(File Photo of the PIAA Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) According to the newly released findings of a legislative study requested by State Representative Rob Matzie, the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) should update its policies to better protect student athletes participating in competitions. Matzie called on the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct this study based on concerns that the PIAA’s system of classifying schools for competition puts student athletes at risk by forcing them to compete against schools that are wealthier that have larger rosters and bigger budgets. The study was launched after the House adopted Matzie’s resolution in late 2024 that called for a comprehensive study of the PIAA and its decision-making processes and operations.

Matzie stated: “The study’s findings and recommendations demonstrate the need for updated PIAA policies relative to how transfers are monitored and adjudicated, where and how certain private, charter, and co-op schools get their student athletes, and how championship sites are determined. This vindicates the questions I’ve raised over the past several years, especially in regard to the treatment of the Aliquippa School District.” He also expressed that the report recommends that PIAA:

• establish a statewide body to independently record, monitor and adjudicate student-athlete transfers among member schools.
• revise its policy for feeder schools, which pipeline student-athletes into a specific senior high schools, by strengthening the feeder school definition for private schools to ensure that member schools across the state are operating under uniform, clearly specified guidelines.
• document clear requirements for potential championship host venues; clear procedures for its championship site selection process; and the extent to which each championship site proposal meets the requirements listed in its Request for Proposal.

Matzie continued by saying: “With the change in leadership at the PIAA and in light of some of their more recent, positive actions, I am hopeful that these recommendations will be implemented as soon as practicable. As a member of the PA Athletic Oversight Committee, I am prepared to take up the task of putting these changes into place legislatively, if necessary. Moving forward, I stand ready to work with PIAA Executive Director Byers and the board to ensure that all school districts and, most importantly, all of our student athletes are treated with fairness and consistency.”