Here’s a wild concept, let’s just set divisions in stone before the season starts and then no one can play games. If you want to carve out an Open Division, take them from the division they are in. Other than that, they are the same all year long.
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Because 6 divisions are split up by level of play, you have about 800 kids in div 2-6 that get to experience some level of CiF and ultimately be exposed to lots of adversity and disappointment because there’s only 7 teams total that get to be champions!
These kids are also dealing w disappointment today just like you might, wanting to not be the 15th seed in a better division—wishing they could be the number one seed in a lower division.
I’ve been hiring non entitled kids, ones who keep working and showing up even though no one is watching or cares. Those kids I find in the lesser known colleges. The entitled “big four” type grads tell me they won’t do certain jobs or walk off when things are rough. I would say there is more kids in open who’ve had their journey handed to them—always being on winning teams, better pools, reffing & tournaments. They have more parental involvement, financial support, physical gifts, better coaching, etc.
I’m so grateful CIF gives so many kids the chance to work hard to qualify for CIF and keep their season going. So now these kids are busy at practice not hanging out being bored picking their pronouns. And most of them will experience extreme adversity and disappointment in CIF.
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Because talent changes year to year. And your more accurate this way with rankings.
You only need to look at football preseason rankings and who’s top 20 now to see how wrong predictions are.
One thing I do like about this Pool Play format is that every team in Open Division gets at least two games. I didn’t like the fact that the fifth through eighth best teams in all of CIF-SS were “one and done.” And, the teams that now qualify for the semi-finals will all get at least four games (the two they already have played, the remainder of the tournament and then the SoCal Regional).
Well great for you that you are able to hire only perfect employees, but that is not the real world reality. Ask any hiring manager, HR manager about the how the workforce has shifted the last 20 years and it isn’t getting better.
Diluting the meaning of a CIF title isn’t the answer.
Somehow fixed divisions worked for CIF for 50 or 60 years. It is yet to be proven that reshuffling the deck at the end of the year creates fairer divisions and games.
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While I do agree about the whole “everyone gets a trophy” mentality and needing to feel celebrated, the main point of my post was arguing for parity by creating more divisions.
I’m sure we will see some first round games with a 10+ goal scoring differential. My interpretation was CIF wanted to reduce that. If that is the case, more divisions seems like the logical step.
I don’t see it as everyone getting a trophy but more closely aligning it to make sure kids get experience in HS. Then when you get to college all bets are off.
Agree with your assessment. Waterpolo open division should stay at 8 teams as it’s simply not fair nor realistic for bottom 4 teams to try to compete.
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Here’s some historical fun facts connected to Tuesday’s four CIF-SS Open Division matchups (all references are to the top-level only, currently known as Open Division):
Newport Harbor vs. Buena of Ventura. This is Buena’s first appearance in the top level playoffs since 2010. This is Newport Harbor and Buena’s first meeting in the playoffs since 1968; they also played in 1967 (Newport Harbor won both games).
JSerra vs. San Clemente. San Clemente hasn’t played in the top level playoffs since 2018. This is the only game of the four contests in which prior champions are playing each other – JSerra won in 2023 and San Clemente in 1991. This is their first playoffs meeting.
Oaks Christian vs. Foothill. Foothill last appeared at the top level in 2021. Oaks Christian is the “youngest” program in the playoffs, first appearing at this level in 2015. Foothill is among the longest-standing, first appearing in 1967. This is their first playoff meeting.
Harvard-Westlake vs. San Marcos. This is San Marcos’ first appearance at the top level since 2016. Harvard has reached the semi-finals every year played since 2013. San Marcos has reached the semis once, in 1975. This is their first playoff meeting.
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Love the history. Predictions:
NH 14 - Buena 6
JSerra 10 - SC 7
OC 12 - Foothill 5
HW 9 - SMarcos 5
No surprises in the first round, except SC hanging close for 3 periods.
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I think you are going to see more separation in the scores. With a three team bracket, the teams are going to want to run the score as far as they can. Now I have not seen this on CIF’s web site but typically a three way tie for first would go to point differential. So in theory, HW beats SM 9-5. SM beats CDM 8-6. CDM beats HW 10-9. HW is first. Chances of this are slim but no one will want to take that chance with only the winner moving on.
My Predictions for this weeks Open Div games
NH 20- Buena 5
SM 11- Buena 8
JSerra 14- SC 9
Loyola 11- SC 8
Oaks 12- Foothill 8
Mater Dei 13- Foothill 12 (Game could push OT)
HW 15- Smarcos 6
CDM 14- Smarcos 8
Here are my predictions for the Southern Section Open Division and Division 1 Tournaments:
Open Division
- Newport Harbor
- JSerra
3rd. Oaks Christian
3rd. Harvard-Westlake
5th. Corona del Mar
5th. Mater Dei
5th. Loyola
5th. Santa Margarita
I think all of the games will go according to form. The HW/CdM game will be close. If CdM plays well, they have a chance to upset HW and finish tied for 3rd with Oaks Christian. In the 5-8 vs. 9-12 matchups, I think Buena has the best chance of winning a game. However, Santa Margarita has played well down the stretch and I predict that they will beat Buena by 2 goals.
Division 1
- Westlake
- Mira Costa.
3rd. Long Beach Wilson
3rd. San Juan Hills
If Lucas Pearce is healthy and plays for Mira Costa, I predict that Mira Costa will win the Division 1 Tournament.
The top 4 schools from the Open Division Tournament and the top 2 schools from the Division 1 Tournament will play in the Southern California Regional Tournament. If the Southern Section had stayed with an 8-school Open Division Tournament, the 9-12 seeds would have had a chance to finish in the top 2 in the Division 1 Tournament and play in the Regional Tournament. Under the Open Division 12-school format, they have no chance to play in the Regional Tournament.
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I will take a stab…
Open top 4 teams advance… Newport, JSerra, Oaks and HW. All others should have been D1 in my opinion
Div1
Semi’s
Westlake vs. Yucaipa
Mira Costa vs. Long Beach Wilson
Div 2= this is most wide open in my opinion
Semi’s
Irvine vs. Brea Olinda
Ventura vs. Redondo Union
Div3
Semi’s
Trabuco Hills vs. Rio Mesa
Millikan vs. Los Osos
Good luck to all the teams out there competing!
First, learn to swim. Second, qualify for playoffs. An historic season for Channel Islands
Much better read than who will win the open division by recruiting the best kids from all over the country to win a plaque. These kids are a true inspiration. Go get em CI!
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The start of the JSerra vs San Clemente is exactly why Open should have been the top 8. San Clemente goes from a highly competitive Division 1 team, potential to at least get to semifinals, to getting blown out in the first half in Open.
What’s the point? You can’t win it so you should be in a lower bracket? This is getting tiresome. I guess Newport should have had their own division. Then maybe JSerra, HW, CDM and Oaks could have their own. Then Loyola by itself. Then Mater Dei, San Marcos, Buena, Foothill and San Clemente could duke it out.
Platinum division at JOs is too damn big. Make it smaller so my team can win.
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Final score JSerra 15, SC 3
Oaks up 5-0 after one over Foothill.
While I get your point, it’s a bit of an exaggeration. It’s reasonable to ask for the right balance. In the “Open Division” era, no 5-8 seed has come even slightly close to winning Open. It makes no sense to expand it to 12 teams
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