05/04/26 – Softball District/Region Instructions Now Available

May 4, 2026 Athletic Department Blog Updates

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Postseason instructions for the Softball District/Region Tournaments are now available on the KHSAA website. You can view the softball portion of the instructions that begin on page 60 at the following link: District/Region Instructions

You can find additional information about each specific district & regional tournament on the KHSAA website on the Softball page under “District Tournament Instructions and Information” and “Region Tournament Instructions and Information”, respectively.

LAST CONTEST

• For 2026, the last date of the regular season will be the Saturday prior to the week in which a district tournament is scheduled, or the deadline for seeded district games to be played, if the district chooses to begin on the weekend prior to the published corresponding date.
• Any non-varsity play must also be completed on or before the deadline to play a regular-season contest.

LAST DISTRICT-SEEDED CONTEST

• The last day for a district-seeded game is the Wednesday prior to District Tournament Week (May 13).
• For any game not played after that date, the winner/loser of any unplayed required seeded district games would default to the team with the higher RPI on the day following the deadline for seeded games.

INTERRUPTED GAMES; GAME-ENDING PROCEDURES

• If a district-seeded or other game with a written contract requiring completion is interrupted and cannot be resumed that day, three choices exist for completing the game
  • If both teams agree, terminate the game with the score as it exists, provided it is a complete game under the NFHS playing rules, including the KHSAA game-ending procedures surrounding 10- and 15-run margins. If such an agreement is reached at the site, it shall be considered final and is not reviewable.
  • If both teams agree, resume the game at a specified date and time, which must be done at the point of interruption. This option is only available if the date and time decision is finalized at the site before the teams depart. If such an agreement is reached at the site, it shall be considered final; or
  • If agreement cannot be reached on a date of resumption, resume the game on the next available playing date for both teams that does not conflict with specific local board policies (i.e. Sunday play), does not violate the Bylaw 23 prohibition on playing games on consecutive days (Monday through Thursday), and is based on schedules as published as of the interrupted game. If one of the competing teams on the first available date chooses for any reason not to play, that team shall be considered to have forfeited the contest. If both teams choose not to play on the first available date, the contest shall be officially recorded as a double forfeit, and the required procedure shall be used for counting toward the seeding position.
• If a contest that is not used for district seeding and does not have a contract requiring completion is interrupted and cannot be resumed that day, three choices exist for completing the game
  • If both teams agree, terminate the game with the score as it stands, provided it is a complete game under the NFHS playing rules, including the KHSAA game-ending procedures for 10- and 15-run margins. If such an agreement is reached at the site, it shall be considered final and not subject to revision.
  • If both teams agree, resume the game at a specified date and time, at the point of interruption. This option is only available if the date and time decision is finalized at the site before the teams depart. If such an agreement is reached on-site, it shall be considered final.
  • Cancel any remaining play, and if the game is not complete per the NFHS playing rules, including the KHSAA game-ending procedures for 10- and 15-run margins, the game shall not be recorded as having been played but shall count against the team’s limit of games available.

POSTSEASON DATES AND SCHEDULE

• The required softball for postseason play is Spalding, with the contracted model being the Spalding Dudley SB12 (4K-147). The KHSAA logo is not required on the ball, but all other required NFHS specifications shall be met. 
• District Tournaments:
  • The standard timing for the districts is May 18 – May 23; however, districts can vote by majority to play early, or, if approved by the regional schools, extend into the published region week.
• Region Tournaments:
  • Region dates are set by the regional competing schools, but the tournaments must conclude (including any cancellations) by May 30.
• State First Round/Quarterfinals:
  • Games will be played at John Cropp Stadium on the University of Kentucky campus in Lexington with a blind draw of all 16 regions.
  • The 2026 Draw Show is scheduled for April 29th at 2:00 PM ET.
  • Play is currently scheduled for June 4-6 for the first and second rounds.
  • The final schedule and brackets will be announced closer to the start of the postseason.
• State Semifinals/Final:
  • Games will be played at John Cropp Stadium on the University of Kentucky campus in Lexington.
  • Play is currently scheduled for June 12th (Semifinals) & 13th (Championship).
  • The final schedule and brackets will be announced closer to the start of the postseason.

Best of luck as you finish out the regular season! Contact Assistant Commissioner Sarah Bridenbaugh (sbridenbaugh@khsaa.org) with any questions. 

– 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 291 member schools, both public and non-public. The KHSAA awards 229 state championships to 59 teams and 178 individuals in 13 sports and six sport-activities, funds catastrophic insurance coverage for its more than 109,000 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.

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