Changing how Awards Voting Works - A Proposal
In the S20 Rules Summit, awards voting was reformed to match the standards of Heisman Trophy voting. The basic gist is as follows:
Quote:Awards ballots will have 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place votes for all awards. First place votes grant 3 points, second 2 points, and third 1 point. Adding up the points will determine the winner.
This works well for Heisman Trophy voting because there are 928 overall votes (and 1 fan vote), so the overall winner usually receives the most first place votes. For our league however, we have had anywhere from 15-20 voters in the past few seasons - meaning a consensus second place player can overtake someone who is both left off some ballots and first place on many others. While this may be a desired outcome to some ("Well if they are overall agreed to be one of the best, they should do well"), I think we can do better.
The express goal of awards voting in our league is to honor the best at their position, and so I think we should take a page out of politics and move to a true INSTANT RUNOFF system of voting. What does this mean? Here is an overview of my rule proposal as Events Head:
Quote: i. Voters will select their top 3 choices in ranked order.
ii. Should a nominee receive > 50% of the first choice votes, they are declared the winner.
iii. If no nominee receives > 50% of the first choice votes, the candidate with the fewest first choice votes will be eliminated, and all ballots with that first choice nominee will have their votes count to their second choice nominee.
iv. If, after the candidate with the fewest first choice votes is eliminated, there is no consensus winner, the candidate with the next fewest first choice votes will have their votes redistributed to their second choice nominee. This will continue until a winner can be declared.
v. If, when there are two nominees remaining, the two are tied, the nominee with more SECOND place votes (after vote re-allocation) will be named the winner. Should the two be tied there, the tiebreaker will move on to THIRD place votes. Should the two remain tied, a TIE will be declared.
vi. If, when there are two nominees remaining, no one has a majority, the award will be given to the nominee with more votes.
vii. The MVP's votes will be redistributed first in OPotY/DPotY.
This system should better reflect the will of the voters as to who should be FIRST place. Voters can also rest assured that their second place and third place votes will still matter should their first place votes be removed, without worrying about spoiling their first place selection. A consensus second place winner should not be able to win the award - especially if a player has the MAJORITY of first place votes already.
This is actually only 1 part of my Awards Voting reform proposal - the other 3 are listed below:
Quote:1. General Managers and Head Office will be *required* to nominate a Most Dedicated Member prior to the beginning of Awards Voting. This nominee does not necessarily have to be from their team. The nominees from this process will be put into the awards ballot.
2. (see above)
3. The Awards Show slides will no longer display vote counts for all nominees on the winner slide. A detailed sheet or document will instead be published showing the winners and any instant runoffs necessary, as well as the ballots submitted.
4. The Awards Show slides will only display the top 5 candidates on the nominees slide.
Upon further analysis of the previous awards ballots, I've come to the conclusion that while most awards go to the same recipient, a select few DO change. Below I will list all of them out.
S25 ISFL Top Returner
Heisman System: Ke'oke'o Kane-Maka'i (43 points)
Code:
Player Rank 1 Rank 2 Rank 3 Points
----------------------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Raphtalia Chan, SAR 10 3 3 39
Keokeo Kane-Maikai, HON 7 11 0 43
Cuco Clemente, SAR 0 3 5 11
Mason Blaylock, NOLA 0 1 7 9
Flash Panda, PHI 1 0 3 6
Instant Runoff: Raphtalia Chan
Code:
Voters: 18
Threshold: 10
ORIGINAL VOTES:
Nominee Votes
----------------------- -------
Raphtalia Chan, SAR 10
Keokeo Kane-Maikai, HON 7
Flash Panda, PHI 1
Cuco Clemente, SAR 0
Mason Blaylock, NOLA 0
S25 DSFL Top Offensive Lineman
Heisman System: Marc Hamel (29 Points)
Code:
Player Rank 1 Rank 2 Rank 3 Points
