The PIAA is not ready to make a decision that would drastically change the landscape of high school football in Pennsylvania.

Rather than make a final vote on a proposal that will add two classifications to football and shorten the season from 16 to 15 weeks, the PIAA Board of Control voted, 20-11, yesterday morning to table the measure for a future vote, likely in July.

The proposal would change the number of classes from four to six. It passed two previous votes and was on the agenda for a final vote yesterday. A majority vote was needed for the six-class policy take effect in 2010.

The WPIAL, which is part of the PIAA, is against the idea of six classes and the 15-week season. Moments after the proposal was brought up yesterday, WPIAL president Rich Constantine made a motion to delay the final vote so a compromise could possibly be reached.

The PIAA voted on the measure, then decided the organization's strategic planning committee should try to come up with a compromise. The committee is made up of 16 Board of Control members, representing the state's 12 districts. The next PIAA Board of Control meeting is in July.

The WPIAL has said six classes would hurt its playoffs and also would prevent the WPIAL from playing all four championship games on one day at Heinz Field.

"What is a good thing with the strategic committee is that everyone can get together and voice their concerns," Constantine said. "I don't think everyone is satisfied about exactly what the ramifications are of six classes and of going to 15 weeks."

A number of districts in the eastern part of the state favor the six-class idea. PIAA executive director Brad Cashman said he wasn't surprised the proposal was tabled.

"The problem we have is we just don't have anyone willing to give. That's been the problem all along," Cashman said.

"We have those who would like to see the season remain the same with 16 weeks, move up the starting date by a week and not expand classifications. Then we have those who believe the season should be shortened to 15 weeks, and I'm one of those. But, in order to accomplish that and not have the districts lose so much playoff revenue, we have to expand the classifications to six."

In a recent survey of WPIAL schools, 75 percent said they would favor dropping out of the PIAA playoffs if the six-classification idea passes.

The state basketball championships will remain at Penn State's Bryce Jordan Center for the next three years.

The Giant Center in Hershey also put in a bid to play host to the boys' and girls' games, but the PIAA voted, 19-12, to keep the championships at Penn State. The games have been played at the Jordan Center the past three seasons. In the 27 seasons previous to 2007, the championship games had been played in Hershey.

When the PIAA moved the games to Penn State, it said one of the main reasons was cost. The Jordan Center's bid was much lower than the Giant Center. This time, the Giant Center's bid was about $6,000 less than the Jordan Center, but the PIAA is content with the Jordan Center.

The PIAA, however, voted to keep the team and individual wrestling championships at the Giant Center.

The swimming championships will remain at Bucknell University.

The PIAA approved on a third and final vote a new measure that requires background clearances for any new sports officials and any who became registered officials with the PIAA after April 1, 2007. This new policy will take effect July 1.

Although the PIAA will serve as the clearinghouse for the clearances, it is up to individual schools to determine if officials are "fit" to work.