CIF SS Playoff divisions plan recommendations

High School - Boys
1

So now that we have seen the new system 2 years in a row, what suggestions do you guys have to improve this program?

Here are mine.

  1. Lock the divisions after 2/3’s the way through the season. I have personally watched teams tank the last 2 weeks of this season to get the high seed in a lower division vs a low seed in the higher division (athletes on the team admitted it). So to combat that, we could lock the divisions around October 1. Most games after that are league anyhow. This allows teams to start planning and working on bettering their seed in the division they are in without worry of moving up or down to higher or lower division. If during the last 3 weeks of the season it is clear they do not belong in the given division, CIF can move them with solid reasoning. I feel this is the best of both methods combined. I am sure there are flaws but I see many the way it is now.

  2. Be flexible on how many teams are in each division. last year the 12 team open was a flop. but this year i could see an exiting 8 team open A division and an exiting 8 team Open AA division. Then you make D1 16 teams and the rest 32. but CIF needs to be a bigger fan of its own sports to realize this.

2

I like the idea of soft-locking teams into divisions. My issue here would be the SOP, which normally coincides with the start of league play. Doing a reevaluation and moving teams up down a division might work based on that.

I don’t know how many of you all feel, but I love rivalry games and feel like a little luster is lost because aside from bragging rights, league championships really don’t meant anything. I do like higher seeds not being punished for not winning league, but feel like winning your league should be worth something.

On another note, has there been any more rumblings about breaking up the Southern Section into 2-3 more sections?