High school athletics in Pennsylvania will have a brand new look next fall as a new classification system for the 2016-17 academic year was voted upon and passed. The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association board of directors voted to expand classifications in football to six from four which it is at for 2015-16 academic year.
The PIAA board voted in favor of the six-class structure by way of a 26-4 vote. Football classifications were not the only classifications which changed Wednesday afternoon at the meeting in Mechanicsburg.
Breaking away from normal voting policies, the PIAA voted to also expand to six classes in boys and girls basketball, baseball and softball. This vote was passed 23-7 by the board. Boys and girls soccer as well as girls volleyball are expanding to four classes from three. Field hockey is expanding to three classes with lacrosse expanding to two.
Under normal circumstances PIAA rules dictate a vote being taken to expand classes needs to pass three votes by the board of directors. Previously, football passed two votes, but voting protocol was suspended on voting and the decision to expand other sports was passed for the other sports today after only one vote.
The PIAA defines classifications for the WPIAL and 11 other districts throughout the state.
As far as the the impact the new classifications will have on schools in the WPIAL it will be seen in 2016-17 as football championship games will be unable to be played in one day at Heinz Field. Four title games have been played in one day at Heinz Field or Three Rivers Stadium since 1986. Having six classifications eliminates the ability of all games being played in one day at a single site. How the WPIAL handles championships with a six classification system remains to be seen.
Current enrollment numbers are submitted by all schools in the state by October 15 with classification breakdowns coming in December. Schools are afforded the opportunity to play “up” a classification if they so choose.
The impact the new classification system has directly to the games themselves remains to be seen. As a result of the six-class system, local rivalries and travel are sure to be impacted as schools decide whether to play up or stay in the same classification.
The move was made to “even the playing field” according to PIAA executive director Bob Lombardi. This allows schools to compete with others around the same enrollment figures and takes away situations where schools face others with twice the enrollment.
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