07/11/2023- Fall Sports Tryout Reminders

July 10, 2023 Athletic Department Blog Updates

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Good afternoon to all member schools. This message is intended for all member schools based on multiple inquiries received in the last few days. Please share this with all members of your fall sports coaching staff, and the coaches of Competitive Cheer and Dance. This post is not intended to be comprehensive regarding all aspects of Bylaw 23, but intended to highlight areas around tryouts.

References for this information come from the Bylaws of the Association, online as part of the KHSAA Handbook. There is not (and has never been) a separate tryout period for fall sports prior to the start of practice. Recently, we have been made aware that several schools have posted “tryouts” for fall sports that are being held prior to the first date of practice. This is not permitted.

SPORTS OF CROSS COUNTRY, FIELD HOCKEY, GOLF, SOCCER AND VOLLEYBALL

• Required activity (including tryouts) can begin for Cross Country, Field Hockey, Golf, Soccer and Volleyball on July 15, but not before.
• Any school that has conducted tryouts prior to July 15 and following the 2022-23 seasons could be compelled to re-conduct those tryout opportunities as restitution for inadvertent violations, in addition to other penalties under Bylaw 27.

SPORT-ACTIVITIES OF COMPETITIVE CHEER AND DANCE

• Required activity (including tryouts) can begin for Competitive Cheer and Dance on July 15 but not before.
• In Competitive Cheer, coaches should be mindful of stunt progression requirements as well as the surface requirements for those stunts.
• Any school that has conducted tryouts prior to July 15, not during the officially approved tryout window in April, and following the 2022-23 seasons could be compelled to re-conduct those tryout opportunities as restitution for inadvertent violations, in addition to other penalties under Bylaw 27.

FOOTBALL

• As a reminder, official practice can begin today for football (July 10 each year), but only for the use of the helmets (no other gear) and with only your school and enrolled students in attendance and participating. There is no permitted opportunity for “joint” practice.
• The allowances for organized 7-on-7 with other school teams begin today and continue until the first opportunity for a full-contact practice (August 1). There is no opportunity for more than seven players to be involved in these non-contact, non-equipment (other than the helmet) sessions.
• Beginning on July 22, the shoulder pads may be worn for those players who have had five practices in helmets only. There is no opportunity for other participation with other teams when shoulder pads are being worn, and no opportunity to engage other schools other than the allowance for 7-on-7 or less with a helmet only. 
• Beginning August 1, all gear may be worn and practices conducted within the time and activity limits of Bylaw 23 for those players who have had five days in helmets only, and three separate additional days with helmets and shoulder pads. As of this date, no non-contact simulations (7-on-7) may be held. 
• August 4 is the first opportunity for a scrimmage with another team in full gear, and only for those players who have three separate days in full gear prior to that date after having five days in helmets only and three separate additional days with helmets and shoulder pads.

Please contact the office with inquiries.

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