6 Classes

[TAHS92Alum]

Central Mountains number is 505, so yes. That will be a death sentence for them.

For the State Championship games
St Joe's 717 (6A) vs Pine Richland 589 (5A)
Wood 447 (5A) vs Central Valley 309 (4A)
S. Fayette 293 (3A) vs Dunmore 174 (2A)
Clairton 101 (1A) vs BG 118 (1A)

I'm on the fence about the realignment, I'm more for exclusion or separation of open enrollment schools

[Blueandwhitefan]

Central Mountains number is 505, so yes. That will be a death sentence for them.

For the State Championship games
St Joe's 717 (6A) vs Pine Richland 589 (5A)
Wood 447 (5A) vs Central Valley 309 (4A)
S. Fayette 293 (3A) vs Dunmore 174 (2A)
Clairton 101 (1A) vs BG 118 (1A)

I'm on the fence about the realignment, I'm more for exclusion or separation of open enrollment schools

I agree. I thought the original plan did just that!!!!

[billmurray]

separating the private schools STILL doesn't solve the problem that is growing...the large schools are growing in number while smaller areas are seeing their numbers dwindle. The current 4 division format was designed in the dark ages and needs updated.
As for Central Mt ...they'll not be hurt. They have an agreement with the league they're playing in and will continue to play "down".

[TAHS92Alum]

separating the private schools STILL doesn't solve the problem that is growing...the large schools are growing in number while smaller areas are seeing their numbers dwindle. The current 4 division format was designed in the dark ages and needs updated.

We will have to agree to disagree on this one. Just because every other state has watered down their playoff system doesn't mean that the PIAA does. Even with open enrollment schools, there were many tight game in the playoffs. I think the right teams made it to Hershey. As I posted earlier, for most schools they move up a class in the format, but they are still pitted against the same competition. If they just want to hand out more trophies they should say that. Not that the current 4 class model is out of date. The 6 class model still caters to the bigger districts. It will be interesting to see what the WPIAL and Catholic League effect is on the outcome.

[billmurray]

separating the private schools STILL doesn't solve the problem that is growing...the large schools are growing in number while smaller areas are seeing their numbers dwindle. The current 4 division format was designed in the dark ages and needs updated.

We will have to agree to disagree on this one. Just because every other state has watered down their playoff system doesn't mean that the PIAA does. Even with open enrollment schools, there were many tight game in the playoffs. I think the right teams made it to Hershey. As I posted earlier, for most schools they move up a class in the format, but they are still pitted against the same competition. If they just want to hand out more trophies they should say that. Not that the current 4 class model is out of date. The 6 class model still caters to the bigger districts. It will be interesting to see what the WPIAL and Catholic League effect is on the outcome.

Different opinions is fine. But this doesn't just affect large schools. There are teams in the "middle" enrollment areas that would benefit as well. I am confused by your last line...what Catholic league effect? As for the WPIAL, they're pretty much in favor...the districts giving resistance would actually surprise you...I won't say in public which ones are as it wouldn't be fair to call them out before an official vote but I will say the western districts are pretty much all in favor of expansion...state wide the coaches are in favor also by a large majority.

[Sykotyk]

As a District 10 fan, I'm not the biggest fan of 6 classifications. Statewide, I agree. But, it's going to really make District 10 a joke at the top end (not that it wasn't slightly that already). Still will have a lot of 1A, 2A, and 3A teams... but it's going to get a little thin up top. Subregionals are going to be a common theme.

Also, if this goes through, the WPIAL will have a 3-team 6A and 18-team 4A, while the other 4 (5A, 3A, 2A, and 1A) will all have about 25 teams each. My guess is the 5A, 3A, 2A, and 1A titles can still be played at Heinz Field. 4A will probably get played a week earlier as they'd have one less round and I don't think the WPIAL will push the issue as they did in the past with 4A having a lot fewer teams than, say, 2A but still having 16 playoff teams. 6A will be interesting. The western half of the state almost needs to just create a half-state-wide 6A tournament for District 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 and forego any attempt at a district playoff.

Which brings me to my biggest problem with the PIAA setup is districts. Ohio has districts, but doesn't use them for playoffs. Playoffs are state-wide and the teams are geographically grouped into four regions, regardless of district, league, etc. Each division has different regional boundaries. Sometimes schools get moved from one region to another, even without moving divisions. This makes the playoffs much more even and streamlined.

It does dampen the local rivalries when it comes to playoffs (such as District 10's 1A and 2A playoffs have a local feel, such as Sharpsville-West Middlesex, Greenville-Hickory, Greenville-Sharon, etc. But, it's a problem when you look at D-10 4A, D-9 3A, etc. And then some teams play the same teams over and over again in the playoffs simply because there is no other competition they can be slotted against (such as State College-Erie McDowell, etc).

Only California and New York are so solidly for district (or as CA and NY call them, sections) playoffs and not crossing teams until a district/section champion is crowned.

[billmurray]

from what I understand, this won't affect regular season schedules. They'll all still play the same teams. Then when playoffs start it looks like most districts will hold 1 thru 5 and 6A will be a sub regional pretty much statewide (which is kind of what you wish with not using districts) as will some places with 5A...so really is isn't much different than what we have now only instead of only 5,6 and 9 having sub regional we'll have a few more in 2 classes instead of just one...it's a start to "loosening up" districts. I'm with you, eliminate the districts for playoffs.