Plano Premier Changes for 2015

For those that are playing in Plano Premier - there will be new changes and divisions in the fall 2015.

D1 will be 10 teams only and those are the top 10 teams finishing PPL D1 Spring 14 and any D3 LHGCL teams failing to make LHGCL. All these teams will receive byes in PPL D1.

D2 will be 10 teams only. D2 will be teams 11-18 in D1, plus the top 2 teams from D2. All these teams will receive byes in PPL D2.

The last place team in D1 and the rest of D2 teams will need to re-qualify in the PPL QT to place in either PPL D3 or D4.

The only way to advance to a higher level than PPL D1 for Fall 2015 is to enter the LHGCL QT and win a D3 position there.

There will be mid season promotion and relegation between PPL D1 and D2, so if you finish the Fall 2014 D2 play as 1 or 2 you will move to D1 for Spring 2015.

PPL does not have the resources for a full Placement Tournament for all teams in all divisions due to the amount of teams playing in PPL. Such a PT would be almost as big as Plano Labor Day. Just no way.

Any Thoughts?

Most teams should know their place after this season is complete.  There are 3 levels of teams in D1 right now...Those who definitely belong, those who definitely don't and some who can stand toe to toe with the best some weeks and give you a head scratcher the next.  There will always be some "tweener's" who are on the bubble and some teams will gain/lose strength due to player movement.  

It will be interesting to see who in the top 10 of D1 will try to qualify for LHGCL.  In my opinion there are only 2 who are ready (Sting Central / Sanchez and Mustangs / Bussey).  There are a couple who could make a run with some additions (FC Dallas East Red) and maybe one other currently in the top 5 (take your pick).  There are some teams with some good athletic talent outside the top 10 that could be good D1 teams with some work i.e Andromeda (currently sitting at 10), FM United FC and FCD North.

I like the mid-season promotion and relegation.  The placement tourney is a nice barometer, but if a team gets hot, they could be in for a long season if they played out of their heads during the tourney.  Promotion and relegation can help right that as the season progresses.  It keeps the competition level strong and gives the teams something to work for.

That is the way they have been doing it at the older ages this year and in some years past. For the teams in PPL D1, they are battle tested as they work to the QT. It really sucks when the PPL QT is for 1 spot...in D2, and there is no playoff, just points in your bracket. Teams have to wait a year to get INTO D1. That said, other than opening up a few spots for teams to qualify (did you earn it if you were 7th??) it seems about the fairest way.

"D1 will be 10 teams only and those are the top 10 teams finishing PPL D1 Spring 14 and any D3 LHGCL teams failing to make LHGCL. All these teams will receive byes in PPL D1."
That could be more than 10 teams. How will that work?

intrinsic wrote:"D1 will be 10 teams only and those are the top 10 teams finishing PPL D1 Spring 14 and any D3 LHGCL teams failing to make LHGCL. All these teams will receive byes in PPL D1."
That could be more than 10 teams. How will that work?

Not reading this too closely, LH assumes that either the d3 teams re qualify or swap w the Plano teams.