A. League placement for all schools in the Central Section shall take place every two years. Divisional placement for all schools in the Central Section shall take place every four years. Adjustments to the divisions will be done every other year using the formula found in Section "F" of this article.

B. Criteria for Division and League Alignment

       1. The Commissioners shall consider the following criteria when placing schools in divisions or leagues.

               DIVISIONS                                                                                                                LEAGUES

·        Sport by sport basis                                                                                        Financial Impact

                                                                                                                                     Scope of Athletic Program 

                                                                                                                                    Competitiveness of Programs

2. At least four schools are required to make up a league in any given sport.

3. Schools in leagues with less than four teams competing in a particular sport may free-lance for competition or may appeal to another administrative league for league status in that particular sport. The acceptance of a school by another  league in a particular sport must be verified by the accepting league to the Section Commissioner. Schools unable to obtain acceptance have the right to appeal to the Section Commissioner for a placement.

4. School districts with multiple high schools may request that all or part of the school district's schools in the same league, but the final determination must be based upon what is in the best interest of the entire Section.

C. Division & League  Procedure

    1.The meetings schedule for realignment shall be as follows: 

                                   2008-09

                                   2010-2011

                                   2112-2113, etc.

             The meeting schedule for  Divisions and Leagues should be as follows (additional meetings may be necessary)

                       1.   October---        Organizational Meeting---Dates will be set for the remainder of the realignment meeting cycle.

                         The deadline to submit proposals will be at this meeting. Discussion will follow.

                         The Section Commissioner and three League Commissioners will review all proposals between Oct. and November 14.  Recommendations in regards to the proposals will be sent to ALL schools and the Board of managers by November 15. Schools/Leagues will review the proposals prior to a Section meeting the second week of January. Requests for changes or other recommendations will be taken at that time by the Commissioners. The final proposals will be forwarded to the Board of Managers for a first reading at the January Board of Managers meeting.

                         February-April-- League discussion and vote.                        

                         April---     Board of Managers Meeting---  Final Vote

     2. The proposed recommendation from the committee shall be made immediately available to all schools in the  Section and other schools who have applied for admission to the Section.

     3. NEW SCHOOLS THAT OPEN DURING THE CYCLE WILL BE PLACED IN LEAGUES AND DIVISIONS BY THE COMMISSIONERS DETERMINED BY THEIR  PROJECTED GROWTH AND COMPETITION LEVEL DURING THE CYCLE. SCHOOLS ENTERING THE SECTION WITH FRESHMAN AND/OR FRESHMAN- SOPHOMORE CLASSES WILL FREELANCE . SCHOOLS THAT ENTER THE SECTION WITH JUNIORS, SOPHOMORES AND FRESHMEN WILL BEGIN PLAY AT THE LEAGUE AND DIVISION LEVEL IMMEDIATELY. (Approved, Board of Managers Jan.. 08)

D. Divisions and League Appeals Procedure

    1. Schools or leagues may appeal the Board of Managers adopted proposal by submitting a written statement to the Section Commissioner within 15 days of the vote. The statement shall include, but not be limited to:

                  a. How the school/leagues due process rights have been violated

                  b. The concerns of the school/league

                  c. The school's/league's alignment proposal which includes every school affected by the proposed change.

     2. Appeals to the Board of Managers on division and league placement will take place after the final vote by the Board of Managers. 

     3. According to Bylaw 1103 all schools have the right to appeal the final decision to the State CIF Executive Director for possible mediation arbitration.

E. Requests for Section Membership

1. Schools must apply, in writing, to the Section Commissioner for membership. The written request must include an agreement to compete in at least one girls’ and one boys’ sport in each of the three seasons (fall, winter, spring). The written request must also include an entrance deposit of $750.00. The entrance deposit will be returned to the requesting school (s) upon the completion of one year of competition in an assigned league or free-lancing in the agreed upon varsity sports. The refund will also occur if the requesting school is not accepted into the Central section.

2. Requests for section membership must be received by the Section Commissioner. The school's request may become an action item on the agenda of the next meeting of the Board of Managers. If the school is granted section membership, the Section Commissioner shall recommend placement in a division, subject to Board of Managers approval.

3. Acceptance of out-of-section schools shall be for a probationary period for the duration of the realignment cycle in which they entered the Section.

4. Schools accepted into the Central Section during the middle of a league placement cycle may:

a. Free-lance until the next league alignment cycle.

b. Appeal to an administrative league for acceptance. If accepted, the league must notify the Section Commissioner.