STAC FALL POSTSEASON TUTORIAL
Here is a guideline for how the STAC varsity playoffs are determined for each spring sport.
(Please note that these are for STAC sports only. Football and field hockey are Section IV sports only and do not have individual leagues such as STAC.)
STAC Divisions:
West – Corning, Elmira, Horseheads, Ithaca
Metro – Binghamton, Johnson City, Maine-Endwell, Union-Endicott, Vestal
Central – Chenango Forks, Chenango Valley, Owego, Seton, Waverly
East – Norwich, Oneonta, Susquehanna Valley, Windsor
(Notes: Windsor does not have varsity boys or girls soccer teams. Seton does not have varsity volleyball or girls swimming teams. Waverly and Oneonta do not have varsity girls tennis teams. Owego and Oneonta do not have varsity cheerleading teams.)
For each sport, only STAC league games/matches count in determining division winners!
*** GIRLS SOCCER ***
League games = Each team plays a division opponent two times, plus one crossover game vs. next division (West vs. Metro and Central vs. East). A West vs. East game, for example, would be considered non-league and count in overall standings for sectional points, but not in STAC league standings. Also, games vs. opponents in other conferences, such as the IAC or MAC, or vs. any other section or state, do not count for STAC league standings, but do go towards sectional points.
(Note: Occasionally, a West vs. Metro and Central vs. East matchup will happen twice, but only one of them is considered a league game. This is determined in the schedule ahead of time. The other counts as a non-league game in the standings.)
# of league games per division:
West – 11
Metro – 12
Central – 11
East – 9
Due to ties, soccer does not use a percentage system to determine division champions. Instead, there is a point system of 3 points/win and 1 point/tie for league games only.
How seeds for playoffs are determined:
Central/East 2nd seed (away team) at West/Metro 1st seed (home team)
West/Metro 2nd seed (away team) at Central/East 1st seed (home team)
The 1st seed is the better record between division winners in the West/Metro and Central/East. That team will be considered the home team in semi-final game vs. the team with the 2nd best record (2nd seed and away team) in the other half of the conference.
Semi-finals: Wednesday, October 16 at top seeds
Championship: Friday, October 18 at smaller enrollment
*** BOYS SOCCER ***
League games and playoff seeding are the same criteria as in girls soccer.
# of league games per division:
West – 11
Metro – 12
Central – 11
East – 9
Due to ties, soccer does not use a percentage system to determine division champions. Instead, there is a point system of 3 points/win and 1 point/tie for league games only.
Semi-finals: Wednesday, October 16 at top seeds
Championship: Friday, October 18 at smaller enrollment
*** VOLLEYBALL ***
League games and playoff seeding are the same criteria as in girls soccer, with the only exception that Central vs. East crossover games will happen two times instead of once.
# of league games per division:
West – 11
Metro – 12
Central – 14
East – 14
Semi-finals: Friday, October 25 at top seeds
Championship: Tuesday, October 29 at smaller enrollment
*** GIRLS TENNIS ***
League games and playoff seeding are the same criteria as in girls soccer, with the only exception that Central vs. East crossover games will happen two times instead of once.
# of league games per division:
West – 11
Metro – 12
Central – 12
East – 12
Semi-finals: Wednesday, October 9 at top seeds
Championship: Friday, October 15 at smaller enrollment
*** GOLF ***
Each team has two matches each vs. rest of division and one match each West vs. Metro, Central vs. East.
# of league games per division:
West – 11
Metro – 12
Central – 12
East – 11
The four division winners along with two “Wild Cards” participate for the STAC Championship together at Mark Twain Golf Course in Elmira on October 15.
*** GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING ***
Each team has one dual meet each vs. rest of division and one dual meet each West vs. Metro, Central vs. East, with the top record declared division champions.
However, no STAC Championship meet is held between the four division champions. Once the regular season ends, they go right into sectionals.
*** GAME DAY CHEERLEADING ***
All teams qualify for competition. There is a champion crowned, followed by 2nd and 3rd place.
Championship: Sunday, October 20 at Chenango Valley
*** BOYS AND GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY ***
Scores will be tallied at the STAC Championship at Fortin Park in Oneonta on Saturday, October 26.
Division winners and overall champions will be crowned at the STAC Championship meet by comparing scores at that event. There are no individual meets throughout the season.