05/28/26 – 2026 KHSAA State Softball Tournament Instructions Available

May 28, 2026 Athletic Department Blog Updates

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As the regional softball tournaments wrap up this week, we wanted to send out information out about the 2026 KHSAA State Softball Tournament presented by UK HealthCare. 

SCHEDULE & INSTRUCTIONS FOR TEAMS

• A fully detailed planned time schedule has been developed for each game: 
  • First & Second Rounds Games Schedule
  • Semifinals & Championship Games Schedule
• An instruction manual has been developed to help guide qualifying teams through preparation for participation (or for any fans attending):
  • State Softball Instructions
• Teams (coaches/administrators) advancing to the state tournament should plan to attend the conference call with the KHSAA Staff on June 1 at 2:00 PM (ET). 
  • Details for joining the call will be sent once the field is set.

GROUND RULES FOR UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY

• The University of Kentucky has provided the following ground rules for teams to review prior to play:
  • Field is Tight
  • Light Pole by 1^st & 3^rd base behind the fence – dead ball
  • GO BIG BLUE in centerfield gap at the bottom of the fence line where a ball can get wedged – dead ball
  • Field Tarp – Located by First Base 
    1. PVC Pipe blocking the gap in the fence
    2. Ball manages to get wedged under the fence – dead ball
  • No elevation on the dugout padding
  • Top Step of dugout
    1. Any part of the foot that is on the green turf is a live ball

UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY INDOOR WARM-UP FACILITY

• Each participating team will be given one (1) hour of indoor warm-up time at John Cropp Stadium, available 1 hour and 45 minutes prior to game time.
• Each team will be assigned half of the indoor workout area. The pitching mounds will remain covered, and the equipment may
  not be reconfigured without supervision.
• Teams will only have access to the nets.
• Each team must bring their own balls.
• Reminder to not move machines, floor mats, or any equipment inside the facility.  
• No metal cleats shall be worn inside the practice facility.
• There shall be no sunflower seeds or food of any kind inside the practice facility.
• Please do not contact the University of Kentucky directly to try to schedule any additional practice time, it is not available.

Please contact Assistant Commissioner Sarah Bridenbaugh (sbridenbaugh@khsaa.org) should you have any final questions. Best of luck to all competing teams!

 

– 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 291 member schools, both public and non-public. The KHSAA awards 229 state championships to 59 teams and 178 individuals in 13 sports and six sport-activities, funds catastrophic insurance coverage for its more than 109,000 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.

 

 

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