There is an issue with the season commitment schedule process. This has led to over 30+ MIAA affiliated field hockey teams overscheduling their games this fall. We, coaches and Athletic Directors, acknowledge we made a mistake in scheduling more than 18 games and know other schools also have acknowledged this mistake. However, it is also clear that the system is not working when this many teams are affected. 

Additionally, the current policy is not up to date with the current power ranking system. While we understand it is important for schools to adhere to these rules to maintain fair competition this policy was put in place before power rankings determined seeding for the state tournament and therefore needs to be updated.

To address this issue, we want the MIAA to not force teams to forfeit overscheduled games for the current season and count those games toward their record and power ranking, with the understanding that they will fix the season commitment process for the 2024 season. This will involve reviewing and revising the process of scheduling games to ensure that schools do not exceed the allowed number of games. 

To force the 30+ teams to forfeit their games, there will be a significant impact on the alignment and rankings of every divisional field hockey tournament, therefore unfairly hurting teams who did not over schedule as well. Especially given that the forfeit will be recorded as a 3-0 loss. 

We urge the MIAA to revisit and amend their policy for the 2023 fall field hockey season. We want the MIAA to not force teams to forfeit over scheduled games for the current season and count those games toward their record and power ranking, with the understanding that they will fix the season commitment process for the 2024 season. It is what is in the best interest of the student-athletes who have worked hard all season long, athletes to play their originally scheduled games, schools that are depending on the games to be played and for some teams to prepare for the state tournament.