Major Changes in California High School Sports Data Access
In a surprising turn of events, California high school sports enthusiasts are facing a significant disruption as Calpreps.com, one of the leading data sources for high school sports for more than two decades, has announced it is ceasing operations. The news was confirmed through a statement on their website, leaving many fans and players feeling uncertain about the future.
For years, Calpreps.com provided vital information, including national schedules, scores, ratings, and projections, particularly for high school football. This resource has been a staple for teams and fans alike, allowing them to track performance and rankings effectively. Now, with its closure, sports programs may face complications, especially regarding postseason selections.
Many state associations, including the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), heavily relied on CalPreps numbers and rankings to seed teams for playoffs. CIF Executive Director Ron Nocetti was informed of this development on Sunday and stated that the organization would collaborate with the appropriate parties to assess the situation and determine the next steps. “We just need to take a step back and find out what’s really going on here,” he remarked. Nocetti emphasized that the CIF has various guidelines in place to handle seeded selections.
California is divided into 10 sections organized by region, each of which has commonly depended on CalPreps for playoff seeding in various sports. The Southern Section, which is the largest with close to 600 schools, is particularly affected by this change. However, Southern Section Assistant Commissioner Thom Simmons reassured that they have backup plans ready for such unforeseen situations. “We have never relied on one outlet for these playoff divisions,” he noted.
The impact of Calpreps’ shutdown is still unfolding, and high school sports teams across California are awaiting clearer direction on how to navigate this unexpected challenge.
