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Massachusetts Boys High School Soccer Participation Rate & Teams Strength Estimates by Leagues and Divisions;
+ interesting info re Football Teams
 
Version 1 8:28 PM 9/25/2009
Verson 2 4:07 AM 10/1/2009
 
Contents of this page
 
This page contains: info re participation rates in high school and collegiate sports in Massachusetts and in the US; info re Massachusetts performance compared to US performance in football and soccer; words re the utility of this page when it comes to soccer tactics/strategy; three tables that give an idea regarding the soccer strength of the various Massachusetts soccer and football divisions and leagues; info re what football leagues are in what football divisions; info re where the best football team in each division is located to provide an idea re the location of the divisions.
 
Percent of age-group participation in sports in Massachusetts and in the US: similar in football, higher for MA in soccer
 
Participation in Massachusetts interscholastic boys high school sports in the 2008-9 school year was as follows: (sport, thousands participating K=1000s, percent of high school age population participating) : Basketball, 12.1K, 7.7%; football 20.8K, 13.2%; baseball 13.0K, 8.3%; ice hockey 7.4K, 4.7%; soccer 13.2K, 8.4% ( http://www.nfhs.org/Participation/).
 
Participation in total US interscholastic males high school sports in the 2008-9 school year was as follows: (sport, thousands participating, percent of high school age population participating) : Basketball, 545K, 6.6%; football 1112K, 13.4%; baseball 473K,  5.7%; ice hockey 37K, 0.4%; soccer 384K, 4.6%.
 
The percent of the high school boys age group participating in high school football is the same comparing Massachusetts to the US. The participation percentage rate for soccer is 83% higher in Massachusetts compared to the US as a whole.
 
The percentage of age group participation level at the collegiate level is much lower than it is at the high school level. Soccer participation as percentage of  males in the same age group as college students falls from 4.6% for high school soccer to 0.3% for NCAA soccer.
 
Participation in total US interscholastic male college sports during 2006 was as follows: (sport, thousands participating, percent of college age population participating) : Basketball, 17K, 0.2%; football 61K, 0.8%; baseball 29K 0.4%; ice hockey 4K, 0.05%; soccer 20K, 0.3% (http://www.aahperd.org/NASPE/pdf_files/pos_papers/EstimatedProbability_AthleticsBeyondHighSchool.pdf).
 
Compared to football, Massachusetts fares better relative to the nation as a whole in soccer
 
Whereas the top ranked high school football team in Massachusetts, Xaverian,  is ranked above 93.1% of the high school teams nationally (http://www.maxpreps.com/state/football/massachusetts.htm), ranking #1014 in the nation, the top ranked high school  soccer team in Massachusetts, Ludlow, is ranked above 99.7% of the teams in the nation at #31 nationally, and the second ranked high school soccer team in Massachusetts, St. John's of Shrewsbury, is also ranked above 99.7% of the teams in the nation ranking at #36 nationally (http://sports.espn.go.com/highschool/rise/fab50?sportId=10020040&seasonType=1&season=2009&week=4). This calculation is based on the NFHS report that 11,139 US high schools participated in soccer ( http://www.nfhs.org/Participation/), and the fact that maxpreps.com ranked 14,711 teams in the nation in high school football (http://www.maxpreps.com/list/rankings.aspx?ssid=f11d21e3-d9ab-4c9b-974b-ff4fcfed5c76&state=All%20States&teamsize=11&showmyrankings=true&page=589).
 
As of now I am assuming that the NFHS figures for number of schools 'participating' in a sport are at least approximate to the number of schools fielding interscholastic teams in the sport.
 
Tactical Utility of this page
 
I am using the football leagues and divisions to illustrate the soccer strengths in the various leagues and divisions. I have not come across any info re the leagues and divisions with regards to soccer competition, except for the division of the Boys HS soccer in Massachusetts into several large divisions: Division I North, South, West, and Central; Division II North, South, West & Central; and Division III North South West and Central. Problem with this is that since there are so many teams in each division, it becomes difficult to determine things such as which locations, and athletic leagues feature the superior soccer (which is something you want to do if you want to learn by observing the top teams). If I get the chance I will look into the question of how the soccer teams are divided into leagues and where the records are for the soccer league standings; frankly, I dread the laboriousness of inquiring into the matter via emails and phone calls to harried coaches and administrators who have a hard time with understanding and communicating.
 
