The Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) has released the classification plan for the 2026 field hockey season, dividing schools into three tiers — Class L, Class M and Class S — based on total female enrollment.
Classifications by Enrollment
Class L will comprise 26 schools that collectively enroll at least 608 girls, making it the largest tier. Class M includes 25 schools with enrollments ranging from 351 to 607 students, while Class S gathers another 26 schools whose rosters contain fewer than 350 participants.
The regular season is set to begin on Tuesday, September 8, marking the first day of competition across all divisions.
The CIAC tournament will kick off with its opening round on November 10, and if additional matchups are required, qualifying rounds are scheduled for November 5 through 7. The championship finals are slated for Saturday, November 21, and will be held at Wethersfield High School in Connecticut.
The new classification system aims to create more balanced competition, allowing schools of similar size to meet in the postseason. Athletes such as Jessica Radziunas, a senior standout, are expected to be key contributors as the season unfolds.