05/12/16 – Board of Control Names Spalding Official Ball Sponsor

May 12, 2016 2015-2016 News Releases

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 12, 2016

The KHSAA Board of Control conducted its final meeting of the 2015-16 academic year over a two-day session at the Association’s headquarters May 10-11. Among the various items discussed, the Board reviewed the results of a request for proposals distributed in March for a new official ball partnership, as its current agreement with Rawlings will expire at the end of the 2015-16 season. Following its review, the Board approved the Commissioner’s recommendation to accept the three-year proposal from Spalding (2016-17 through 2018-19), pending final signed contracts.

The Board completed a comprehensive review of eligibility rules and programs within the Association as required by existing state regulation, focusing on potential Constitution and Bylaw proposals to be voted on by the membership to address undue influence (recruiting) concerns and revisions to the transfer and enrollment rules. Final proposal determinations will be determined at the Board’s July meeting.

Also approved was a new mentoring and compliance field visit program for the Association. Assigned staff will be traveling to the member schools to ensure that school representatives are fully aware of the many rules regarding participation in the Association’s activities and review compliance with those rules.

The Board also approved a proposal from staff to adjust the football finals schedule beginning in 2016, by playing two games per day on Friday through Sunday. The expansion of the schedule would address a continued effort to minimize lost school time where possible, as well as help alleviate traffic concerns due to the state finals and classes at the host site.

In addition, the Board reviewed information regarding ArbiterPay services, a voluntary service for the membership which would allow local schools and districts to escrow the funds for payment of sports officials and pay officials electronically, at a very minimal cost per transaction and without the burden of the current methods. The voluntary program will be phased in as decided by local policy boards, pending written guidelines through the State Auditor’s office.

In other action, the Board:
· Instructed staff to form an Advisory Committee and an implementation plan for a Dance championship that, if given final approval, would begin in 2017-18.
· Accepted a recommendation from the Commissioner to set Collins Eastland in Lexington as the site of the State Bowling Championships for 2017 and 2018, with a staff option to extend to 2019 and 2020 following appropriate review and evaluation
· Accepted the report from staff regarding Basketball prime date scheduling and directed the Commissioner to apply appropriate penalties for schools not in compliance.
· Completed a favorable review of Commissioner Tackett and extended his contract by an additional year.

– 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 277 member schools both public and private. The KHSAA sanctions 43 state championships in 13 sports and 4 sport-activities, licenses and trains over 4,000 officials, provides catastrophic insurance for its more than 70,000 member school student-athletes, as well as overseeing coaching education and sports safety programs.

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