All I have to go on as of now, is the division of the soccer teams represented in the state tourney, into four large divisions, north south west and east, for divisions I, II, and III. On average each geographical section of each division had 15.8 teams in the 2008 Massachusetts Boys HS Soccer Tourney; the four division I geographical sections each had on average 16.3 teams in the tourney. By way of contrast, the football leagues in total featured 288 teams in 44 leagues, 6.4 teams per league. Thus knowing for a given school that plays soccer, which league the school's football team plays in, helps to narrow things down if one is interested in focusing on teams that have the most interaction with the top teams (for example one could learn something simply studying a team that has played a team that played a top team).
 
Looking at how the league line-ups in football and basketball compare, I estimate that there is about 80% correlation between which league a Massachusetts boys football team is in, and which league a Massachusetts boys basketball team is in; one could expect this level of correlation between football and soccer.
 
Much of the pleasure and value in sports comes from the intellectual aspect of an individual's or team's struggle. Mentally speaking a natural priority is learning through observing other teams. Studying a top team, one looks at teams that have played the top team, even at teams that have played a team that has played the top team; such teams tend to be aligned with the 'top team' in question through being in the same league in sports such as football.
 
Table 1 shows how the football teams in the various divisions have their playoffs leading to their 'Super Bowls'. The purpose of this to show how the various leagues in divisions relate to each other in football, as this has implications for soccer.
 
Table 1
Massachusetts Boys HS Soccer Strength by School's Football Division, School's Football League, & School's Soccer Division













 




Football
Division
Top Ranked Football
team in Division
National
rank of
top ranked
football
team in
Division
2009;
percent of teams ranked lower in nation
 
14,711
ranked teams in nation
State rank
of top ranked
football
team in
Division
2009
Location
of top ranked football team in Division
Football
Leagues
in Division;
number of teams in league
 
288 teams in 44 leagues, average 6.4 teams per league
Football
Tournament/
Playoff/
'Superbowl'
Structure


Total
estimated
soccer
strength in points
by
football
league
 
(from Table 2)
Total
soccer
strength
of  football
Division
in points
 
(from Table 2)

Soccer
Division
Affiliation
 
Number of schools in various soccer divisions by football division
 
SND1=
2008 Soccer Tourney
North
Div 1 (22 teams); SSD1=
2008 Soccer Tourney
South Div 1
(20 teams);
SCD1= 2008 Soccer Tourney
Central Div 1 (13 teams);
SWD1= 2008 Soccer
Tourney
West
Div 1 10 teams).
Noted
Soccer
Teams in various football divisions
 
(football league and division affiliation of school given)
 
(total points
in terms of estimated soccer strength given)
 
60% of high schools, 11,139 schools, play interscholastic
soccer


C-1
(Div 1)
St John's
Shrewsbury MA
1095
92.6%
3
40 miles
west of
 Boston
Division 1A (A conference), 6;
Division 1B,
(B Conference), 6;
Division 1C (C Conference), 6; 

 3/18
In C-1 Div, Top 3 teams + next 5 based on 'power ratings'; playoffs reduces the 8 to 2 teams.


Div 1A
222 pts
 
Div 1B
75 pts
 
Div 1C
0 pts

 
297 pts
SCD1:
Div 1A: 4;
Div 1B: 3;
Div 1C: 1
St. John's HS, Shrewsbury MA, SCD1 soccer, Div 1A League football; Soccer ranking, #2 in state, #36  nationally; 99.7% of US high schools rank lower than St John's in soccer; #6 in 2008 state tourney acc to Hobbs estimate;
126 pts
 
Algonquin HS,  Northborough MA, SCD1 soccer, Div 1A League football. Soccer ranking, #5 in state; #15 in 2008 state soccer tourney acc to Hobbs estimate;
96 pts
 
MIlford HS; Div 1B league in football; Div 1 Central in soccer; #21 in 2008 state tourney acc to Hobbs estimate;
75 pts


C-2
(Div 2)
Auburn
3878
73.6%
35
45 miles
west of
Boston
Division 2A, 7;
Division 2B, 8;
2/15
In C-2 Div, Winner of each conference + next 6 teams based on 'power ratings'; through playoffs top 2 teams produced.


