Cheer Blog Updates – Kentucky High School Athletic Association

04/29/26 – Competitive Cheer Postseason Dates/Sites for 2026

Sarah Bridenbaugh — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 14:35:57 +0000

The following schools are the dates/sites for the 2026 Competitive Cheer Regionals.

Regions Site Date 1-2 Owensboro November 7 3-4 South Oldham November 14 5-6 Pulaski County November 7 7-8 Greenup County November 14

The State Championships will return to George Rogers Clark High School, Winchester, on December 11-12. Contact Assistant Commissioner Sarah Bridenbaugh (sbridenbaugh@khsaa.org) with any questions regarding competitive cheer.

– 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 [...]

02/18/26 – Competitive Cheer & Dance Tryout Window and Spring Allowances

Sarah Bridenbaugh — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 17:13:22 +0000

As a reminder to KHSAA member schools, there is a specific allowance in Bylaw 23 for Competitive Cheer and Dance teams to have a tryout period in the spring. During April, schools are permitted to designate a single two-week tryout period, which must end prior to April 30, following which there shall be no further practice or competition outside of the defined season as detailed in Bylaw 23. Outside of the month of April, no official tryouts can take place for either sport-activity again until July 15 or after.

Portions of Bylaw 23 are below for reference.

Bylaw 23) 1) f) states…
f) Organized Play and Involvement of Members of the Coaching Staff Out of Season During the School Year

01/10/26 – Winners Crowned in Game Day Small/Large at the 2025-2026 Competitive Cheer State Championships presented by UK HealthCare

Brian Milam — Sat, 10 Jan 2026 18:24:43 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 10, 2026

The 2025-2026 KHSAA Competitive Cheer State Championships presented by UK HealthCare wrapped up the opening session of day two at George Rogers Clark in Winchester on Saturday.

2025-2026 Game Day Small: KNOX CENTRAL
2025-2026 Game Day Large: DAVIESS COUNTY
- Game Day Small, Game Day Large results

The Competitive Cheer State Championships will conclude at George Rogers Clark later today (Saturday) with the second session featuring the All-Girls Small/Large/Super divisions.

The Dance State Championship will begin Sunday afternoon at 1 P.M. with Hip Hop Small/Large and Pom divisions in the first of two sessions concluding with Jazz and Game Day divisions that evening starting at 5:30 p.m.

For complete details, visit: https://ly.khsaa.org/d4ng

01/09/26 – Results of Day 1 From Competitive Cheer State Championship presented by UK HealthCare

Brian Milam — Sat, 10 Jan 2026 01:33:38 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 9, 2026

The 2025-2026 KHSAA Competitive Cheer State Championships presented by UK HealthCare wrapped up the opening session of a two-day championship slate at George Rogers Clark in Winchester on Friday.

2025-2026 All-Girls Medium champion: Bullitt East
2025-2026 Coed champion: McCracken County
- All-Girls Medium, Coed results

The Competitive Cheer State Championships will conclude at George Rogers Clark on Saturday, starting at 9 a.m. ET with Game Day Small and Game Day Large competition in Session 1.

Saturday’s second session will feature the All-Girls Small/Large/Super divisions, scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m.

For complete details, visit: https://ly.khsaa.org/d4ng

01/08/26 – Competitive Cheer and Dance State Championships presented by UK HealthCare to conclude in Winchester

Brian Milam — Fri, 09 Jan 2026 02:28:51 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JAN. 8, 2026

The 2025-2026 KHSAA Competitive Cheer State Championships presented by UK HealthCare and the 2025-2026 KHSAA Dance State Championships presented by UK HealthCare are set to conclude at George Rogers Clark in Winchester this weekend.

The Competitive Cheer State Championships will kick off the first of three total sessions on Friday at 5:30 p.m. ET with Coed and All-Girls Medium competition. On Saturday, the Game Day Large and Game Day Small divisions will compete in Session 1 starting at 9 a.m., followed by the All-Girls Small, All-Girls Large, and All-Girls Super divisions in Session 2 starting at 2:30 p.m.

The Dance State Championships will open with Hip Hop Small/Large and Pom divisions in the first of two sessions on Sunday at 1 p.m. and will conclude with Jazz and Game Day divisions that evening starting at 5:30 p.m.

Tickets for each session of the Competitive Cheer State [...]

12/23/25 – State Competitive Cheer & Dance Championships Update

Sarah Bridenbaugh — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 18:52:30 +0000

The 2025-26 KHSAA Competitive Cheer & Dance State Championships presented by UK HealthCare are rescheduled for January 9-11 at George Rogers Clark High School in Winchester.

Competitive Cheer:
- January 9:
  - Coed & All-Girls Medium Divisions
- January 10:
  - Session 1 – Game Day Small/Large Divisions
  - Session 2 – All-Girls Small/Large/Super Divisions
Dance
- January 11
  - Session 1 – Hip Hop Small/Large & Pom Divisions
  - Session 2 – Jazz & Game Day Divisions

TIME SCHEDULES

After a few minor adjustments due to withdrawing teams, the final time schedules are available to view at the link below and on the website:

PARTICIPATING TEAMS CONFERENCE CALL

The KHSAA will hold another conference call for all cheer and dance qualifying teams on Monday, [...]