-------------------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Connor Quigley, KCC 7 3 1 28
Marc Hamel, POR 5 7 0 29
Adam Mellot, TIJ 0 1 11 13
Felix Archstone, KCC 0 1 0 2
Instant Runoff: Connor Quigley
Code:
Voters: 12
Threshold: 7
ORIGINAL VOTES:
Nominee Votes
-------------------- -------
Connor Quigley, KCC 7
Marc Hamel, POR 5
Adam Mellot, TIJ 0
Felix Archstone, KCC 0
S24 ISFL Offensive Breakout Player
Heisman System: Michael Witheblock (35 Points)
Code:
Player Rank 1 Rank 2 Rank 3 Points
------------------------ -------- -------- -------- --------
Monty Jack, SJS 8 4 2 34
Michael Witheblock , SAR 5 9 2 35
Heath Evans, ARI 3 2 7 20
Eddie Jeeta, AUS 1 1 3 8
Tychondrius Hood, SJS 0 1 3 5
Instant Runoff: Monty Jack
Code:
Voters: 17
Threshold: 9
ORIGINAL VOTES:
Nominee Votes
------------------------ -------
Monty Jack, SJS 8
Michael Witheblock , SAR 5
Heath Evans, ARI 3
Eddie Jeeta, AUS 1
Tychondrius Hood, SJS 0
Removed: Tychondrius Hood, SJS
-----------------------------------------------------
RUNOFF #1
Nominee Votes
------------------------ -------
Monty Jack, SJS 8
Michael Witheblock , SAR 5
Heath Evans, ARI 3
Eddie Jeeta, AUS 1
Removed: Eddie Jeeta, AUS
-----------------------------------------------------
RUNOFF #2
Nominee Votes
------------------------ -------
Monty Jack, SJS 9
Michael Witheblock , SAR 5
Heath Evans, ARI 3
Removed: Heath Evans, ARI
-----------------------------------------------------
RUNOFF #3
Nominee Votes
------------------------ -------
Monty Jack, SJS 9
Michael Witheblock , SAR 8
Removed: Michael Witheblock , SAR
S23 ISFL Most Valuable Player
Heisman System: Mathias Hanyadi (30 Points)
Code:
Player Rank 1 Rank 2 Rank 3 Points
----------------------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Jay Cue, ARI 6 3 2 26
Mathias Hanyadi, YKW 5 6 3 30
Franklin Armstrong, OCO 3 1 8 19
Mason Blaylock, NOLA 2 2 2 12
Galf Wilf, ARI 0 4 1 9
Instant Runoff: Jay Cue
Code:
Voters: 16
Threshold: 9
ORIGINAL VOTES:
Nominee Votes
----------------------- -------
Jay Cue, ARI 6
Mathias Hanyadi, YKW 5
Franklin Armstrong, OCO 3
Mason Blaylock, NOLA 2
Galf Wilf, ARI 0
Removed: Galf Wilf, ARI
-----------------------------------------------------
RUNOFF #1
Nominee Votes
----------------------- -------
Jay Cue, ARI 6
Mathias Hanyadi, YKW 5
Franklin Armstrong, OCO 3
Mason Blaylock, NOLA 2
Removed: Mason Blaylock, NOLA
-----------------------------------------------------
RUNOFF #2
Nominee Votes
----------------------- -------
Mathias Hanyadi, YKW 6
Jay Cue, ARI 6
Franklin Armstrong, OCO 4
Removed: Franklin Armstrong, OCO
-----------------------------------------------------
RUNOFF #3
Nominee Votes
-------------------- -------
Jay Cue, ARI 8
Mathias Hanyadi, YKW 7
Removed: Mathias Hanyadi, YKW
S23 DSFL Defensive Player of the Year
Heisman System: Alejandro Chainbreaker (22 Points)
Code:
Player Rank 1 Rank 2 Rank 3 Points
---------------------------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Rashad Hilliard, MINN 6 0 2 20
Juan Domine, LDN 3 3 3 18
Alejandro Chainbreaker, MINN 2 7 2 22
Busch Light, LDN 0 1 3 5
LeSean Paris Crooks, LDN 0 0 1 1
Instant Runoff: Rashad Hilliard
Code:
Voters: 11
Threshold: 6
ORIGINAL VOTES:
Nominee Votes
---------------------------- -------
Rashad Hilliard, MINN 6
Juan Domine, LDN 3
Alejandro Chainbreaker, MINN 2
Busch Light, LDN 0
LeSean Paris Crooks, LDN 0
S23 DSFL Top DB
Heisman System: Joel Drake (23 Points)
Code:
Player Rank 1 Rank 2 Rank 3 Points
------------------------ -------- -------- -------- --------
Rashad Hilliard, MINN 7 0 1 22
Joel Drake, POR 4 4 3 23
Ray-Ray Jackson, MINN 0 3 1 7
Greedy Sly, LDN 0 2 0 4
LeSean Paris Crooks, LDN 0 2 6 10
Instant Runoff: Rashad Hilliard
Code:
Voters: 11
Threshold: 6
ORIGINAL VOTES:
Nominee Votes
------------------------ -------
Rashad Hilliard, MINN 7
Joel Drake, POR 4
Ray-Ray Jackson, MINN 0
LeSean Paris Crooks, LDN 0
Greedy Sly, LDN 0
S22 DSFL Offensive Player of the Year
Heisman System: Kichwa Jones (23 Points)
Code:
Player Rank 1 Rank 2 Rank 3 Points
---------------------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Kichwa Jones, DAL 4 5 1 23
Chris Ramos, MB 4 4 2 22
Jamar Lackson, MIN 2 0 1 7
Sim Snowbow, MIN 1 3 2 11
Friedrich Vequain, TIJ 1 0 6 9
Instant Runoff: Chris Ramos & Kichwa Jones
Code:
Voters: 12
Threshold: 7
MVP Sim Snowbow, MIN removed from ballot.
