Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association

caution

Winter 2025-26/2026-27 Proposed Tournament Alignments are now available. The deadline for appeals is January 1, 2025.

2025-26 / 2026-27 Tournament Alignment Cycle

Alignment Process and Guidelines

The proposed alignments were generated via the process approved by the Tournament Management Committee at its June 2024 meeting:

  • A baseline is established using enrollment figures from the DESE database as of October 2023.
  • Enrollments for each member school are adjusted using the Competitive Equity Modifier, which includes two factors:
    • Stability Rate %: Measures how many students remain in a district or school throughout the school year. 
    • High Needs Modifier: A sliding scale based on the state percentage for high schools. 
  • Any previously approved appeals are automatically placed in the division for which the appeal was granted (indicated by “AA” code).
  • A factor is applied to move private schools up one division (indicated by “Y” code)
  • After all appeals and factors are applied, divisions are re-balanced.  Rebalancing for power ranked sports has been eliminated by TMC at their 12/19/24 meeting.

Proposed Tournament Alignments

THE BOYS & GIRLS ICE HOCKEY AND BASKETBALL PROPOSED ALIGNMENTS HAVE BEEN REVISED AS OF 12/20/24 
The TMC at the 12/19 meeting voted to eliminate the rebalancing requirement of power ranked sports.

For Informational Purposes only (to come):

  • Boys Alpine Ski
  • Girls Alpine Ski
  • Boys Nordic Ski
  • Girls Nordic Ski

Winter Alignment Process / Timeline:

  • Winter sport proposed alignments will be released December 1, 2024.
  • The deadline to appeal divisional alignment for Winter sports is January 10, 2025. 
  • Throughout January, appeals will be heard by a subcommittee of Sport committee chairs (or designees) and members of the Tournament Management Committee.
  • Once all appeals are heard, final Winter alignments for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 cycle will be published.

Informational Documents

Alignment Process Timeline Grid

Finalized Tournament Alignments

Fall 2025-2026 / 2026-2027

Fall Alignment Process / Timeline:

  • The deadline to appeal divisional alignment for Fall sports is October 1. 
  • Throughout October, appeals will be heard by a subcommittee of Sport committee chairs (or designees) and members of the Tournament Management Committee.
  • Once all appeals are heard, final Fall alignments for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 cycle will be published on November 1.
  • There will be NO re-balancing of divisions after new appeals are awarded.