How CIF Southern Section's new playoff system alters the postseason for team sports

The CIF Southern Section Council voted 79-8-0 in favor to use computer rankings based off current season performance to produce playoff divisions for all boys and girls sports

First it was football, now all other boys and girls' sports will follow.

The CIF Southern Section Council approved a proposal this week to make football's postseason formula the same for all high school sports - more commonly known as "competitive equity".

The vote was approved 79-8-0, and the new system will be put in place starting next school year (2024-25).

In the past, teams would know which playoff division they're competing in prior to the season starting based on previous years' performance. But now, like football, teams will be judged for the current season and placed into playoff divisions based off computer rankings.

How does that change things for basketball and other sports that have an Open Division?

Like football, the same process will be carried out. After the season is over, a committee looks at the top teams and decides where to draw the first proverbial line that creates the field for the top division. In football, it's 'Division 1'. In basketball's case, it would be the 'Open Division'.

Here's where it gets interesting.

"The committee would draw a line where they see fit to create the Open Division, and that could impact the playoff format. Pending on the number of teams, it could be bracket or pool play," said Jerry De Fabiis, a Southern Section assistant commissioner who oversees boys and girls basketball.

This means that the format could change year to year.

Is that the case for all the other sports? Not necessarily. 

"(Having a committee) would be based on feedback from the coach's advisory for each sport," Southern Section assistant commissioner Thom Simmons said.

Football has used Calpreps.com's computer rankings to determine the playoff divisions for the last three seasons, which has led to coaches griping about playoff placement due to how programs now build out their schedule.

Coaches say teams with 10-0 or 9-1 seasons are pulled into divisions much too high where it's difficult to compete. The flip side of that is top programs that have a 'down' year are pulled into divisions too low where they can make deeper playoff runs, or even win CIF titles.

"For us, we like knowing which divisions we are in because we can start scouting in November, but now we don't know until later in the year," Rolling Hills Prep basketball coach Harvey Kitani said.

"At the end of the day, there's not much you can do. You have to create a schedule that challenges your team and play, regardless."

On Thursday, Southern Section first-year commissioner Mike West weighed in on the topic, as well as health related bylaw issues.  READ COMPLETE STATEMENT