Div 2A
0 pts
 
Div 2B
0 pts

0 pts

SCD1:
Div 2A: 3



C-3
(Div 3)
Littleton/Bromfield
Littleton MA
6545
55.5%
79
30 miles
northwest
of Boston
Division 3A, 6;
Division 3B, 6;
Division 3C, 7;
3/19
In C-3 Div, Top 3 teams + next 5 based on 'power ratings'; playoffs reduces the 8 to 2 teams.

Div 3A
71 pts
 
Div 3B
0 pts
 
Div 3C
72 pts

143 pts

SCD1:
Div 3A: 1;
Marlboro HS; Div 3C league in football; Div 1 Central in soccer; #24 in 2008 state tourney acc to Hobbs estimate;
72 pts
 
Groton-Dunstable HS; Div 3A league in football; Div 1 Central in soccer; #25 in 2008 state tourney acc to Hobbs estimate
71 pts


E-1
Xaverian
Westwood MA
1014
93.1%
1
10 miles
southwest
of Boston
Big Three (Big 3), 3;
Catholic, 5;
Greater Boston (GBL), 5;
Merrimack Valley - Large (MVC Large), 5;
 
 
4/18
MVC Large Champ plays GBL champ; Big 3 champ plays Catholic League Champ. Produces 2 winners who play each other in 'Division Superbowl'.

Big 3
173 pts
 
Catholic
134 pts
 
GBL
88 pts
 
MVC
0 pts

406 pts

SND1:
Catholic:1;
GBL: 3;
MVC: 3
 
SSD1:
Big 3: 2;
Catholic: 4;
 
 
 

Brockton HS, Big 3 football; SSD1 soccer. Soccer ranking #4 Boston area; #5 in 2008 state tourney acc to Hobbs estimate
91 pts
 
St John's Prep, Catholic league in football; soccer rank #10 in Boston area; #10 in 2008 state soccer tourney acc to Hobbs estimate
86 pts
 
New Bedford HS, Big 3 league in football; Div 1 South in soccer; soccer rank #17 Boston area; #14 in 2008 state tourney acc to Hobbs estimate
82 pts
 
Boston College HS, Catholic league in football, #19 in Boston area in soccer
59 pts
 
Everett HS; GBL in football; #8 in 2008 state tourney acc to Hobbs estimate
88 pts


E-1A
Gloucester HS
 
 

1984
86.5%
8
40 miles
northeast
of Boston
Bay State - Carey, 6;
Dual County - Large, 6;
Northeastern - Large, 6;
Old Colony, 5; 
 
4/23
NE Large Champ plays Dual County Large champ;  Bay State - Carey champ plays  Old Colony Champ. Produces 2 winners who play each other in 'Division Superbowl'.

Bay St - Carey
278 pts
 
Dual County Large
80 pts
 
NE Large
0 pts
 
Old Colony
76 pts
 

434 pts

SND1:
Bay-St-Carey:2;
Dual County-Large: 3;
Northeastern-
Large: 4
 
SSD1:
Bay St-Carey: 2;
Old Colony: 3;

Waltham HS, Waltham MA, SND1 in soccer, Dual County - Large in football
no points (home team)
 
Framingham HS, Framingham MA, SND1 soccer, Bay State Carey league in football. Soccer ranking: #4 in state; #1 Boston area; #2 in MA state tourney 2008;
110 pts
 
Needham HS, Bay St - Carey league in football; Div 1 South in soccer; soccer rank #13 in Boston area; #13 in 2008 state soccer tourney acc to Hobbs estimate;
83 pts
 
Westford HS, Dual County Large league in football; Div 1 North in soccer; soccer rank #18 in Boston area; #16 in 2008 state tourney acc to Hobbs estimate;
80 pts
 
Brookline HS, Bay St Carey league in football, Div 1 North in soccer, #11 in 2008 state soccer tourney acc to Hobbs estimate;
85 pts
 
Dartmouth HS, Old Colony in football; Div 1 South in soccer; #20 in 2008 state tourney acc to Hobbs estimate
76 pts


E-2
Mansfield HS
 

2126
85.5%
10
30 miles
south
of Boston
 
Bay State-Herget, 6;
Hockomock, 9;
Merrimack Valley - Small (MVC-Small), 5;
Middlesex, 10; 
 
4/25

MVC Small Champ plays Middlesex champ;  Bay State - Herget champ plays  Hockomock Champ. Produces 2 winners who play each other in 'Division Superbowl'.

