; plus, One (1) additional quarter for every instance where a player participates in Five (5) quarters in the same session.
b. For purposes of this section a ‘session’ occurs when a junior varsity and Varsity games are played on One (1) admission ticket without clearing the gymnasium.
c. No player may participate in more than Five (5) quarters in one session.
d. If a School schedules a junior varsity game and a Varsity game on successive days, a player may participate in a maximum of Five (5) quarters in the Two (2) games combined as if the games were scheduled in the same session. 55-3 The maximum number of season football games in which any team may participate, excluding the IHSAA Tournament Series, shall be Nine (9). See rule 50 for Practice and Contest Seasons. 55-3.1

Maximum Season Quarters Interschool football participation by a player shall be limited to a maximum of:


a. Thirty-Six (36) Varsity season quarters, limited to Four (4) Varsity quarters per week; or
b. Fifty-Four (54) season quarters limited to Six (6) quarters during a week with no more than Two (2) Varsity quarters included. No player can participate in more than Five (5) SubVarsity quarters per week (editor note: changed from 4 after 2023-2024 proposal year to help with SubVarsity participation). It shall not count as a Varsity quarter if a player participates only in a kicking down. A kicking down is defined as a kickoff, kick-off return, punt, punt return, field goal and kicked extra point. 55-3.2 No player may participate in more than Four (4) quarters in one day. A record of the quarters played by individual players shall be kept on file in the principal’s office at all times for information in certifying eligibility of players. 55-3.3 Schools shall be limited to the playing of one interschool Varsity football game in a Five (5) day period, excluding Sunday. A junior varsity Contest may be played on a Monday and the following Saturday, provided there is no junior varsity Contest played on Monday through Friday following the Saturday junior varsity Contest. Exceptions may be made for inclement weather when approval is obtained from the Commissioner. 55-3.4 All teams below Varsity level shall be limited to Two (2) overtimes.

IHSBCA Coaches Vote: 98% In Favor

"This is a Player participation rule which allows coaches to manage their rosters better and gives teams with limited number of players more opportunities for everyone to play games during the season. This language was proposed by the IHSAA and our coaches supported it at a very high rate." - IHSBCA Executive Director, Brian Abbott

Proposal #3: (based on the SAMPLE BLIND DRAW BRACKETS that uses the current class structure and a blind draw) change the baseball state tournament format to double the number of sectionals and have a maximum number of four teams per sectional.


RATIONALE: this change is necessitated by the following given factors:
+ the pitch count limitation is unique to our sport. It is the only sport where a rule prohibits the team from having its full complement of players available for each contest.
+ the pitch count, combined with the current blind draw format, creates unfair competitive advantages.
+ the time frame given to play the sectional tournament, combined with the end of year scheduling conflicts for schools and weather, doesn’t provide an adequate window to facilitate the pitch count guidelines.


Pros:
+ twice as many sectional champions.
+ sectionals will now be either 2, 3, or 4 team sectionals with the emphasis on 2 and 4 team sectionals when applicable (see bracket).
+ all sectional formats ensure that each school has control over their pitching decisions, instead of those decisions being dictated by the bracket and the blind draw.
+ 2 team sectionals can be played in one day.
+ 3 team sectionals would be played on a Wednesday – Monday format.
+ 4 team sectionals can be played in one day, if desired, or at most two days.
+ current sectionals of 6 teams or less can be played in two days instead of three days.
+ current host sites can still host their current sectional teams in the new format.
+ compared to the current format, the pitch count limitations / rest requirements are addressed in a structured and equitable manner.
+ lessens the potential conflicts which are created with graduation dates.
+ eliminates the impact of the current blind draw format where a team could play up to three games in a 5- or 6-day period.
+ decreases the number of travel dates, worker dates, and possible interferences with weather.
+ eliminates the 7 and 8 team sectionals which, are most prevalent in 1A and 2A, and by far the most inequitable ….. 1A and 2A rosters generally have the least amount of depth and are currently being asked to do the most. Logistical Comments: the IHSBCA has discussed the potential umpire issue; host sites scenarios; potential bracket structures to be shared with tournament administrators; and other issues that surround this proposal. We are prepared to share those thoughts with the IIAAA and the IHSAA during the presentation phase of the proposal process.

IHSBCA Coaches Vote: 90%

"There has been a lot of concerns about the current sectional format and only five days to play it. We split each sectional into two sectionals so they can be completed in two games or less. This allows each team to have equal access to their players. It accommodates for the pitch count rule . It keeps the blind draw. It allows twice as many champions. And it provides flexibility to deal with weather and graduation. This is an excellent proposal and I just pray that everyone takes the time to read it and understand it before they cast judgment on it. It also provides some excitement with the draw. We spent a lot of time with this proposal, developing it and it meets everyone’s needs." - IHSBCA Executive Director, Brian Abbott

Proposal #4: (based on the SAMPLE SEEDING BRACKETS that uses the current class structure) change the baseball state tournament format to double the number of sectionals and have a maximum number of four teams per sectional. All three and four team sectionals will be seeded (based on MaxPreps).
RATIONALE: this change is necessitated by the following given factors:
+ the pitch count limitation is unique to our sport. It is the only sport where a rule prohibits the team from having its full complement of players available for each contest.
+ the pitch count, combined with the current blind draw format, creates unfair competitive advantages.
+ the time frame given to play the sectional tournament, combined with the end of year scheduling conflicts for schools and weather, doesn’t provide an adequate window to facilitate the pitch count guidelines.


Pros:
+ twice as many sectional champions.
+ sectionals will now be either 2, 3, or 4 team sectionals.
+ all sectional formats ensure that each school has control over their pitching decisions,
instead of those decisions being dictated by the bracket.
+ 2 team sectionals can be played in one day.
+ 3 team sectionals would be played on a Wednesday – Monday format.
+ 4 team sectionals can be played in one day, if desired, or at most two days.
+ current sectionals of 6 teams or less can be played in two days instead of three days.
+ current host sites can still host their current sectional teams in the new format.
+ compared to the current format, the pitch count limitations / rest requirements are addressed in a structured and equitable manner.
+ lessens the potential conflicts which are created with graduation dates.
+ eliminates the impact of the current blind draw format where a team could play up to three games in a 5- or 6-day period.
+ decreases the number of travel dates, worker dates, and possible interferences with weather.
+ eliminates the 7 and 8 team sectionals which, are most prevalent in 1A and 2A, and by far the most inequitable ….. 1A and 2A rosters generally have the least amount of depth and are currently being asked to do the most with their rosters.
+ seeding brings relevance to the regular season.
+ seeding overcomes the inequities of the blind draw.


IHSBCA Coaches Vote: 84% In Favor

"Same set up as number three. Only this one has the seeding component instead of the blind draw. We know that the environment is not interested in seeding at the moment but our coaches want the concept explored and we wanna make sure we keep this concept in front of the IIAAA and the IHSAA. There will probably be a time in the next 5 to 10 years where there will be more of an appetite to consider this." - Brian Abbott, IHSBCA Executive Director


SUMMARY: we had 297 coaches participate in the survey. The Executive Director and the District Reps facilitated multiple contacts with the coaches and the athletic directors. We feel good about the level of participation (due to the number of open head coach positions and the absence of some schools never responding to / participating in any IHSBCA communication and / or event) and the fact we have done our due diligence to represent our membership before the IIAAA and the IHSAA.