Talent and determination are key to a team's success in the high school state playoffs. But fortune also plays a role.

One factor a team cannot control is whom they play in the states. And so the annual reclassification of New Jersey schools is a crucial factor in determining who has a chance at a trophy.

Each year, the NJSIAA uses enrollment figures to classify schools by group size and then divide them into four sections based on geography. A number of Morris and Sussex County schools are changing sections this year, but even those who don't move will see some impact on their state playoff chances.

General classification

Seven schools from the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference are changing their state playoff groupings in the NJSIAA's general classification for 2013-14. Roxbury, which last year was in North Jersey Section 2, Group III, is moving to North Jersey Section 1, Group IV. The Gaels will face larger schools but should be a real contender in sports like soccer and baseball.

High Point, which moved down recently from Group III to Group II in wrestling, will now be a Group II school in the overall classification as well in North 1. That should benefit the Wildcats' solid girls' basketball program, and will likely also be a plus for the softball team this coming season.

Whippany Park is going the other way, moving up to North 2, Group II after many years in Group I. Overall, it doesn't appear to be a major change to the Wildcats' chances within the section, although it does put Whippany in the same section as sister school Hanover Park.

Morris Hills isn't changing groups, but will change sections and play in North 2, Group III this year. It might be a bit of a boost for the Scarlet Knights boys' soccer team, but for the most part it shouldn't make much difference.

Also, North Warren, which moved down to Group I last year, is back up to North 1, Group II this year. And the two technical schools are also moving out of Group I, with Sussex Tech joining North 1, Group II and Morris Tech moving to North 2, Group II in the general classification.

Of course, calling it a general classification is a bit of a misnomer these days, as it now applies only to soccer, basketball, baseball, softball and tennis. All other sports have their own classification rules.

Football

One of those sports is football, and this year six NJAC schools are changing sections on the gridiron. The most significant change involves Randolph, which drops out of Group V after just one season and will be part of North 1, Group IV this year. Both sections are solid but the Rams might have a better shot in the lower group; what makes the change even more interesting is that Randolph could now meet archrival Roxbury in the state playoffs again.

Also dropping from North 1, Group V to North 1, Group IV is Morris Knolls, meaning the NJAC will have no Group V teams this season. The Golden Eagles have not been a playoff contender the last couple of seasons.

Two other NJAC teams are dropping down, but it's not good news for either squad. Vernon moves from the solid North 1, Group IV to the even deeper North 1, Group III section. That may make it tougher for the Vikings to slip into the playoffs as they have the last couple of years. Another Sussex County team, Hopatcong, drops from Group II to North 1, Group I. The Chiefs got into the playoffs last year but their new section is much more difficult.

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In North 2, Whippany Park is going the other direction, moving up from Group I to Group II. Unfortunately in that section, that is not the place to be. The improving Wildcats came fairly close to reaching the playoffs last year; their new section had some of the best small-school teams in New Jersey last year and should be extremely challenging again in 2013.

And Sussex Tech, which does not play an NJAC football schedule, is moving from North 1, Group I up to North 1, Group II. The Mustangs finished at .500 last year for the first time in a couple of decades; if they can improve a little this year, they could find their way into the postseason in their new section.

Finally, while no NJAC teams are moving in or out of North 2, Group IV, that section is in for a shakeup this season. What has been the easiest section in the state in recent years will become significantly tougher in 2013 for defending champion West Morris. Colonia, which went 9-2 last year including a playoff win, joins the section, as does Woodbridge, which was 6-4 and a playoff qualifier. And Phillipsburg also comes into the section; the Stateliners were down last season but remain one of New Jersey's most-storied programs.

Field hockey

As usual, there is some movement among the sections this year, but the biggest news in field hockey is that public and non-public schools will no longer compete with each other for sectional and state titles.

The creation of a Non-Public championship is good news for some public school teams, especially those in Group I. Teams like Pequannock and Boonton may have a better shot at a sectional title, but the team that really could benefit is Madison. The Dodgers move down to North 2, Group I this year, and while it remains a tough section, it no longer contains private school powerhouse Oak Knoll, which has dominated Group I in recent years.