CIF-San Diego Section
Division Alignments
Beginning in the fall of 2013 (with a pilot program in spring of 2013) the CIF-San Diego Section began sorting division alignment by a ranking based on program strength, not school enrollment. The sports that are individually based like cross country, tennis and golf remained enrollment based in their divisions. The division proposal dates back to January 23, 2012 and began in October 2011.
The Division Alignment Rules
Each year, at the end of each season, teams will be ranked on a history of data that is weighted, and will be placed in divisions based on that weighted ranking. Years will be weighted as follows and will be adjusted annually:
Most Recent Year: 35%
2nd Most Recent Year: 30%
3rd Most Recent Year: 20%
4th Most Recent Year: 10%
5th Most Recent Year: 5%
Additional Rules
Teams can only move up or down two divisions in 2013-14 and all future years only move up or down one division per year.
The Commissioner will place teams in a division without previous rankings (new schools, teams).
In football, schools with an enrollment of 1,250 or more cannot be placed below division IV.
The top or open division in each sport will have 8 teams, all 8 teams will qualify for the section playoffs and will have first consideration for state playoffs.
Each school will have 15 days, from the initial posting date, to petition for a change of division. Below are the posting dates:
Fall sports: January 15th
Winter sports: April 15th
Spring sports: July 15th
Only three reasons are considered for petition changes:
1. Statistical error in determining the ranking
2. Request to move to a higher division and only if another team is willing to move down to replace the team moving up.
3. Dispute of Commissioner's placement for teams with no rankings.
The CIF office has the authority to adjust a school's placement if the enrollment has changed dramatically or there is a grossly misplaced team.
Final divisions will be posted:
Fall Sports: February 5th
Winter Sports: May 5th
Spring Sports: August 5th
Sports Using MaxPreps Freeman Ratings
Baseball
Basketball, Boys
Basketball, Girls
Football
Volleyball, Girls
Sports Using LaxPower Ratings
Lacrosse, Boys
Lacrosse, Girls
Sports with Rankings Yet to be Determined
(will use enrollment until rankings can be established)
Field Hockey
Soccer, Boys
Soccer, Girls
Softball
Water Polo, Boys
Water Polo, Girls
Sports That Remain in Enrollment Based Divisions
Fall Sports
Cross Country, Boys
Cross Country, Girls
Golf, Girls
Tennis, Girls
Winter
Wrestling, Boys
Wrestling, Girls
Spring
Golf, Boys
Gymnastics
Swimming, Boys
Swimming, Girls
Tennis, Boys
Track & Field, Boys
Track & Field, Girls