A RESOLUTION

 

1Congratulating the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic
2Association on the 100th anniversary of its formation.

3WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic
4Association (PIAA) was officially formed on December 29, 1913,
5when a group of high school principals met with noble
6intentions; and

7WHEREAS, These principals sought to create an organization
8that would provide a formal structure for interscholastic
9athletics, with a philosophy that emphasized an appropriate
10balance between athletics and academics within the context of
11secondary education; and

12WHEREAS, The goals of the organization were to establish
13uniform rules for interscholastic athletics, to serve to
14eliminate abuses and to embrace and promote the positive,
15character-building aspects of high school, junior high school

1and middle school sports; and

2WHEREAS, In 2013, the PIAA membership consists of
3approximately 1,420 schools which are divided almost equally
4among senior high schools, junior high schools and middle
5schools; and

6WHEREAS, Approximately 195 private schools are members of the
7PIAA; and

8WHEREAS, Each year, nearly 350,000 students participate in
9interscholastic athletics at all levels of competition under
10PIAA jurisdiction; and

11WHEREAS, PIAA member school programs are considered among the
12best and most competitive in America, particularly in football,
13basketball, field hockey, swimming, cross country, wrestling and
14lacrosse; and

15WHEREAS, PIAA is pledged to organizing, developing and
16directing an interscholastic athletic program which will
17promote, protect and conserve the health and physical welfare of
18all participants; and

19WHEREAS, PIAA purposes are to formulate and maintain policies
20that will safeguard the educational values of interscholastic
21athletics and cultivate the high ideals of good sportsmanship;
22and

23WHEREAS, PIAA is dedicated to promoting uniformity of
24standards in all interscholastic athletic competition and to
25serving in a spirit of teamwork and devotion to the educational
26values of interscholastic athletics; therefore be it

27RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives congratulate the
28Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association on the 100th
29anniversary of its formation; and be it further

30RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to

1Dr. Robert Lombardi, Executive Director, at the following
2address: Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, 550
3Gettysburg Road, P.O. Box 2008, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055-0708.