Bay State-Herget
0 pts
 
Hockomock
62 pts
 
Merrimack Valley - Small (MVC-Small)
0 pts
 
Middlesex
175 pts

237 pts

SND1:
Middlesex:2;
 
SSD1:
Bay St-Herget: 1;
Hockomock: 1;
 

Lexington HS
Lexington MA, SND1 in Soccer, Middlesex League in football. Soccer ranking #3 in state, #3 Boston area; #7 in 2008 state tourney acc to Hobbs estimate;
106 pts
 
Winchester HS, Middlesex in football; soccer rank #5 Boston area;
69 pts
 
Canton HS, Hockomock league in football; #14 in Boston area in soccer;
62 pts


E-2A
Marshfield
 
Atlantic Coast League
Cape Ann - Large

1510
89.7%
4
25 miles
southeast
of Boston
Atlantic Coast, 7; 
Cape Ann - Large, 5;
Dual County - Small, 6;
Patriot - Keenan, 6; 
 
 
4/24
 
142
Cape Ann Large Champ plays Dual County Small champ;  Atlantic Coast champ plays  Patriot - Keenan Champ. Produces 2 winners who play each other in 'Division Superbowl'.

Atlantic Coast
145 pts
 
Cape Ann - Large
137 pts
 
Dual County - Small
65 pts
 
Patriot - Keenan
61 pts

408 pts

SSD1:
Atlantic Coast: 3;
Patriot-Keenan: 2

Masconomet HS, Cape Ann Large football;
#26 in 2008 state tourney acc to Hobbs estimate;
70 pts
 
Nauset HS, Atlantic Coast in football, soccer rank #6 Boston area;
68 pts
 
Wilmington HS, Cape Ann Large football; #7 in Boston area in soccer;
67 pts
 
Bedford HS, Dual County Small league; soccer rank #9 Boston area;
65 pts
 
Whitman-Hanson HS, Patriot-Keenan league in football; soccer rank #15 Boston area;
61 pts
 
Sandwich HS, Atlantic Coast league in football; Div 1 South in soccer; soccer rank #16 Boston area; #19 in 2008 state soccer tourney acc to Hobbs estimate;
77 pts


E-3
Bishop Feehan
Attleboro MA
3269
77.8%
23
30 miles
south
of Boston
Eastern, 5;
Northeastern - Small, 6;
Patriot - Fisher, 6;
South Coast, 9; 
 
4/26
Patriot-Fisher Champ plays NE Small champ;  Eastern champ plays  South Coast Champ. Produces 2 winners who play each other in 'Division Superbowl'.

Eastern
0 pts
 
Northeastern - Small
0 pts
 
Patriot - Fisher
58 pts
 
South Coast
0 pts
58 pts

SSD1:
South Coast: 1
Pembroke HS, Patriot-Fisher league in football, soccer rank #20 Boston area;
58 pts


E-3A
Medway
3248
77.9%
22
20 miles
southwest
of Boston
Cape Ann - Small, 7;
Catholic Central - Large, 6;
South Shore, 7;
Tri-Valley, 10;
 
4/30

Catholic Central Large Champ plays Cape Ann Small champ;  South Shore champ plays  Tri-Valley Champ. Produces 2 winners who play each other in 'Division Superbowl'.

Cape Ann - Small
66 pts
 
Catholic Central - Large
0 pts
 
South Shore
64 pts
 
Tri-Valley
63 pts

193 pts

Hamilton-Wenham, Cape Ann Small in football; soccer rank #8 Boston area;
66 pts
 
Carver HS, South Shore League in football, soccer rank #11 Boston area;
64 pts
 
Medfield HS, Tri-valley league in football; soccer rank #12 Boston area;
63 pts


E-4
Manchester
Essex/Rockport
Manchester MA
2221
84.9%
13
25 miles
northeast
of Boston
Boston - North, 6;
Commonwealth - Large, 6;
Mayflower - Large, 7;
 
3/19

As there are only three leagues in this division, One league champ will get a bye to the Div Superbowl, to play the winner of the game between the other two league champs.

