Butler Proposes “Relegation” or Moving Down Classifications to PIAA

The idea of promotion/relegation, a staple in many soccer leagues across the world, is a foreign concept for sport leagues when it comes to the United States. That’s why it might come as a shock to some that Butler is proposing a form of “relegation” to the PIAA.

Pennsylvania moved to six classifications for high school football and basketball starting in the 2016-17 academic year, increasing it from four. This increase soon contributed to the creation of the PIAA Competitive Formula or Competitive Balance Rule.

The PIAA Competitive Balance Rule started in 2018 and applies only to football and basketball. The state uses it to measure transfers and postseason success to put teams in a higher classification. For instance, if a team accrues six points (four for PIAA title berth, three for a semifinal berth, two for a quarterfinal berth, etc.) and three transfers, a school is reclassified up a division.

While there is a way that teams are moved up classifications due to good play, bad play is not something that the PIAA choses to  moves teams down classifications.

Butler created a presentation that they proposed to the PIAA strategic planning committee on Monday, which would allow teams to ask the governing body to move down classifications, according to a report from Mike White of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.  

This idea of  “relegation” would not just be for football, but other sports as sell, and would be based on “lack of competitiveness” over a certain number of years.

Butler athletic director Bill Mylan, principal John Wylie and superintendent of schools Brian White are the ones who conducted the presentation to the strategic planning committee. That planning committee consists of members of PIAA administrators and PIAA board of directors and their job is to take new rules or ideas to the full board, who will then look at a possible vote into PIAA bylaws.

The strategic planning committee agreed to bring the plan from Butler to the full board back in January, meaning that”relegation” is not so unlikely when it comes to high school sports in Pennsylvania.

Butler, who hasn’t been a member of the WPIAL for football since 2019, has either played as an independent or in District 10, which features teams in northwestern Pennsylvania. In the 15 seasons from 2005-19, Butler had a winning percentage of 20.2%, five seasons with zero wins and only won 10 total conference games during that time. The last time they made the WPIAL playoffs was back in 2012. The school does have tentative plans to come back to the WPIAL for the 2024-25 season.

The relegation concept is not just for Butler or only for football, as the PIAA would apply it for all schools and all sports.

Reasons for dropping down, outside of poor play and drop in enrollment, include student-athletes transferring from the school, a concern of safety for athletes and the lack of resources for a school district or their population, such as students that receive reduced lunch rates or free lunch.

Aliquippa, which has to play in Class 4A due to the PIAA competitive balance rule, is one team that would definitely consider moving down if they could. Head coach Mike Warfield and others in the Aliquippa community have spoken out on the competitive balance rule and want to move down classifications for the safety of the players.

The PIHL, which is the governing body for high school hockey in western Pennsylvania, organizes their classifications on how competitive schools are in the sports. This means that even schools with large enrollments might be in a lower classification if they don’t play as good as smaller schools would.

With the PIHL having their own ways of making fair competition, the PIAA might consider allowing schools to move down classifications in the future.