Freestyle approved for Girls Wrestling, along with State Championships beginning next school year among big highlights at latest NYSPHSAA Fall meeting

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE FROM THE NYSPHSAA

LATHAM — The New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) held its quarterly meeting of the Executive Committee on Wednesday, October 18th at the Embassy Suites in Saratoga Springs. The committee voted on several key proposals important to the Association’s 787 member schools.

Numerous sport committee proposals were brought forward as “discussion” and “action” including several Flag Football items as the sport embarks on its first state championship in June. The committee approved two timeouts allowed per half, which would not carry over during the game, and approved certain situations the game clock may be stopped.

The Cortland High School and Homer High School bid to host the 2024-2026 NYSPHSAA Flag Football State Championships was also approved.

Another sport experiencing rapid growth, Girls Wrestling, saw two key proposals get approved. The first was adopting freestyle starting with the 2024-25 season and permitting a Girls Wrestling State Championship during week #34 of the NYSPHSAA calendar in February 2025.

Regional rotations for three six-class sports were approved. Softball, Girls Basketball and Boys Basketball were all approved for 2024 only while the NYSPHSAA Ad Hoc committee continues to meet and study regional rotations for future rotations.

In the spring, a proposal to allow a “Battery Week” for catchers and pitchers to start one week earlier was defeated. Additionally, Boys and Girls Tennis had a proposal to formally seed their team state tournaments using UTR ratings get approved.

In general action items, a proposal was approved related to the NYSPHSAA Championship Philosophy. Effective immediately, a criteria was added for a third division in individual sports and a fifth class for team and individual sports. The NYSPHSAA Executive Committee also approved an increase in membership dues. Starting in the 2024-25 school year, dues will rise $50 per school.

The complete meeting agenda can be found here.



The list of approved items can be found here.

The meeting was called to order by President Russell Bartlett at 9:00 am and concluded at 12:18 pm. The Winter 2024 NYSPHSAA Executive Committee will be held Wednesday, January 31st at Embassy Suites in Saratoga Springs.