CIF Meeting Generates Questions

The California Interscholastic Federation emerged from its federated council meeting Friday at the Sheraton Gateway Hotel near Los Angeles International Airport with a lengthy list of issues to resolve before deciding whether to add more high school state championships.

The council generated questions ranging from the philosophical (Whose interests would be served by more state championships?) to the logistical (Where would championship games be played?). The council agreed to find as many answers as possible before returning for further discussion at its next meeting in February.

The CIF currently offers state championships in boys’ and girls’ basketball, track and field, cross-country, wrestling and girls’ volleyball.

Adding championships is not an easy task, considering the CIF is broken into 10 sections. Not all sports are played in all sections and some sports are played in different seasons.

Another issue is the set of criteria to be used to determine entry into a state playoff system.

Southern Section Commissioner Jim Staunton voiced disappointment that he was unable to present his proposal to create state championships in boys’ and girls’ golf. The council agreed to resolve more wide-ranging issues before considering individual proposals.

-- Ben Bolch