Boston - North;
153 pts
 
Commonwealth - Large
0 pts
 
Mayflower - Large
0 pts
153 pts

SND1:
Boston-North: 1;
 
SSD1: Boston-North: 1

Madison Park HS; Boston North league in football; Div 1 North in soccer; #17 in 2008 state tourney acc to Hobbs estimate;
79 pts
 
East Boston HS; Boston North in football; Div 1 North in soccer; #22 in 2008 state tourney acc to Hobbs estimate;
74 pts

 


E-4A
O'Bryant
Roxbury MA
9963
32.3%
176
In Boston
Boston - South, 6;
Catholic Central -Small, 7;
Commonwealth - Small, 5;
Mayflower - Small, 5;
 
4/23

Commonwealth Small Champ plays Catholic Central Small champ;  Boston South champ plays  Mayflower Small Champ. Produces 2 winners who play each other in 'Division Superbowl'.


0 pts

SSD1:
Boston-South: 1;



W-1
(Div 1)
Longmeadow
2126
85.5%
10
80 miles
west of
Boston
Suburban, 9;
AA, 8; 
 
2/17
Div W-1 winner plays Div W-4 winner; winner of this plays winner of Div W-2 vs Div W-3 in 'Western Mass
Superbowl'


Suburban;
249 pts
 
AA
165 pts

414 pts

SWD1:
Suburban: 3;
AA: 3
Minnechaug HS; AA league in football; Div 1 West in soccer; soccer ranking #4 in 2008 state tourney acc to Hobbs estimate;
92 pts
 
Chicopee HS, Suburban league in football; Div 1 West in soccer, #9 in 2008 state soccer tourney acc to Hobbs estimate;
87 pts
 
West Springfield; Suburban league in football; Fiv 1 West in soccer; #12 in 2008 state soccer tourney acc to Hobbs estimate;
84 pts
 
Northampton HS, Suburban league & Div 1 in basketball, no football, Div 1 West in soccer, #18 in 2008 state soccer tourney acc to Hobbs estimate;
78 pts
 
Agawam HS, AA league; Div 1 Central in soccer, #23 in 2008 state tourney acc to Hobbs estimate;
73 pts


W-2
(Div 2)
Wahconah Regional
Dalton MA
 
AA League

5262
64.2%
68
120 miles
west of
Boston
Berkshires, 9;
Intercounty, 8;
Suburban, 9; 
AA, 8;
 
2/17

 
Div W-2 winner plays Div W-3 winner; winner of this plays winner of Div W-1 vs Div W-4 in 'Western Mass
Superbowl'


Berkshires
0 pts
 
Intercounty
0 pts
 
Suburban
245 pts
 
AA
0 pts
245 pts

SWD1:
Berkshires: 1;
Suburban: 2
Ludlow HS, SWD1 soccer,
Suburban
League football; soccer ranking #31 nationally; 99.7% of US high schools rank lower than Ludlow in soccer; #1 in state; #1 in 2008 state soccer tourney;
152 pts
 
Amherst HS, Suburban league in football; Div 1 West in soccer; soccer ranking- ranked #3 in 2008 state soccer tourney acc to Hobbs estimate;
93 pts


x
W-3
(Div 3)
Mahar Regional
Orange MA
9236
37.2%
149
80 miles
northwest
of Boston
Berkshires, 9;
Intercounty, 8;
Suburban, 9;
Div W-2 winner plays Div W-3 winner; winner of this plays winner of Div W-1 vs Div W-4 in 'Western Mass
Superbowl'


Berkshires
0 pts
 
Intercounty
0 pts
 
Suburban
0 pts
0 pts





x
W-4
(Div 4)
Easthampton/Hampshire
Easthampton MA
10536
28.4%
188
80 miles
west of
Boston
Tri-County, 8;
Intercounty, 8
 
1/8
 
140

Div W-1 winner plays Div W-4 winner; winner of this plays winner of Div W-2 vs Div W-3 in 'Western Mass
Superbowl'


Tri-County
0 pts
 
Intercounty
0 pts
0 pts




x
W-I
Northampton/Smith Vo-Tech
(Northampton, MA)
9036
38.6%
141
80 miles
west of
Boston
AA, 8;
(just 1 team,
Northampton/Smith Vo-tech)



AA
0 pts
0 pts
































































Table 1 Notes
High Schools participation data
http://www.nfhs.org/Participation/
The lowest Maxpreps ranked HS football team in the nation is Navajo Pines, ranked at #14711 in the nation.
http://www.maxpreps.com/list/rankings.aspx?ssid=f11d21e3-d9ab-4c9b-974b-ff4fcfed5c76&state=All%20States&teamsize=11&showmyrankings=true&page=589
 
 
Table 2 is shown below. 
 
