07/13/20- Board of Control Extends Segment 3 Restrictions to August 3

July 13, 2020 2020-2021 News Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 13, 2020

The Board of Control conducted its first meeting of the 2020-21 academic year on July 10 in Covington, examining various issues concerning the restart of school-based athletics in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic. During the course of its meeting, the Board approved a recommendation to extend the guidance and allowances for Segment 3 of the document issued for summer play in KHSAA sports and sport-activities through Sunday, August 2, except for the sport of golf.

As a result of the Board’s action, the traditional July 15 start of practice for KHSAA fall sports has been pushed back until Aug. 3, however, it should be noted that Kentucky has some of the earliest starts to fall practice (dates when activity could be mandatory) in the continental United States. Mandatory tryouts or practices cannot be held prior to Aug. 3, including for the sport-activities of Dance and Competitive Cheer, which have already benefitted from an additional window for virtual tryouts during the summer after the April period was eliminated due to the Covid-19 Dead Period. As an additional part of the approved motion for the segment from July 13-August 2, it is strongly recommended that a limitation of six hours per student-athlete, per week be instituted by each member school for workouts. Clarifications and allowances will be continually reviewed for revisions based on available health data.

Golf was approved to begin on schedule with practices being mandatory for participants (such as tryouts if such is declared by the school) beginning on July 15 as well as the implementation of the current year catastrophic insurance provisions for participants. The first scheduled playing date remains as July 31, with all competition held in conjunction with Covid-19 guidelines and guidance from the Kentucky Department of Health, Kentucky Golf House, Kentucky Junior Golf, Allied Golf Associations, and Golf Course Superintendents of America. More information on the Segment 3 continuation is available online at https://bit.ly/2Wf3tPo along with the KHSAA’s detailed return to participation guidelines at https://khsaa.org/covid19june1tojuly12/.

The Board then directed the Commissioner’s office to finalize the development of guidance for formal practice and contests for fall sports in consultation with the Governor’s Office, Department of Public Health and the Department of Education to allow for the regular season to begin (including timelines) and that such guidance, including alternative policy considerations, be reviewed by the Board of Control for adoption in the period of late July or early August.

In other action, the Board:

• Approved an adjustment (for 2020-21 only) to standings as well as RPI calculation methods due to possible cancelation of games resulting from the pandemic and local impact. In all contests, games canceled due to the pandemic or mandatory quarantines shall not have a result recorded other than a 0-0 score, and no forfeit or forfeit provisions will be applied. In all seeded games (including district football), games canceled due to the pandemic or mandatory quarantines, the current provision of counting a contest unable to be played or rescheduled will be implemented as a win and loss for both teams when calculating winning percentage. This method is currently utilized in most team sports in the case that a required seeded district game is unable to be played and is not the result of forfeiture. The RPI will be adjusted for each of these types of contests to apply the out of state victory factor for both teams unless one team is able to re-schedule and play a contest. There will be no RPI impact on allowable contests played once postseason play begins;
• Addressed allowances to Bylaw 4 regarding A7 Students and Eligibility and Bylaw 5 involving First Day Credits Earned Checks for 2020-2021 ONLY brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic;
• Suspended the Prime Date requirement for girls’ basketball contests for the 2020-21 school year, due to anticipated scheduling challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic;
• Approved the revision of KHSAA Cheer Divisions to match UCA’s 2020-21 revisions;
• Approve the revisions to the Dance competition rules and designated the competition dances as Jazz, Hip Hop, Pom, and Game Day with no squad size subdivisions;
• Accepted the membership applications of Trinity Christian, Somerset Christian, North Hardin Christian, and Foundation Christian pending review by designated KHSAA staff. If the review is successful and criteria are met, place them in candidacy status for the 2020-21 school year;
• Welcomed new Board members Larry Coldiron (Superintendent Raceland-Worthington Independent Schools), Taylora Schlosser (Superintendent Marion County Public Schools), Russell Thompson (Superintendent Pineville Public Schools);
• Approved the appointment of Superintendent Alvin Garrison of the Covington Independent Schools to complete the final year of the term of Bonnie Barnes as the Designated African-American member from Regions 9-16, in response to Mrs. Barnes’ upcoming retirement;
• Approved an extension of the Commissioner’s contract through the 2023-24 school year;
• Set its regular meeting schedule for the 2020-21 season: 9/16, 11/18, 1/21, 2/17, 5/4-5/5.

– 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 280 member schools both public and non-public. The KHSAA awards 215 state championships to 51 teams and 164 individuals in 13 sports and 6 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.