PIAA Competition Formula Rule Changes Approach Final Vote

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Matt Herring | October 16, 2024

Last week, the PIAA voted and approved on second reading to alter their competition formula which moves teams up in class based on a two-year cycle of post-season success and athlete transfers into a school’s athletic programs.  A third and final reading and passing vote is required for the new rule changes to be approved and put into play beginning in the new two-year cycle during the 2026 football season (in addition to other sports as well).

At their next Board of Directors meeting in December the PIAA will take a final vote to make the following changes to their competition formula for football (in addition to other sports)…

* The number of success points required over a two-year cycle to move a football program up in class will increase from six to seven.  Additionally, football programs that do not accrue at least three points over a two-year cycle can be moved down in classification should they have been moved up in classification in the previous two-year cycle.

* Football teams will be given one success point for reaching the round of 16 in the state football tournament, two success points for reaching the round of 8 (quarterfinals), three points for reaching the round of 4 (semifinals) and four points for reaching the state final game.  Teams cannot be given more than four points in a season should they reach the state final game and points are not dependent on if the team wins or loses their final game.  For example, a team that reaches the state final this season (4 points) and the round of 16 next season (1 point) would be given 5 success points and would not be considered to be moved up in classification upon the start of the new two-year cycle beginning in 2026.  It should be noted, that districts with post-season tournaments that overlay the state tournament rounds will have teams given success points starting with game rounds equivalent to the round of 16 in the state football tournament.  For example, District 1 hosts a 16-team football tournament in the 6A classification and teams reaching the semifinals of that tournament will accrue one success point while teams reaching the finals of that tournament will accrue two success points with the winner advancing to the semifinals of the state football tournament and receiving three success points.

* In addition to having the required number of success points (7 or more) teams would also need to have four or more transfers into their football program over a two-year cycle to trigger a move up in classification.  The previous number of transfers had been three or more over a two-year cycle.

* Language in the PIAA by-laws will be removed that previously prohibited football programs from appealing a move up in classification based on health and safety concerns.

While this article has only discussed proposed changes to the competition formula that affects football programs other sports that would be affected by various changes include basketball, tennis, baseball, softball, soccer, field hockey, volleyball, lacrosse and wrestling.

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