Column 1 in Table 2 uses a simple formula for ranks #1 to #25. Details re the rank order listed in Col 1 in Table 2 are given in Table 3. Ludlow was the state champ. If a team lost to Ludlow by 1, I ranked it -1. If a team lost to a team that lost to Ludlow by 2 goals, by 3 goals, I ranked it -5. And etcetera. Meaning that if a team ended up with a -8 rank, my estimate was that it would lose to state champ Ludlow by 8; if a team ended up with a -4 rank, my estimate was that it would lose to Ludlow by 4. And etcetera.
 
Ranks #26 - #38 in col 1 in Table 2 are filled out based on the 2008 end of season Boston.com rankings for Boys High School soccer in the Boston area.
 
Thus The first column combines my 2008 Tourney rank with the 2008 Boston area rankings. First place gets 38 points, second 37, 37th place 2 points, 38th place 1 point. etc etc.
 
The fifth column shows the Boston.com Boston area 2008 ranking, no points awarded as this is worked into the first column, and because the Boston.com rankings seemed inaccurate compared to my method based on the 2008 state tournament results. Re this inaccuracy, it is incredible how few of the teams Boston.com ranked as being in the top 20 in the Boston area, were even entered into the Division 1 Massachusetts Boys High School Soccer Tournament.
 
.In the fifth column the five teams ranked by ESPN in its listing of the top 5 times in Massachusetts for 2009, are given high scores and the other teams not ranked by ESPN are given average scores.
 
The seventh column: The two Massachusetts teams ranked by ESPN nationally are given high scores and the other teams are given average scores.
 
The eigth column, the team ranked by NSCAA is given a high score and the other teams are given average scores.
 
The ninth column, sums up the total points for a team. The tenth column, gives the final rank in points.
 
Table 2
Massachusetts Boys High School Soccer Top Teams Based on Various Rankings
 
Hobbs
2008
Tourney
Rank for
top 25; Boston.com
Boston area 2008
rank for 26-38
(points)
School
Hobbs
2008
Tourney
Score
Division 1
division
Boston.com
Dec 2008
Boston area
Rank
ESPN
2009
MA
Soccer
Top 5
(points)
2009
ESPN
RISE
FAB
National
top 50
2009
NSCAA
top 10
New England
Total
points
Rank
in points
 
1
(38)
Ludlow
0
West

1
(38)
31
(38)

4
(38)
152
1

 
2
(37)
Framingham
-1
North
1
4
(35)
(19)

(19)

110
3

 
3
(36)
Amherst
-1
West

(19)
(19)
(19)
93
6
4
(35)
Minnechaug
-1
West

(19)
(19)
(19)
92
7
5
(34)
Brockton
-2
South
4
(19)

(19)
(19)
91
8
6
(33)
St John's
Shrewsbury
-2
Central

2
(37)
36
(37)

(19)
126
2

 
7
(32)
Lexington
-2
North
3
3
(36)
(19)
(19)
106
4
8
(31)
Everett
-2
North

(19)

(19)
(19)
88
9
9
(30)
Chicopee
-2
West

(19)

(19)

(19)

87
10
10
(29)
St John's Prep
-3
North
10
(19)

(19)

(19)

86
11
11
(28)
Brookline
-3
North

(19)

(19)

(19)

85
12
12
(27)
W Springfield
-3
West

(19)


(19)
(19)

84
13
13
(26)
Needham
-3
South
13
(19)

(19)

(19)

83
14
14
(25)
New Bedford
-3
South
17
(19)

(19)


(19)
82
15
15
(24)
Algonquin -3
Central

5
(34)
(19)

(19)

96
5
16
(23)
Westford
-4
North
18
(19)

(19)

(19)

80
16
17
(22)
Madison Park
-4
North

(19)

(19)


(19)
79
17
18
(21)
Northampton
-4
West

(19)

(19)


(19)
78
18
19
(20)
Sandwich
-4
South
16
(19)

(19)

(19)

77
19
20
(19)
Dartmouth
-4
South

(19)
(19)


(19)
76
20
21
(18)
Milford
-4
Central

(19)

(19)
(19)

75
21
22
(17)
E Boston
-5
North

(19)
(19)

(19)

74
22
23
(16)
Agawam
-5
Central

(19)
(19)
(19)

73
23
24
(15)
Marlboro
-5
Central

(19)
(19)
(19)

72
24
25
(14)
Groton-Dunstable
-6
Central

(19)
(19)
(19)

