New Mexico High School Sports Consider Changes to Playoff Selection and Structure

The New Mexico Activities Association (NMAA) is set to explore significant changes to playoff selection and structure in various sports during its Board of Directors meeting this Thursday. With a new transfer rule on the agenda, attention is also drawn to other potential modifications that could impact the future of high school athletics in the state.

NMAA executive director Dusty Young, who has been at the helm for over a year and a half, aims to reassess how individual sports, including basketball, are organized. One of the most talked-about changes is the possible elimination of the mandatory playoff game in basketball districts that currently resolves ties for first place and determines the top two seeds for the district tournament. Young mentioned that a recent survey indicated that fewer than 30% of schools support keeping this playoff game.

In addition to the playoff game, discussions are underway about the district tournament format itself. A proposal has emerged suggesting that only the district tournament champion should automatically qualify for state, rather than both the tournament and regular-season champions. Furthermore, adjustments to the mercy rule and running clock regulations are on the table, potentially changing the lead threshold from 35 points to 30 in high school games.

Perhaps the most intriguing proposal, which may not take effect until the 2027-28 season, involves altering the seeding and selection process for state tournaments across major team sports. The suggestion is to rely solely on rankings from MaxPreps, a system the NMAA claims has a 90% accuracy rate in postseason seeding. The aim is to ensure that the best teams are represented in the tournament, although this idea has met resistance from many coaches, according to Angel Castillo, the executive director of the New Mexico High School Coaches Association.

As these discussions unfold, the outcome could reshape how New Mexico's high school sports operate, impacting athletes, coaches, and schools alike.