02/17/22 – Board of Control approves football bracketing adjustments, new President-elect; Reviews potential amendments to Bylaws

February 17, 2022 2021-2022 News Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: FEB. 17, 2022

The KHSAA Board of Control conducted its fifth regularly scheduled meeting of the 2021-22 academic year this week at the KHSAA Office, approving adjustments to football bracketing and selecting its 2022-23 President-elect.

The Board reviewed feedback from designated representatives of the football-playing schools regarding playoff bracketing for the first two rounds after months of review on the topic.

“Almost two-thirds of our football school representatives were in favor of playing outside of the district in those early rounds,” said KHSAA Commissioner Julian Tackett. “Clearly with such a limited schedule of 10 games, there is strong desire to play teams other than their in-district opponents in those early rounds regardless of travel logistics.”

The Board accepted the results of the survey in which over 93% of the football schools submitted a response and more than two-thirds of responders preferred an immediate adjustment to the bracketing for the first and second rounds. This change will start play across adjacent districts beginning in 2022 rather than within districts.

The Board held a lengthy discussion regarding the current and worsening shortage of licensed officials. Looking at comparative data for the last four years, the Board wants the membership to be forward-thinking in initiatives to attract and retain officials. Especially important was a need for school- and district-level emphasis on conduct by spectators, including school representatives. The Board will have continued dialogue as it reviews its Strategic Planning Process for the 2022-23 school year.

Darrell Billings of Clay City was chosen as President-elect for the 2022-23 school year. He will work alongside Matt Wilhoite of the Kenton County Schools, who will succeed Marlon Miller of Louisville at the end of the 2021-22 school year.

In addition to reviewing championship reports for its 11 winter and spring sports and sport-activities, the Board took the following action:

• Accepted a report reviewing legislation from the current session of the General Assembly
• Accepted a report from the Audit and Finance Committee including the 2018-19 final audit, which had been delayed in its review by the COVID-19 pandemic
• Held its first discussions regarding potential bylaw changes, allowing members to continue gathering member feedback before consideration of any final proposal at the May Board meeting

– KHSAA –

About the Kentucky High School Athletic Association

The Kentucky High School Athletic Association was organized in 1917 and is the agency designated by the Kentucky Department of Education to manage high school athletics in the Commonwealth. The Association is a voluntary nonprofit 501(c)3 organization made up of 284 member schools, both public and non-public. The KHSAA awards 215 state championships to 51 teams and 164 individuals in 13 sports and six sport-activities, funds catastrophic insurance coverage for its more than 106,000 rostered member school student-athletes, provides coaching education and sports safety programs for more than 12,000 coaches and licenses and facilitates the distribution of training material for over 4,000 contest officials.