Schedule question for WPIAL fans

[socalfan33]

Apologies if this has been covered in a previous thread, but can one of the Western PA enthusiasts shed some light on scheduling rules/regulations for the WPIAL? Specifically, why do none of the teams play games outside of the WPIAL? In AAAA Sections 1 & 2, there are 8 teams per section and 9 regular season games. Perusing the WPIAL master schedule, it looks like the games outside of a particular section are played against another section in the same class - e.g. Central Catholic (Section 1) plays Bethel Park (Section 2) and Connellsville (Section 3) in its non-Section 1 games.

I understand that a team must pay every other team within its own section, but is this it a WPIAL requirement that games outside of one's own section be played within the same class of the WPIAL? It's very different from the scheduling conventions in Eastern PA (e.g. out-of-state games; games between classes; etc) and I was just curious why.

http://www.wpial.org/general/stuff/foot/15-16 ftb grids all.pdf

 

[pcc64]

The WPIAL (district 7 makes the schedules for all teams in the WPIAL) . IMO it is the most regulated and restrictive district in the state. The scheduling restriction started I believe in 2012. Prior to that Central Catholic would play out of state teams and hope to do it again. I was told by the Top Administrator at Central that if and when Pa goes to 5 or 6 classifications they will be free to schedule out of state and cross state teams. Interesting note Central 's President is a LaSalle College HS grad. They are both Christian Brothers schools as is California' DeLaSalle. If it were up to me and it's not, I would drop out of the WPIAL as they are too anti Central Catholic in my humble opinion. In any case, the answer to your question is that the WPIAL sets up all schedules for district 7. Oh and A higher class can play a lower classification.. Woodland hills is playing West Allegheny as an example. That's an exhibition contest, essentially.