The New York State Public High School Athletic Association is the state's largest sanctioning body for scholastic sports.
Founded in 1923, the NYSPHSAA developed the rules that became the basis for the regulations for sports issued by the state's Board of Regents in 1937.
Steve Grandin of the New York State Sportswriters Association compiled this history of the NYSPHSAA in June 2026:
1921 - The New York State Public High School Association of Basketball Leagues is formed to bring consistency to eligibilty rules, a step toward conducting a postseason boys tournament that year.
1922 - The basketball tournament is streamlined into one team from each of eight sections of the state.
1923 -- NYSPHSAA established with eight sections.
A second division is added to the basketball tournament, but the entire event is canceled after the 1932 competition.
1926 -- NYSPHSAA begins membership in the National
Federation of State High School Associations.
1937 - The New York State Education Department issues regulations for high school sports.
1948 -- Boys Outdoor Track & Field championship begins (Individual, 1 class, 1948-95; 2 classes, 1996-2024; 3 classes, 2025-present) - NOTE: 1948 listed as Intersectional, 1949-50 listed as Unofficial.
1950 -- Boys Cross Country championship begins (Individual & Team -- 2 classes, 1950-59; 3 classes, 1960-99; 4 classes, 2000-03; 5 classes, 2004-10; 4 classes, 2011-present).
1957 -- Section 11 is formed (splits from Section 8).
1963 -- Boys Wrestling championship begins (Individual, 1 class, 1963-2003; 2 classes, 2004-present; Team, 2 classes, 2018-present).
1972 -- Boys Indoor Track & Field championship begins (Individual, 1 class).
1973 -- Boys Golf championship begins (Individual, 1 class).
1974 -- Gymnastics championship begins (Individual, 1 class).
1975 -- NYSPHSAA incorporated.
1975 -- Alton Doyle named Executive Director.
1975 -- Girls Outdoor Track & Field championship begins (Individual, 1 class, 1975-95; 3 divisions, 1996-2003; 2 divisions, 2004-24; 3 classes, 2025-present).
1975 -- Girls Cross Country championship begins (Individual & Team -- 2 classes, 1975-79; 3 classes, 1980-98; 4 classes, 1999-2003; 5 classes, 2004-10; 4 classes, 2011-present).
1976 -- Girls Swimming & Diving championship begins (Individual, 1 class).
1977 -- Boys Lacrosse championship begins (1 class, 1977-85; 2 classes, 1986-99; 3 classes 2000-16; 4 classes, 2017-present).
1978 -- All 11 sections incorporated.
1978 -- Girls Indoor Track & Field championship begins (Individual, 1 class).
1978 -- Boys Soccer championship begins (3 classes, 1978-79; 4 classes, 1980-2003; 5 classes, 2004-22; 6 classes, 2023-present).
1978 -- Boys Basketball championship begins (6 classes, 1978-79; 4 classes, 1980-2003; 5 classes, 2004-23; 6 classes, 2024-present).
1979 -- Bowling championship (boys & girls) begins (1 division, 1979-2017; 2 divisions, 2018-present).
1980 -- Boys Ice Hockey championship begins (2 classes).
1980 -- Girls Tennis championship begins (Individual, 1 class, 1980-present; Team, 2 classes, 2021-present).
1981 -- Baseball championship begins (2 classes, 1981-84; 4 classes, 1985-2002; 5 classes, 2003-23; 6 classes, 2024-present.
1981 -- Girls Basketball championship begins (4 classes, 1981-2003; 5 classes, 2004-23; 6 classes (2024-present).
1982 -- Boys Tennis championship begins (Individual, 1 class, 1982-present; Team, 2 classes, 2022-present).
1983 -- Girls Soccer championship begins (4 classes, 1983-2002; 5 classes, 2003-22; 6 classes, 2023-present).
1984 -- Field Hockey championship begins (3 classes, 1984-92; 4 classes, 1993-2001; 3 classes, 2002-present).
1985 -- Softball championship begins (4 classes, 1985-2003; 5 classes, 2004-23; 6 classes, 2024-present).
1990 -- Sandra Scott named Executive Director.
1990 -- Girls Volleyball championship begins (4 classes, 1990-2003; 5 classes, 2004-22; 6 classes, 2023-present).
1993 -- Football championship (4 classes, 1993-95; 5 classes, 1996-2021, 5 classes & Regional 8-Man, 2022-present).
1995 -- Girls Lacrosse championship begins (2 divisions, 1995-2004; 3 classes, 2005-15; 4 classes, 2016-present).
2000 -- Nina Van Erk named Executive Director.
2000 -- Boys Swimming & Diving championship begins (Individual, 1 class).
2006 - Girls Golf championship begins (Individual, 1 class, 2006-present; Team, 1 class, 2018-present).
2009 - Skiing championship begins (Boys & Girls, Nordic & Alpine -- Individual, 1 class; Team, 1 class).
2012 - Robert Zayas named Executive Director.
2014 - Girls Ice Hockey Regional championship begins (1 class).
2016 -- Boys Volleyball championship begins (2 classes).
2020 -- Competitive Cheerleading championship begins (2 divisions [each with large and small] & Co-Ed, 2020-23; 4 divisions & Co-Ed, 2024-present).
2020 -- No championships (Baseball, Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball, Bowling, Boys Cross-Country, Girls Cross-Country, Field Hockey, Football, Boys Golf, Girls Golf, Boys Ice Hockey, Boys Lacrosse, Girls Lacrosse, Boys Soccer, Girls Soccer, Softball, Girls Swimming & Diving, Boys Tennis, Girls Tennis, Boys Volleyball, Girls Volleyball, Girls Outdoor Track & Field) (COVID).
2021 -- No championships (Baseball, Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball, Bowling, Competitive Cheerleading, Boys Golf, Girls Golf, Gymnastics, Boys Ice Hockey, Girls Ice Hockey, Boys Lacrosse, Girls Lacrosse, Skiing, Softball, Boys Swimming & Diving, Boys Tennis, Boys Indoor Track & Field, Girls Indoor Track & Field, Boys Wrestling, Boys Outdoor Track & Field) (COVID).
2023 -- Game Day Cheerleading championship begins (3 classes).
2024 -- Flag Football championship begins (2 classes, 2024; 3 classes, 2025-present).
2025 -- Girls Wrestling championship begins (Individual, 1 class).
