California Interscholastic Federation
The California Interscholastic Federation (abbreviated CIF) is the governing body for high school sports in the state of California. It mirrors similar governing bodies in other states. CIF is a non-profit corporation.
History
The CIF was founded in Los Angeles, California in 1914 by a group of area school principals. It was founded in order to standardize rules and team structures between schools; it was also intended to prevent abuses such as "school shopping" by athletes and teams that fielded players over high school age. Other school principals voluntarily entered into the program, and by 1917, the organization was statewide.
Administration
For CIF administrative purposes, the state is broken up into ten sections. These sections are:
- CIF Northern Section
- CIF North Coast Section
- CIF Sac-Joaquin Section
- CIF San Francisco Section
- CIF Oakland Section
- CIF Central Coast Section
- CIF Central Section
- CIF Los Angeles City Section
- CIF Southern Section
- CIF San Diego Section
These sections are futher sub-divided into leagues.
The organization's supreme governing body is the Federated Council. This council consists of one representative from each section, a representative from the California Department of Education, representatives from all bodies recognized as Allied Organizations by the CIF, the Council President, the President-Elect, and the immediate past President. Each representative is elected to a term of two years. The Council meets three times per year.
Allied Organizations
The following groups have "Allied Organization" status within the CIF:
- California Coaches Association
- California State Athletic Directors Association
- California School Boards Association
- Association of California School Administrators
- California Association of Private School Organizations
- California Superintendents Liason Committee
- California Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance
- California Association of Directors of Activities