71
25
26
(13)
Masconomet


2
(19)
(19)
(19)
70
26
27
(12)
Winchester


5
(19)
(19)
(19)
69
27
28
(11)
Nauset


6
(19)
(19)
(19)
68
28
29
(10)
Wilmington


7
(19)
(19)
(19)
67
29
30
(9)
Hamilton-Wenham


8
(19)
(19)
(19)
66
30
31
(8)
Bedford


9
(19)
(19) (19)

65
31
32
(7)
Carver


11
(19)
(19)
(19)
64
32
33
(6)
Medfield


12
(19)
(19)
(19)
63
33
34
(5)
Canton


14
(19)
(19)
(19)
62
34
35
(4)
Whitman-Hanson


15
(19)
(19)
(19)
61
35
36
(3)
Westford


18
(19)
(19)
(19)
60
36
37
(2)
BC High


19
(19)
(19)
(19)
59
37
38
(1)
Pembroke


20
(19)
(19)
(19)
58
38










 
 
Table 3, shown below, gives my (Hobbs) Ranking estimate based on the 2008 State Tourney results:
 
Col 1 in Table 3, ranks #1 - #25: I did this using a simple formula. Ludlow was the state champ. If a team lost to Ludlow by 1, I scored it -1. If a team lost to a team that lost to Ludlow by 2 goals, by 3 goals, I ranked it -5. And etcetera. Meaning that if a team ended up with a -8 rank, my estimate was that it would lose to state champ Ludlow by 8 goals; if a team ended up with a -4 rank, my estimate was that it would lose to Ludlow by 4. And etcetera.
 
The second column shows how in Table 3 shows how many goals I estimate the team in question would have lost to Ludlow by had they played Ludlow in 2008. Where teams are tied in terms of this number, the team from the tougher soccer division is ranked higher.
 
My calculations used to produce Table 3, produced some insight into the question of the relative strengths of the various soccer divisions. Looking at the teams that placed amongst the top 32 teams in terms of the tourney results, I assigned a number to each of the teams based on an estimate of how many goals they would lose to tourney champion Ludlow by. The calculations showed that the top eight teams in Soccer Division 1 North would lose to Ludlow by an average of 3 goals;  the top eight teams in soccer Division 1 West would lose to Ludlow by an average of 3 goals; the top eight teams in Soccer Division 1 South would lose to Ludlow by an average of 4.6 goals; and  the top eight teams in soccer Division 1 Central would lose to Ludlow by an average of 5.5 goals.
 
Table 3
End of 2008 Massachusetts Boys HS Soccer Rankings Based on 2008 State Tournament Game Scores
 

Rank

School

Score

Division 1
division

1
Ludlow
0
West

2
Framingham
-1
North

3
Amherst
-1
West

4
Minnechaug
-1
West

5
Brockton
-2
South

6
St John's
Shrewsbury
-2
Central

7
Lexington
-2
North

8
Everett
-2
North

9
Chicopee
-2
West

10
St John's Prep
-3
North

11
Brookline
-3
North

12
W Springfield
-3
West

13
Needham
-3
South

14
New Bedford
-3
South

15
Algonquin
-3
Central

16
Westford
-4
North

17
Madison Park
-4
North

18
Northampton
-4
West

19
Sandwich
-4
South

20
Dartmouth
-4
South

21
Milford
-4
Central

22
E Boston
-5
North

23
Agawam
-5
Central

24
Marlboro
-5
Central

25
Groton-Dunstable
-6
Central






 
 
Notes/Links:
 
"The estimated number of high school student-athletes participating interscholastically in the sports having a major professional league in the United States (in 2006) was obtained from the National Federation of State High School Associations." http://www.aahperd.org/NASPE/pdf_files/pos_papers/EstimatedProbability_AthleticsBeyondHighSchool.pdf

Less than three in 50, or about 5.5 percent, of high school senior boys interscholastic soccer players will go on to play men's soccer at a NCAA member institution. Less than one in 50, or about 1.7 percent, of NCAA senior male soccer players will be drafted by a Major League Soccer (MLS) team. Approximately one in 1,250, or approximately 0.07 percent of high school senior boys playing interscholastic soccer will eventually be drafted by an MLS team http://www.aahperd.org/NASPE/pdf_files/pos_papers/EstimatedProbability_AthleticsBeyondHighSchool.pdf

