PIAA expands girls volleyball to 6 classes beginning with 2026-27 school year
Girls volleyball will be the sixth sport in the PIAA to expand to six classifications.
The PIAA board of directors on Jan. 22 approved on a third and final reading a plan to expand girls volleyball from four to six classes beginning in 2026, when the next two-year PIAA scheduling cycle begins.
The sport joins football, boys and girls basketball, baseball and softball as those using six classifications.
There are 622 girls volleyball programs across the state, on par with other girls sports like basketball and softball.
Additionally, the PIAA approved on a second reading revisions that would increase the number of transferred players on a roster in each sport before a team would have to play up a classification.
The following are the proposed transfer increases that would trigger the rule:
* Football: an increase from three to five transfers
* Lacrosse: an increase from two to five
* Tennis: an increase from three to four
* Baseball, softball: an increase from two to four
* Volleyball, field hockey, wrestling, soccer: an increase from two to three
* Basketball: an increase from one to two
Other proposals for the competition formula are at various stages of approval.
Approved on a third vote was an exception for student-athletes who transfer “due to a chance in family living circumstances that was necessitated by exceptional and unusual circumstances beyond the reasonable control of the student or the student’s family ... with supporting documentation.” Passed on a first read was also language that would account for a military discharge or retirement for a postseason waiver, and on a second read language that would account for “documents showing a substantial reduction in family income.”
A proposal to include “documentation or evidence regarding the impact on health and safety of the student athletes may be considered” passed on a second read.
All proposals must be voted on three times before being approved.
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