The New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Executive Committee met on Wednesday, May 6, at Embassy Suites in Saratoga Springs for its regularly scheduled spring meeting.
The Executive Committee received an update on the Schools Without Boundaries Ad Hoc Committee’s ongoing work. Following the discussion, a motion from Section I was introduced to continue discussions and reconvene the committee to explore additional options. The motion did not receive a second to continue toward a vote. President Tim Mullins directed that the Schools Without Boundaries Committee transition from an ad hoc committee to a standing committee of the Association.
During the meeting, the Executive Committee also reviewed and approved multiple action items impacting the administration of interscholastic athletics across New York State. Joshua Dann was approved as the next NYSPHSAA officer, with his term as Second Vice President set to begin September 1, 2026.
Several sports proposals were also approved, including a two-year pilot program in field hockey that allows 9 vs 9 play at the junior varsity and/or modified level, using a regulation field and adjusted rules. Additionally, the Executive Committee approved classification cut-off numbers for competitive cheerleading and, unanimously, selected Cortland (Section III) as the host site for the 2027-2029 NYSPHSAA Girls Soccer Championships. The Committee defeated the proposal to adopt a standardized pregame timeline and protocol for softball contests in a 10-12 vote.
“In each meeting, NYSPHSAA’s focus remains on supporting its member schools while continuing to evolve with the needs of education-based athletics,” said Dr. Robert Zayas, NYSPHSAA Executive Director. “The actions taken by the Executive Committee reflect a thoughtful, collaborative approach to enhancing opportunities and experiences for student-athletes across New York State.”
The Executive Committee also discussed several items that will be brought forward for potential action at the July meeting. These include a proposed revision to the girls’ volleyball classification formula that would place the top 70 teams in Class AAA, the bottom 90 teams in Class D, and evenly distribute the remaining teams among the middle classifications. In addition, we reviewed proposals for bowling, including increasing the maximum number of games allowed per day during postseason competition and modifying the state championship format from a six-game total pinfall format to a two-phase competition structure.
Reports from standing committees were provided, including Championship Advisory, Student-Athlete Advisory, Student-Athlete Development, Sportsmanship, Safety, and Modified, which highlighted ongoing efforts to enhance the student-athlete experience, promote sportsmanship, and ensure safety across all programs.
The meeting concluded at 11:23 AM, with the next Central Committee meeting set for July 28-29 at the Hyatt Regency in Buffalo.