Forecasts of El Niño make Sac-Joaquin Section a bit nervous

There’s seemingly nothing that can diminish the incredible popularity of high school football.

Except for maybe El Niño, the irregularly occurring warm-water trend in the Pacific Ocean that results in dramatic climate changes.

For drought-ravaged California, El Niño means rain, and that’s good for just about everybody in the state.

But forecasts of heavier-than-normal precipitation have Sac-Joaquin Section officials a bit nervous. That’s because rain generally means lower attendance at high school football playoff games in November and December.

“We’re all for El Niño,” said Will DeBoard, SJS director of communications, during the section’s annual Media Day on Thursday. “Just not on Friday and Saturday nights in the fall.”

The section revealed its annual financial report Thursday, which showed total postseason income for the year just shy of $2 million. With total expenses just under $1.844 million, the section turned a profit of about $146,000.

“That’s an average to above-average year,” DeBoard said.

Football is by far the biggest earner for high schools in the section. Two years ago, when the playoffs were hampered by rain, the Division I playoffs brought in just $80,000. The following season, a dry one, the D-I playoffs earned almost an additional $50,000.

Last season, the D-I playoffs brought in $108,000.

All told, football (divisions I through VII) accounted for more than $409,000 in total earnings. All other sports combined accounted for about $360,000.

Boys and girls soccer had an explosion in earnings last year, attributed to a minor rule change.

In the past, both playoff teams had to agree to play under the lights. And since night games are always harder on the traveling team, agreements rarely were reached.

The section changed the rule last year and let the home team alone make the determination. That resulted in more night games, bigger gates and a nearly 100 percent increase in revenue for girls soccer and a 50 percent increase on the boys side.

Another big gainer was track and field, earning nearly $38,000, which was up more than 40 percent over the past two school years.

“We really have no idea why track and field was up,” DeBoard said. “It’s just one of those cyclical things.”

Boys and girls golf, softball and lower-division baseball playoffs all were in the red last year. Softball was the biggest loser, in the hole more than $14,000, due mainly to the extensive travel required by playoff teams.

DeBoard also went over some of the new rules that will be implemented this season. One involves conference champions playing at, or above, the level of its league during the postseason.

Last year, Modesto Christian won the football title in the Trans-Valley League, a Division V-rated conference. But because of its enrollment, the Crusaders moved down to Division VI for playoffs.

That’s no longer allowed for league champs in football, volleyball, basketball, soccer and softball.

“Our feeling is, if you’re good enough to win a D-V conference, you’re good enough to play in the D-V playoffs,” DeBoard said. “This will impact a lot of schools. There will be some hootin’ and hollerin’ about this one, I imagine.”

Also, boys and girls soccer will be moved to the winter starting in 2016-17. Currently, the boys play in the fall and the girls in the spring. Moving both to the winter will put the section in line with the rest of the state.

“I imagine this will open the door to Northern and Southern California regional playoffs,” DeBoard said.

This story was originally published August 27, 2015 at 6:02 PM with the headline "Forecasts of El Niño make Sac-Joaquin Section a bit nervous."