ORIGINAL VOTES:
Nominee Votes
---------------------- -------
Kichwa Jones, DAL 5
Chris Ramos, MB 4
Jamar Lackson, MIN 2
Friedrich Vequain, TIJ 1
Sim Snowbow, MIN 0
Removed: Sim Snowbow, MIN
-----------------------------------------------------
RUNOFF #1
Nominee Votes
---------------------- -------
Kichwa Jones, DAL 5
Chris Ramos, MB 4
Jamar Lackson, MIN 2
Friedrich Vequain, TIJ 1
Removed: Friedrich Vequain, TIJ
-----------------------------------------------------
RUNOFF #2
Nominee Votes
------------------ -------
Kichwa Jones, DAL 6
Chris Ramos, MB 4
Jamar Lackson, MIN 2
Removed: Jamar Lackson, MIN
-----------------------------------------------------
RUNOFF #3
Nominee Votes
----------------- -------
Chris Ramos, MB 6
Kichwa Jones, DAL 6
TIED
Nominee 2nd Votes 3rd Votes
----------------- ----------- -----------
Chris Ramos, MB 3 1
Kichwa Jones, DAL 3 1
S22 DSFL Top QB
Heisman System: Sim Snowbow (24 Points, won on tiebreaker)
Code:
Player Rank 1 Rank 2 Rank 3 Points
-------------------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Sim Snowbow, MIN 5 4 1 24
Colby Jack, LON 4 5 2 24
Chris Ramos, MB 3 3 3 18
Monty Jack, DAL 0 0 4 4
George O'Donnell, POR 0 0 2 2
Instant Runoff: Colby Jack
Code:
Voters: 13
Threshold: 7
ORIGINAL VOTES:
Nominee Votes
-------------------- -------
Sim Snowbow, MIN 5
Colby Jack, LON 4
Chris Ramos, MB 3
Monty Jack, DAL 0
George O'Donnel, POR 0
Removed: Monty Jack, DAL; George O'Donnel, POR
-----------------------------------------------------
RUNOFF #1
Nominee Votes
---------------- -------
Sim Snowbow, MIN 5
Colby Jack, LON 4
Chris Ramos, MB 3
Removed: Chris Ramos, MB
-----------------------------------------------------
RUNOFF #2
Nominee Votes
---------------- -------
Colby Jack, LON 6
Sim Snowbow, MIN 6
TIEBROKEN ON SECOND PLACE VOTES
Nominee 2nd Votes
---------------- -----------
Colby Jack, LON 4
Sim Snowbow, MIN 3
S22 DSFL Top LB
Heisman System: Eric Richards (20 Points)
Code:
Player Rank 1 Rank 2 Rank 3 Points
-------------------------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Jack Banks, NOR 4 2 1 17
Eric Richards, LON 3 5 1 20
Hingle McCringleberry, DAL 3 1 2 13
Dex Kennedy, MIN 1 3 5 14
Blade McCoy, DAL 1 1 3 8
Instant Runoff: Jack Banks
Code:
Voters: 13
Threshold: 7
ORIGINAL VOTES:
Nominee Votes
-------------------------- -------
Jack Banks, NOR 4
Eric Richards, LON 3
Hingle McCringleberry, DAL 3
Dex Kennedy, MIN 1
Blade McCoy, DAL 1
Removed: Blade McCoy, DAL
-----------------------------------------------------
RUNOFF #1
Nominee Votes
-------------------------- -------
Jack Banks, NOR 4
Eric Richards, LON 3
Hingle McCringleberry, DAL 3
Dex Kennedy, MIN 2
Removed: Dex Kennedy, MIN
-----------------------------------------------------
RUNOFF #2
Nominee Votes
-------------------------- -------
Jack Banks, NOR 5
Eric Richards, LON 4
Hingle McCringleberry, DAL 3
Removed: Hingle McCringleberry, DAL
-----------------------------------------------------
RUNOFF #3
Nominee Votes
------------------ -------
Jack Banks, NOR 6
Eric Richards, LON 5
Removed: Eric Richards, LON
Conclusions
So overall what do we learn from these results? Well, from S21 through S25, the current system and the instant runoff diverge only 9 times out of over 200 awards - so I think it's safe to say it tends to still give the correct result. On the times that it does diverge, 4 of those it reverts to a player who won the majority of first place votes - which I also think is a success. Finally, the remaining times it awards victory to the player with the most first place votes but only lost out because the second place player got a disproportionate amount of second place votes relative to all other players.
I think the S23 DSFL Top DB award is the most drastic example. Even though Rashad Hilliard got a majority of first place votes (7/11), because 3 voters left him off their ballot completely and the last only put him in third, Joel Drake was able to overpass him in the Heisman system despite having 3 fewer first place votes.
Anyways. I've submitted this as the Events Committee's proposal for the S26 Rules Summit. Let me know what you think!