The Southern Columbia rule? Teams winning consecutive state titles would be moved into higher class under PIAA proposal

By: Chris Harlan
Friday, July 12, 2024 | 1:39 PM

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Some might call it the Southern Columbia rule.

Any PIAA team that wins two consecutive state championships would be forced into a higher classification regardless of whether it added any transfers under a proposed change to the competitive-balance rule that the PIAA board will consider next week.

The suggested change was endorsed unanimously by the PIAA strategic planning committee, which makes recommendations to the PIAA board. The rule change would impact a successful team like Southern Columbia football, which has drawn scrutiny for winning seven consecutive PIAA titles yet remaining in Class 2A throughout.

The PIAA board will consider a number of proposed changes to the competitive-balance rule when it meets Wednesday in State College.

“I think the PIAA wants to make the competitive-balance concept more efficient,” said newly elected WPIAL president Brian Geyer. “That could look several different ways.”

Geyer said the WPIAL board will discuss the PIAA proposals at its meeting Monday to decide the district’s preferences. The Peters Township athletic director is one of three WPIAL representatives to the PIAA board.

“There are a lot of ideas out there right now to make the competitive-balance formula better across the state,” Geyer said. “I know our (WPIAL) board is going to have some opinions on Monday.”

The PIAA meeting agenda also included committee discussions about increasing the number of classifications in girls volleyball (six) and track (three). However, the PIAA board ultimately decides whether to accept any recommendation.

Any changes, if approved, likely wouldn’t take effect until the 2026-27 school year.

Another proposed change to the competitive-balance formula would increase the number of transfers allowed. Basketball and tennis teams, which now need only one transfer to trigger the rule, would instead need two. Football would increase from three to four.

The competitive-balance rule impacts teams that have success in the state playoffs, as measured by a PIAA Competition Formula, and surpass the threshold for transfers in a two-year cycle. The PIAA moves teams that meet both criteria into a higher classification to play against schools with larger enrollments.

As currently written, teams must accumulate six “success points” to be moved up. However, one idea offered by the strategic planning committee could change that threshold to seven points and a state championship. The formula awards four points for reaching the state finals, three for the semifinals, two for the quarterfinals or one for the first round.

According to meeting minutes, the committee also discussed how to count transfers, particularly those who are transient, non-varsity or foreign exchange.

The competitive-balance rule has faced added scrutiny since Aliquippa filed a lawsuit that challenged the rule. In its lawsuit, the school district highlighted how the rule hasn’t impacted Southern Columbia yet has forced the Quips up twice.

The PIAA has said Southern Columbia remained in 2A because the team didn’t have three or more transfers.

The competition formula has changed a number of times since enacted in 2018. The rule at first included only football and basketball, but the PIAA board voted last summer to expand it to all team sports.

The rule was almost overhauled two years ago when the PIAA board considered eliminating transfers from the formula. The proposal to make the rule entirely success-based passed two votes, but, ultimately, was denied on a third and final reading in 2022.

Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.