City Section could be moving to Open Division for playoffs in multiple sports

A proposal to allow any sport’s coaches’ advisory committee to create an Open Division for the playoffs when it has the support of two-thirds of its coaches is scheduled to be voted on by the City Section Board of Managers at its meeting on Tuesday.

The football advisory committee has already signaled its support for creating an Open Division. It also has agreed to begin revising playoff divisions every season instead of every two years.

Starting this fall in football, the top 24 teams based on MaxPreps rankings will be in Division I. If an Open Division is created, the top eight teams at the end of the season would make up the Open Division and nine through 24 would automatically qualify for the Division I playoffs.

An Open Division would also change the way the City Section sends its teams to state football bowl games. The City Section has three automatic spots. They were given to the Division I, II and III champions this past season. With an Open Division, the City Section would instead send the Open Division champion, Open Division runner-up and Division I champion. Division II and III champions would not get to play in state bowl games.

It will be up to the football coaches to decide if they want an Open Division. Softball and baseball coaches also could decide to create an Open Division if the general proposal passes.

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