2013 Ends, 2014 Begins

With the conclusion of our Fall Playoffs, 2013 comes to a close. It sure goes by fast, doesn’t
it?

In looking back at our Fall Championships that began in late October with Girls Golf and culminated last weekend with our Football Finals, it is evident that an incredible amount of work is done by a countless number of people committed to helping provide opportunities of a lifetime to those who participate and those who attend. I congratulate all of our champions and all of our participants for representing themselves, their schools and their communities so well.

It is vitally important to always remember that our student-athletes are the ones we are primarily responsible to serve, and while there are constant challenges that face us in accomplishing the myriad of tasks necessary to make it all happen, I truly believe that it is a team effort among those involved from our member schools and our dedicated staff. We cannot do it the way it must be done without doing it together. I thank each and every one of you for all that you do in support of our young people, not just during our recently completed Fall Playoffs, but each and every day.

As 2014 begins, a new concept for our Basketball Championships will be implemented. By now, you have probably heard that for the first time the CIF Southern Section will have an Open Division for Boys and for Girls. The details of who will be selected for the Open Division and how we will go about crowning those champions were explained in a Press Release distributed a few weeks ago and will also be included in the Boys and Girls Basketball Playoff Bulletin that will be available on our website in January, 2014.

I would like to illustrate how something such as the Open Division begins with a vision and then becomes a reality. It originates with a Basketball Coaches Advisory Committee who are focused and engaged on searching for ways to enhance our Basketball Championships. Our Basketball Coaches Advisory Committee, as are the Advisory Committees in all of our sports, are very special people who are willing to take time out from their busy professional and personal lives to contribute their valuable expertise to our section. They bring a perspective from the high school campus to our office that we absolutely depend on to help us move forward. Our Assistant Commissioners, who manage each of our sports, work
with our Advisory Committees to help formulate their recommendations and make sure that we are following Blue Book rules, organizational policies and addressing financial considerations, if applicable. Advisory Committees and our sport administrators do make a difference and Open Division Basketball is another example of that. I am grateful to the Basketball Coaches Advisory Committee, and all of our Coaches Advisory Committees, for being the eyes and ears for the CIF Southern Section.

As we say good-bye to 2013, there are many memories that we all take with us. Being the Commissioner of Athletics for the CIF Southern Section, I have the unique opportunity to witness many of these memories being made across our broad spectrum of championship sports. I come away from that experience this past fall, and each season, with a stronger belief in what we do and who we do it for, knowing that we continue to influence young men and young women in such a positive way. It is with that spirit of optimism, excitement and anticipation that I approach the year ahead and along with you, I look forward to all it has to offer.

All the best to you and yours for a joyous holiday season and a happy and healthy 2014,

2013 Ends, 2014 Begins
Published under:
Commissioner’s Messages