Beginning in the next school year, some high school sports in Texas will have split divisions in the playoffs to match the current format for 6A football playoffs and championship. The University Interscholastic League’s Legislative Council has approved this change, which will use enrollment to split the playoffs for five sports. This change goes into effect on August 1 and will not affect district alignments.
The split will be implemented for 2A-6A volleyball, 2A-6A softball, 2A-6A baseball, 4A-6A soccer, and 1A-6A basketball. As a result of this change, two state championship brackets will be created, with the top four teams in each district advancing to the playoffs. The two schools with the largest enrollments will be bracketed into Division I, while the other two schools will be bracketed into Division II. Both divisions will compete for separate state championships after district certifications.
According to the UIL, this change is expected to create a more competitive environment and provide a level playing field for all schools participating in these sports. They stated that they do not anticipate any financial impact on schools as a result of this proposal. The UIL encourages coaches and athletes to review the proposal online for more information on how it works.
