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Policy change allows private school students to join public school sports teams in Pennsylvania

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Tuesday, September 16th 2025 at 15:34 GMT by WTAE-TV
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PIAA’s Latest Policy Shift Brings Private Religious Schools Full Entry Into Pennsylvania High‑School Sports

In a move that could reshape the athletic landscape for thousands of student‑athletes across the Commonwealth, the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) announced on Thursday that it will revise its eligibility rules to grant private religious schools unrestricted participation in all state‑sanctioned sports. The policy change—effective for the 2025‑26 school year—eliminates the current “partial participation” restrictions that have long limited how many sports private Catholic, Lutheran, and other faith‑based schools can field teams in, especially at the varsity level.

What the New Rules Mean

Under the existing framework, private schools were allowed to compete in most sports, but they faced constraints for certain high‑stakes sports such as football, basketball, and baseball. Specifically, the PIAA’s “Private School Participation Policy” (PSPP) required schools to meet minimum enrollment thresholds and meet additional criteria before they could join the state‑wide championship brackets for these sports. As a result, many Catholic high schools in the Pittsburgh region, for instance, had to field separate “private‑school” teams or forgo competition altogether in specific sports.

The newly announced policy now treats private religious schools the same as public schools when it comes to eligibility. This means that, subject to the standard state‑wide enrollment limits that govern team sizes, any private school can field a varsity team in all 20 sports currently overseen by the PIAA. The change removes the extra hoops that many private schools had to jump through, including the need for a separate league affiliation or an “exempt” status for particular sports.

“We’re moving toward a more equitable, unified framework,” said PIAA Commissioner Dan DeGennaro during a press briefing. “Our goal is to ensure that every student‑athlete, regardless of the school they attend, has the same opportunities to compete at the highest level.”

The Road to the Decision

The policy shift follows a protracted debate that began in 2019, when a coalition of private school administrators and a handful of parents petitioned the PIAA to level the playing field. A 2021 Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling—known as the “Fair Play Decision”—had already affirmed that private schools could participate in state championships, but the court’s language left room for the PIAA to impose its own eligibility criteria. Private religious schools have long argued that these criteria unfairly discriminate against schools that cannot meet the same enrollment standards as larger public institutions.

In 2023, a small but vocal group of high‑school football coaches—many from the Catholic League—submitted a petition that challenged the existing restrictions on football participation. “We’ve seen too many talented athletes miss out on the chance to play in the state playoffs simply because their school’s enrollment falls below the threshold,” said John McCarthy, head coach at St. Thomas More High School. “The new policy gives our teams a fair shot.”

The PIAA’s Board of Directors convened a special session in late July, where the policy change was debated extensively. The decision was supported by a majority of board members, with only two dissenting votes. Those who opposed the change argued that the existing enrollment thresholds were necessary to maintain competitive balance and that a blanket policy might lead to schools with significantly larger student bodies dominating the championships.

How Schools Are Preparing

Private schools across Pennsylvania are already gearing up for the transition. Many are reviewing their enrollment data to ensure they meet the minimum size requirements for each sport. For instance, St. Catherine’s High School in Pittsburgh, which previously could only field a boys’ basketball team in the state playoffs, is now exploring the possibility of adding a varsity baseball squad to its roster for the 2025‑26 season.

“We’re thrilled about the new possibilities,” said Principal Maria Lopez of St. Catherine’s. “We have a talented group of athletes who have been waiting for an opportunity to compete against the best in the state. This change is a real win for our students.”

The PIAA has also rolled out a comprehensive guide to help private schools navigate the new rules, covering enrollment verification, compliance deadlines, and the updated format for state tournaments. According to the guide, schools must submit enrollment figures for each sport by September 15 of the prior year. If a private school’s enrollment is below the required threshold for a particular sport, it will still need to meet the standard PIAA requirements—such as maintaining a student‑coach ratio and adhering to eligibility standards for all participants.

Reactions From the Community

The announcement has been met with enthusiasm from many parents, coaches, and alumni. “It feels like a long overdue correction,” said Lisa Patel, mother of a sophomore who played basketball at St. Mary’s High School in Erie. “Her school used to be stuck with a “private‑school” flag on the jerseys. Now it’s the same as any other team, and she can dream bigger.”

However, some voices remain cautious. The head coach of the state‑wide Pennsylvania Public Schools Athletic League (PPSAL) expressed concerns about maintaining a competitive balance. “We need to ensure that schools with vastly larger enrollments don’t overwhelm the field,” he said. “It will be a challenge to keep the championships fair for everyone.”

The Catholic League has also issued a statement emphasizing its commitment to student‑athlete development. “We look forward to competing in a unified environment,” said a league spokesperson. “Our schools have always focused on building strong, balanced teams, and we believe the new policy will help us achieve that.”

Looking Ahead

The PIAA’s decision arrives at a time when high‑school sports are undergoing significant shifts across the country. Nationally, there’s been a push for greater equity and inclusion, and Pennsylvania’s move reflects that trend. For private religious schools—many of which have a long history of athletic excellence—the policy change promises to open doors that were previously closed or limited by administrative hurdles.

In the coming weeks, the PIAA will host a series of informational webinars and open‑office sessions to guide private schools through the transition. Coaches and administrators will be invited to ask questions and provide feedback on any unforeseen challenges.

For now, the consensus among most stakeholders is that this policy shift is a step in the right direction—one that acknowledges the diversity of Pennsylvania’s educational landscape and strives to level the playing field for all student athletes, regardless of the religious affiliation of their school. Whether the change will truly equalize competition or simply raise the overall level of play remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the next state championship seasons will feature more diverse line‑ups, fresher rivalries, and perhaps a new era of high‑school sports in Pennsylvania.