05/06/26 – BOARD OF CONTROL APPROVES FOOTBALL ALIGNMENT FOR 2027-2028; DRAFT TRACK/CROSS COUNTRY ALIGNMENT; PICKLEBALL, GIRLS’ FLAG FOOTBALL TO BE ADDED IN 2027-28

May 6, 2026 2025-2026 News Releases

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MAY 6, 2026

The KHSAA Board of Control conducted its sixth and final regularly scheduled meeting of the 2025-26 academic year this week in Lexington, approving football alignments for the 2027 and 28 playing seasons and draft alignments for Track and Field/Cross Country to be distributed to the membership for geographic feedback. The Board has directed the Commissioner and staff to create a plan and regulations for a pickleball championship in the fall season of 2027-28 and to implement girls’ flag football in the spring of the 2027-28 school year.

As for football, the board considered each request submitted by a member school as part of the alignment review after the April distribution of a draft, and made any submission available publicly on the Association website throughout the process. 

• In Class 2A, the requests of Leslie County and Knott County to move from District 8 to District 7, and Martin County and Prestonsburg to move from District 7 to District 8 were approved, leaving District 7 composed of Breathitt County, Knott County Central, Leslie County and Magoffin County, and District 8 composed of Belfry, Martin County, Pike County Central, Prestonsburg and Shelby Valley; and the rest of the draft alignment was approved as distributed. 

• In Class 3A, the request of Letcher County Central to move to Region 7 was approved, and the remainder of the Class 3A draft of the draft alignment was approved as distributed.

• In Class 4A, the requests of Russell County (District 6 to District 2) and Breckinridge County (District 3 to District 4) to move districts were approved, and the remainder of the Class 3A draft of the draft alignment was approved as distributed.

• The Class 1A, 5A and 6A alignments were approved as originally distributed.

Also, the Board voted that round one of the playoffs will continue to be between “sister districts”, but beginning in 2027, round two of the football playoffs would be played with RPI-based semi-state pairings similar to round three. This would result in districts 1-4; the eight remaining teams in round two would be bracketed by RPI: 1 vs. 8, 2 vs. 7, 3 vs. 6, and 4 vs. 5, with the highest-ranked team hosting each contest. The same process would apply to districts 5-8. This change had been discussed for several months following feedback from various constituent groups on the second-round pairings. Significant input has been received regarding the desire to minimize “routine and repetitive annual matchups where possible. .

The Board approved a proposal to be presented to the membership that would amend Bylaw 22 to allow member schools to participate against members of KCAA and KCSAA in regular-season competition, much the same as is currently permitted against home-school teams. The provisions would apply only to the organizations in this proposal.

A draft was presented for Track and Field (and Cross Country) realignment due to the expiration of the current alignment. This draft is to be distributed to the membership for additional feedback, with the alignment to be finalized at the July meeting.

The Board also considered the follow-up survey results from the Triennial Survey of schools’ sports offerings. Responses came from the Designated Representatives (member school Athletic Directors) from each school

By a vote of 11-6, the Commissioner’s office is to present an implementation timeline and draft regulatory changes at the July and follow-up board meetings in September for the initial championship offering in pickleball in the fall of the 2027-28 school year. Having a pickleball championship received an affirmative vote from more than one-third of the KHSAA membership.

By unanimous vote, the Board decided not to add Stunt as a sponsored championship until the next membership survey, due to the lack of significant interest from schools seeking to enter a championship.

By a 15-2 vote, the Board voted to add Girls’ Flag Football to the docket in the spring of 2027-2028. The majority vote favored the spring season over the fall season when the data was collected.

In other action, the Board agreed-

• To hear testimony from the state golf coaches association regarding their thoughts on qualifying for the state championship levels after a membership survey on their submitted proposal, with any implemented change considered for the 2027-28 school year.

• To continue to review regulation changes regarding Candidacy Requirements and Eligibility in Championship Play, Sport and Sport-Activity sanctioning policies and Policies around alignment revisions and wholesale realignment of schools for championship play

• To consider the final wording at the July meeting for a proposed amendment to Bylaw 6 to further restrict eligibility for transferring students failing to meet exceptions A through I of section 2 of the bylaw and who have played the current season.

• To present a proposed amendment to the school delegates allowing for member schools to participate in regular season contests against KCAA and KCSAA members in much the same way as competition against home school teams is permitted.

• To direct the Commissioner and General Counsel to work with the Secretary of State’s office on the implementation of provisions regarding 2026HB1, Pursuant to 26 U.S.C. sec. 25F(g) while maintaining the financial aid restrictions within Bylaw 11.

– 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 290 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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