The Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) is set to roll out a revised seeding formula for both boys and girls soccer tournaments beginning this fall.
Rather than relying solely on winning percentage, the new algorithm will factor in strength of schedule, counting in‑league and non‑conference opponents to gauge a team’s true competitive standing.
Mark Berkowitz, the tournament director for both boys and girls soccer, explained that the previous method often paired teams in later rounds who had not demonstrated the depth of performance expected, leading to mismatches that did not reflect the actual skill distribution.
Historical Context
Data from the past two seasons show that in boys soccer only one matchup featured the top two seeds meeting in a final, while in girls soccer the pattern was similarly sparse, with just one instance of a 1‑versus‑2 final.
The adjustment mirrors a similar approach that was introduced in lacrosse in 2023, a move that coaches praised for producing more balanced bracket pairings.
Gregg Simon, a member of the soccer committee, noted that the change was informed by a three‑year review of tournament outcomes, which revealed that only a handful of lower‑seeded teams had advanced to championship finals across multiple sports.
Berkowitz also highlighted that the new formula should be well received by coaches, who have long advocated for a more nuanced evaluation of team strength.
In addition, the qualifying threshold for girls soccer will be lowered to 35 percent, ensuring that enough teams from Class S secure spots in the tournament bracket, a change that aligns with the committee’s goal of providing a fuller draw across all divisions.
Simon expressed hope that the adjustments will allow more programs to experience a complete tournament experience, especially in the lower divisions where participation numbers have been declining.