One key thing coach's evaluations do tell us

[bisonlj]

Since Indiana has an all-in playoff system there are nearly as many games in the first round of the playoffs as there are every other week of the season (there are some byes so there are a few fewer games). Not every crew applies for the playoffs for a variety of reasons but most do. I believe the number this year was 156 crews for 152 first round games. That means almost every crew gets a first round game and thus almost every new official gets a playoff game his first year. We are also assigned by crew and not by position. With a few rare exceptions you have to work one round to get to the next round. There are 80 second round games, 40 third round games, etc. The number of working crews drops by half each week.