08/10/21- Initial Return to Play Additional Guidance Issued for Fall Sports

August 10, 2021 Athletic Department Blog Updates

Additional guidance for a return to play has been published on the KHSAA website under the COVID-19 Information tab (click Healthy at Sports Documentation-Grades 6-12 link) and can be shared with school administrators. The document has already undergone significant revision in the past few days as data points continue to move. Keep in mind that this guidance is a draft as the situation continues to remain fluid as it has the entire time. The information is subject to revision with upcoming events, including weekly updates from the Executive Branch. The document is listed at the link entitled “Healthy at Sports-Stage 4-Perseverance, Guidance for Continued Practice and Competition During the Pandemic”.

Different than for 2020-21, the guidance currently contains primarily points for local consideration in the vast majority of areas. There will continue to be a few sports specific rules modifications to attempt to add layers to everyone’s strategic decision-making as we balance the needs of so many individuals.

Also different from last year is that the manual is one compiled publication. Maintaining ever-changing multiple documents led to some uncertainty through the seasons.
The prior documents related to Stages 1, 2 and 3 have been allowed to sunset this past summer. Most of the information published in Stage 4 is not new, but rather emphasis points for local consideration. 

At this point, guidance for Cross Country, Field Hockey, Football, Golf, Soccer, Volleyball and fall middle school basketball is included, as well as general all sports guidance and officiating related guidance. As changes are made, each school will be notified.

– 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 285 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.