We have Sections, Divisons, and Leagues.... and all have undergone redefinition in the last few years.
Playoffs are based on Divisions BUT.... your division is computer generated so you really have no idea what division you are in for the playoffs until the playoffs start. You can see what 'may' be your division at any particular point during the season but W's and L's and opponent strength will change it weekly.
For example: We began the season as a Div IV team.... when we started the season at 4-0 we moved up to Div III.... now we've lost two in a row and this Friday we play another powerhouse so will be go back down to Div IV? Probably... but hard to say.
Not many like our system, and for good reason.... 'losing' on purpose can get you into a lower division, still in the playoffs, and greatly increase your chance at a championship.
21Dog may want to chime in on this... he could greatly disagree with my opinion on this next.... and if so he may be right, it's complicated... but "As I See It" -
The current system is designed to give the larger schools, (mostly in Fresno, the big city), a better shot at a championship by dropping them into divisions with smaller schools. I "know" it's possible to drop as much as 2 divisions because it's happened. For all I know a 3 or even 4 division drop may be possible and MAY happened. But it's worse than that:
A small school having a good year will move up divisions.. and again... 2? Maybe 3. So it's very likely for a school with a 4,000 student population who drops in division can play in the same division with a school of less than 500 students. Except in VERY rare circumstances this almost guarantees the larger school a championship.
This year I believe, (could be wrong) we could compete in the division we started in during the playoffs... Div IV.... Div III will be considerably tougher... and should we get kicked up to Div II wellllll... it's lights out. We could never move up to Div 1, (I don't think), but even not doing so it's very likely we would face a team that began in Div 1 but 'intentionally threw a game OR NOT' to drop down a division or more. - JamesJM
