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 Bergen 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

Five schools from Bergen County are changing their state playoff groupings in the NJSIAA's general classification for 2013-14. Three of those teams are moving into North Jersey, Section 1, Group III for the coming year.

Mahwah moves up from North 1, Group II into the Group III in the general classification. That may be a bad break for the Thunderbirds' up-and-coming softball program that won a surprising sectional title last year. It also makes life tougher in sports like soccer and basketball.

Dwight Morrow of Englewood also jumps up from North 1, Group II to Group III. Englewood has long been a force in boys' basketball in its old section, but will see much tougher competition among the larger schools.

Garfield also rejoins North 1, Group III, shifting over from North Jersey, Section 2, Group II. The Boilermakers have largely had a difficult time competing amongst the larger schools, so this change is probably not good news.

Another team moving up a group is Cliffside Park, which goes from North 2, Group II, to North 2, Group III. Overall, the Red Raiders will likely find the competition tougher, but their strong boys' soccer program should still be a solid contender.

Ridgefield isn't changing groups but is switching sections, from North 2, Group I to North 1, Group I. If anything, the Royals should find the competition more challenging in their new section.

Finally, there is a new school on the athletic scene in Bergen County. The fast-growing Bergen Arts & Science Charter School is adding a limited number of sports programs and will join the NJSIAA. The school will be placed in North Jersey, Section 1, Group II this year 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 five Bergen schools are changing sections on the gridiron. Strangely, the schools moving up to face larger opponents are actually better off for the most part, while the one school dropping down is feeling the pain.

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Demarest is moving up a group, but in this case, bigger does not necessarily mean tougher. The Norsemen will compete in North 1, Group IV this season instead of Group III. The smaller-school group is deeper and stronger, and while Demarest will need to improve on last season's record, they can compete for a playoff spot.

Ridgefield Park is another team moving up a group and gaining as a result of it. The Scarlets went 5-4 in the regular season in 2012 but still missed the playoffs in the brutal North 2, Group II. Now Ridgefield Park will be in North 2, Group III, a far less deep section, and has a much better chance to reach the postseason.

Also going up is Hackensack, as it moves from North 1, Group IV to North 1, Group V. Both sections have strong teams but are not particularly deep. The Comets made the playoffs last year and should be in position to do so again in 2013, and competing for a title is not unrealistic.

One other school is moving up, but in this case, it isn't really a help. Englewood is going from Group II to Group III, and it is certainly better off not to be in the very tough North 2, Group II section any more. Unfortunately, the Maroon Raiders are also changing sections, and will land in another of the state's toughest public-school groupings: North 1, Group III.

The only Bergen County school dropping down in football is New Milford, and the Knights can't be happy about it. Last year New Milford was the top seed in North 1, Group II and reached the sectional final. But their power-point total would have only made them the sixth seed in the super-competitive North 1, Group I section. Unfortunately for the Knights, that's exactly where they've landed this fall.

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. In general, this appears to be good news for smaller public schools, but bad news for a private school like Dwight-Englewood which is now in the same section as powerhouse Oak Knoll.