The Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA) Board of Control met on Thursday and issued new rules regarding the start of high school basketball and attendance at high school games.
The major changes are as follows:
• The attendance recommendation has been revised for the first two weeks of the season. In consultation with the Department for Public Health and after discussion with the Board of Control regarding the early January start date, the recommendation has been revised to restrict attendance those first two playing weeks to a maximum of four tickets per rostered participant.
o This will attempt to ensure parents of students are always able to see their child play and at the same time, recognize the concern regarding larger public gatherings following the holiday season until the full extent of virus spread during the holidays is known.
o In addition, it has come to our attention that some are misinterpreting statements from the Governor’s office regarding the re-opening of restaurants to somehow include athletics. The two are not intertwined at all and thus far, the decisions and the implementation of those decisions on high school athletics have been appropriate left to the discretion of the KHSAA. While there still may be an order to the contrary in the future, thus far the Governor’s office has designated our office for that management.
o You are strongly encouraged to seek clarification in writing from our office and let us get official answers if needed and not rely on a side comment in a press conference that could be misinterpreted and lead you to poor decisions.
• The season dates and segment dates have been revised in the guidance documents, including the limit on the number of contests and contests per week based on that season determination.
• From a scheduling perspective, it is strongly recommended that schools maintain the original schedule of the eight-week season, thereby using the final two weeks for make-up games or other mutually agreed moves. There is no use in every school having to reschedule the entire season at this time.
• Certainly, the experience of fall sports should illustrate that the schedule will be frequently revised and subject to alteration due to health status within counties and Health Department quarantines.
• The restrictions on out of state games have been revised in the document consistent with the actions taken in the November Board of Control meeting as requested by staff.
A quick capsule of the changes spawning off of the Board’s meeting yesterday is listed in tabular form on the KHSAA website at https://khsaa.org/12-10-20-board-of-control-confirms-decision-to-start-winter-sports-practice-december-14/