Until the 1980s, most high schools in the U.S. did not offer soccer at all, and youth soccer programs were extremely rare until the 1970s. Thus, older generations of Americans living today grew up with virtually no exposure to the sport.... with increased urbanization, American high schools have grown to the point where most offer both (football and soccer) sports in their fall sports seasons
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soccer_in_the_United_States
 
'The NFHS publishes playing rules in 16 sports for boys and girls competition and administers fine arts programs in speech, theater, debate and music. It provides a variety of program initiatives that reach the 18,500 high schools and over 11 million students involved in athletic and activity programs'
http://www.nfhs.org/Activity3.aspx?id=3260&linkidentifier=id&itemid=3260 
 
Calpreps, a site devoted to California HS football, has hidden away within it an amazing page that helps one to sort out Massachusetts football at
http://calpreps.com/preview/2009/
 
MIAA 2009 Football Tourney Plans
http://www.miaa.net/football-2009-format.pdf
 
2008 December Boston.com top 20 soccer rankings
http://www.boston.com/partners/globesports/schools/rankings/rankssc.html
1. Framingham; 2. Masconomet; 3. Lexington; 4. Brockton; 5. Winchester; 6. Nauset; 7. Wilmington; 8. Hamilton-Wenham; 9. Bedford; 10. St. John's Prep; 11. Carver; 12. Medfield; 13. Needham; 14. Canton; 15. Whitman-Hanson; 16. Sandwich; 17 New Bedford; 18. Westford; 19. BC High;  20. Pembroke
 
2009 ESPN Boys High School Soccer Rankings Top 5 for each state
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/hssoccer/0-13-21/Boys-state-by-state-rankings---Fall.html
MA: #1 Ludlow; #2 St. John's Shrewsbury; #3 Lexington HS; #4 Framingham HS; #5 Algonquin HS
 
2009 Fall ESPN RISE FAB top 50 Boys Soccer National,
http://sports.espn.go.com/highschool/rise/fab50?sportId=10020040&seasonType=1&season=2009&week=4
Ludlow HS, MA, ranked #31 nationally; St. John's Shrewsbury #36 nationally
 
2009 NSCAA National HS top 25 Boys Soccer
http://www.nscaa.com/hsRes.php?it=1906
No MA school ranked
 
2009 NSCAA top 10 New England
http://www.nscaa.com/hsRes.php?it=1888
Ludlow HS, MA, ranked #4 in New England
 
Fall 2008 Soccer tournament results
http://www.miaa.net/fall08_tournament_information.htm
North Div 1: #1 Framingham, #2 St John's Prep; #3 Lexington; #4 Westford
South Div 1: #1Brockton, #2 Needham, #3 Sandwich, #4 Whitman-Hanson
Central Div 1: #1 St John's, #2 Algonquin; #3 Marlboro; #4 Shepherd Hill
West Div 1: #1 Ludlow; #2 Amherst; #3 Minnechaug; #4: Chicopee
State Div 1: #1Ludlow; #2 Framingham; #3 St John's (S); #4 Brockton
 
Fall Massachusetts HS Boys Soccer Tourney Sectional Brackets:
 
(only the teams with the better records enter the tourney, this is obvious looking at the records of the teams in the tourney)
 
North Div 1 2008 Soccer (22 teams)
http://miaa.statebrackets.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=1072
 
South Div 1 2008 Soccer (20 teams)
http://miaa.statebrackets.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=1071
 
Central Div 1 2008 Soccer (13 teams)
http://miaa.statebrackets.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=1078
 
West Div 1 Soccer (10 teams)
http://miaa.statebrackets.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=1082
 
North Div 2 Soccer (21 teams)
http://miaa.statebrackets.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=1076
 
South Div 2 Soccer (18 teams)
http://miaa.statebrackets.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=1073
 
Central Div 2 Soccer (15 teams)
http://miaa.statebrackets.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=1079
 
West Div 2 Soccer (9 teams)
http://miaa.statebrackets.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=1084
 
North Div 3 Soccer (17 teams)
http://miaa.statebrackets.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=1093
 
South Div 3 Soccer (23 teams)
http://miaa.statebrackets.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=1074
 
Central Div 3 Soccer (9 teams)
http://miaa.statebrackets.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=1080
 
West Div 3 Soccer (12 teams)
http://miaa.statebrackets.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=1085
 

 
@2009 David Virgil Hobbs