07/15/14 – Board of Control Recommends Use of Protective Head Gear in Softball; Makes Football Alignment Adjustment

July 15, 2014 2014-2015 News Releases

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Board of Control Recommends Use of Protective Head Gear in Softball; Makes Football Alignment Adjustment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 15, 2014

The Board of Control conducted its first meeting of the 2014-15 academic year at the Bank of Kentucky Center in Northern Kentucky on Monday morning. Among the action taken during Monday’s meeting, the Board passed a proposal recommending the use of protective headgear for certain positions in fastpitch softball, finalized specific site selection for the 2014 state soccer tournament, and upheld an appeal by Hazard in regards to the 2015-18 football alignment.

With a growing concern to player safety in fastpitch softball, the Board addressed the issue of face/head protection. NFHS Rule 1-8-4 states that defensive players are permitted to wear face/head protection in the field. The Board of Control, based on a proposal from staff, a review of available injury data from the NFHS RIO system and the recommendation of the KMA Sports Medicine Advisory Committee, recommended that players at first base, third base and pitcher utilize the permissive requirement in the playing rules and wear face/head protection.

The KHSAA proposed an amendment in 2014 to the national playing rules in fastpitch softball which would have required protective gear to be worn at those positions, but the proposal did not receive a favorable vote from the national rules committee.

The Board also finalized details for the 2014 KHSAA State Soccer Tournament, approving a proposal to hold the state quarterfinal, semifinal and final games at Henry Clay HS and Lafayette HS in Lexington. The measure also included the stipulation that participating schools would not play at their home venue, therefore the sites for the boys’ and girls’ matches will be determined after the field is set.

By a vote of 14-3, the Board approved an appeal by Hazard to move the football team to District 8 for the Class 1A 2015-18 alignment. Hazard had been placed in District 7 in the alignment adopted in May.

In other Board action on Monday:
?An orientation was conducted for the new members of the Board as required;
?A renewed emphasis on Hall of Fame nominations will be undertaken by the staff and Board of Control;
?Staff will begin work on an alignment review in Swimming and Diving with the desired outcomes to be a better geographic, facility-based alignment and the same number of competitors at the state meet;
?Implementation issues related to Field Hockey as the newest sport, and refinements that will be made for 2015-16
?Various budget reports from the 2013-2014 fiscal year;
?Acceptance of a three-year auditing agreement by the firm of Hicks and Associates, a 501(c)3 specialty firm in Lexington;
?A review of the Title IX, Participation and Financial Aid Reports from 2013-2014 and necessary follow-up. 

– 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 40 state championships in 12 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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