The power point rating is defined to be the average of the total power points earned. The formula for calculating this average is:
Total Power Points Earned
Power Point Average = -------------------------------------------
Number of MAIS Games Played
The reason that the rating is an average is because every team does not play the same number of ballgames. Some teams will play eleven games, while others will play ten or less. If the total number of power points was used to determine who advanced to the playoffs, some schools would have an unfair advantage. By using an average, every school has the mathematical potential of earning the same rating as any other school.
Schools that have Open Dates or that choose to play non-MAIS games are not penalized for doing so. Their total number of power points earned is simply divided by a smaller number when calculating their average.
In games where power points are awarded, teams will receive power points for every win, and every loss.
Power points shall be awarded as follows:
* This includes ANY win that your opponent has, MAIS wins and non-MAIS wins
Power Point Data Entry Rules - The following rules shall be used when entering data into the power point program:
- The results of all games approved by the Director of Activities and on the varsity schedule will be recorded unless special circumstances arise (see below).
- Should Team A lose a game from its schedule before the season starts due to a program shutting down, a program dropping down to 8-man football, or any other situation approved by the Director of Activities, the game Team A lost from its schedule will not be used in power point calculations. Replacement games approved by the Director of Activities would be used.
- Once the season begins, any game that is forfeited to Team A will be recorded in the powerpoint program as an 18-0 victory for Team A.
- Any games that have been entered into the powerpoint program for Team A will be removed if Team A is unable to finish the season. This determination will be made by the Director of Activities in conjunction with the administration of Team A.
- The results of any game not on the final draft of the football schedule will not affect power point ratings unless said game is approved by the Director of Activities.
- An "Open Date" will be added to week 11 of any class that only plays 10 regular season playing dates in order to ensure that the classes that have 11 regular season playing dates, and have opponents that only have 10 possible regular season playing dates, have the same opportunity to get 11 points for their opponent's wins. The "Open Date" will be added after the playoff brackets have been set for any class that has 10 possible playing dates.
- Competition between 11-man schools and 8-man schools will not result in any power points being earned. Any such games will be treated as an "Open Date" for both teams when entering data into the power point program.
- All MAIS vs. MAIS football games, regardless of class, will be played until a winner is determined. Should the score be tied at the end of regulation play, the NFHS suggested overtime procedure will be used. The power point rating set forth by the AAC is based on awarding points for wins and losses, not ties. It is noted that should circumstances arise (inclement weather, loss of lights, any other situation approved by MAIS Office) that prevent a ballgame from being completed on the scheduled date, the game will be finished at a later date (preferably the following Monday). However, should the two schools mutually agree to end the game with a winner (one team forfeits), or to remove the game from the schedule, this will be allowed.
If a game is played with a non-MAIS member, and the game ends in a tie, and the opposing team chooses not to break the tie, the game will be entered as an "Open Date" when entering data into the power point program.
- The AAC has endeavored to cover every possible situation that could arise in determining how power points are to be assigned. However, the Director of Activities has the authority to make any decisions concerning the entering of power point data should a situation arise that is not covered by the above rules, or in situations where there may be conflicting guidance due to an unexpected situation.
Should there be two or more teams that have the same power point rating, the following tiebreaker sequence will be used to break the tie:
- Head to head competition
- Record vs. common opponents
- Point differential* vs. common opponents
- Point differential* vs. all MAIS opponents
- Coin toss
*There is a cap of 18 points per game placed on the point differential.
The AAC has determined that the process of implementing this tiebreaker is continuous. Once the teams that are tied start with step 'a', the steps will be followed in succession until all the teams involved have been awarded a place.
The power point average will be calculated to three decimal places.
The following example will hopefully help coaches in understanding how the tiebreaker is applied when the point differential has to be applied:
Team A defeats Team B by a score of 18 to 6
Team B defeats Team C by a score of 28 to 8
Team C defeats Team A by a score of 30 to 22
To determine a team's differential, the total number of points scored against a team would be subtracted from the total number of points that team scored.
Using the example above,
From Team A's two games, Team A receives the following values: +12 (18-6) and -8 (30-22). Therefore, Team A's overall differential value is +4 (12+ -8).
From Team B's two games, Team B receives the following values: +18 (28- 8=20, but cap is 18) and -12 (18-6). Therefore, Team B's overall differential
value is +6 (18 + -12).
From Team C's two games, Team C receives the following values: +8 (30- 22=8) and -18 (28-8=20, but cap is 18). Therefore, Team C's overall differential
value is -10 (8 + -18).
Therefore, Team B would finish 1st, Team A would finish 2nd, and Team C would finish 3rd.