The Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) has unveiled a revised seeding formula for the 2026 boys and girls soccer tournaments, a move designed to align tournament pairings more closely with regular‑season performance.
The new algorithm places a premium on strength of schedule, factoring in both in‑league and non‑conference results, and mirrors an approach that has been used successfully in lacrosse since 2023.
Historical data from recent tournaments revealed a pattern in which lower‑seeded squads frequently advanced to championship games, prompting the committee to seek a more balanced bracket. In boys lacrosse, only one team seeded below a No. 3 has reached a CIAC final since 2023, while in girls lacrosse a No. 6 seed reached a final just once. In boys soccer, there has been only a single 1‑vs‑2 final matchup, and the same rarity appears in girls soccer.
To address these imbalances, the CIAC has adjusted the qualifying threshold for girls soccer teams, lowering the cut‑off to 35 % of eligible programs. This change ensures that enough teams will qualify for the Class S division, where participation numbers have been declining.
Coach Reactions
Mark Berkowitz, a longtime coach and committee member, said the revised formula is expected to be welcomed by soccer coaches who have long advocated for a merit‑based seeding system. Gregg Simon, another committee participant, added that the new criteria should help produce deeper matchups in later rounds and reduce the frequency of early‑round upsets.
The committee also emphasized that boys soccer teams will continue to qualify at a 40 % win‑and‑tie rate, preserving the existing standard while the girls’ threshold is reduced.
With 21 girls’ teams qualifying last season, and numbers hovering around 23 in 2024, the CIAC hopes to see a modest increase that will fill all four divisions without creating double‑byes.
Overall, the organization aims to craft brackets that reflect competitive reality, giving stronger programs the chance to meet in the later stages of the tournament.