CIF rejects 'true seeding' for playoffs

The CIF San Diego Section’s board of managers turned down a proposal to provide “true seeding” for all CIF playoff rounds.

The January 27 vote retains a guaranteed home game for all league champions even if a higher seed must travel to that league champion.

“I think a lot of people felt if you win your league you should have a home game, and that’s what it boiled down to,” said CIF commissioner Dennis Ackerman.

The first through fourth seeds in each division for each team playoff sport are official. The remaining seeds may be altered to avoid having league opponents meet in the first round.

If a league champion is paired against a higher-seeded team, the first-round playoff match is played at the home site of the league champion rather than at the higher-ranked team.

In some cases a fifth-seeded team who did not win its league opened the playoffs by traveling to face a twelfth-seeded league champion.

“Some people feel it’s unfair,” Ackerman said. “A lot of concerns have come out over the years.”

The water polo advisory committee had previously proposed true seeding, where a league champion is guaranteed a berth in the playoffs but not a home game. The CIF Board of Managers had previously turned down that proposal twice.

“There’s a feeling out there it’s only fair, you can’t help what league you’re in,” Ackerman said.

The most recent request for true seeding had been made by the baseball, softball, and boys volleyball advisory committees.

Had the true seeding proposal been approved, it would not have taken effect until the 2009-2010 season.

The travel issue may resurface if Yuma schools are admitted to the CIF San Diego Section.

Arizona does not have separate sections, and Ackerman has been in discussions with representatives from Yuma schools who are interested in joining the San Diego Section, which also includes Imperial County.

The addition of the Yuma schools has not yet been brought to the Board of Managers.

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