12/17/25 – Updated Scheduling Information for State Competitive Cheer/Dance Championships

Sarah Bridenbaugh — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 14:35:41 +0000

Thank you for your patience as the KHSAA staff has worked to reschedule the State Competitive Cheer & Dance Championships following the recent weather-related postponement. We are thankful to the host site, George Rogers Clark High School, for accommodating an early January date. This allows us to conduct our full Cheer and Dance competitions while minimizing conflicts with late-winter and out-of-state events for many KHSAA member squads, which often start very early in January. We also want to respect the requests from member schools for their staff and student-athletes to enjoy the full winter break as originally planned.

While weather-related calendar adjustments can create unavoidable conflicts, the dates below represent the best available option for the greatest number of participating programs to experience a complete and equitable championship.

COMPETITION DATES

Competitive Cheer
- January 9
  - Coed & All-Girls Medium Divisions

Cheer / Dance State Championships Postponed Due to Weather

admin — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 11:21:44 +0000

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO MEMBER SCHOOLS AND COMPETITIVE CHEER/DANCE PARTICIPATING TEAMS, SCHOOLS, ADMINISTRATORS AND FANS

Due to the onset of the latest round of inclement weather overnight Thursday into Friday morning, and additional snow and ice expected, along with bitterly cold temperatures that will minimise snowmelt, the 2025-26 KHSAA State Competitive Cheer & Dance Championships have been postponed. With more than 100 Cheer squads and nearly 70 Dance squads headed to the state site in Winchester, the safety of participants, coaches, administrators, and parents remains the primary concern around this decision. A compelling factor in this decision is the more than significant number of squads that travel in school buses and vans from districts that have made the difficult decision to cancel classes on Friday to mitigate risk.

The postponed event is now tentatively rescheduled for January 9-11, 2026, at George Rogers Clark High School in Winchester. Following final confirmation of logistical details, additional notifications, including [...]

12/09/25 – State Competitive Cheer Final Details

Sarah Bridenbaugh — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 20:50:30 +0000

The 2025-26 KHSAA Competitive Cheer State Championships presented by UK HealthCare are set to return to George Rogers Clark in Winchester on December 12-13.
CONFERENCE CALL RECORDING

Thank you to the coaches and administrators who joined the conference call yesterday. If you were not able to attend or need a few reminders, below is the link to the recording of the meeting:
Conference Call Recording

MUSIC FOR WARMUP ROOM & COMPETITION

A Sound System will be provided, and music can be played from any device that has the following:
- Standard headphone jack
- USB-C to headphone jack
- Lightning to headphone jack

TICKETS ON SALE

A reminder to coaches and fans that tickets for the State Competitive Cheer on sale now! Encourage your fans to purchase early as the price will be lower, and all fees will be included if purchased prior to midnight on the [...]

12/8/25 – Competitive Cheer, Dance to Conclude in Winchester

Brian Milam — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 16:31:17 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: DEC. 8, 2025

The 2025 KHSAA Competitive Cheer State Championships presented by UK HealthCare and the 2025 KHSAA Dance State Championships presented by UK HealthCare are set to conclude at George Rogers Clark in Winchester this weekend.

The Dance State Championships will open with Hip Hop Small and Hip Hop Large with Pom competition in the first of two sessions on Sunday at 1 p.m. and close with Jazz and Game Day that evening starting at 5:30 p.m.

Tickets for each session of the Competitive Cheer State Championships [...]

11/17/25 – KHSAA Awards 2024-25 NFHS State Coaches of the Year

Brian Milam — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 14:25:50 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NOV. 17, 2025

As part of its annual awards program, the National Federation of State High School Associations Coaches Association recognizes Coach of the Year honorees from each state. Those named Coach of the Year at the state level then advance for consideration for Sectional Coach of the Year honors. Winners are chosen through a combination of their coaching accomplishments, particularly for the season in question, as well as their contributions outside of competition to help grow their respective sports. These awards are announced following the recognized year.

The complete list of 2024-25 honorees from Kentucky is below.

Baseball: Zack Hobbs, McCracken County
Boys’ Basketball: Steve Page, Great Crossing
Boys’ Cross Country: Caleb Joy, Lafayette
Football: Chad Pennington, Sayre
Boys’ Golf: Pat Heitz, Trinity (Louisville)
Boys’ Soccer: Chad Wozniak, Louisville Collegiate
Boys’ Swimming & Diving: EJ Quijano, Henry Clay
Boys’ Tennis: Britt Chandler, Paul Laurence Dunbar
Boys’ Outdoor Track & Field: [...]

11/12/25 – State Competitive Cheer Time Schedules & Instructions Released

Brian Milam — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 13:55:33 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NOV. 12, 2025

Congratulations to all participants and coaches who have qualified for the 2025 KHSAA State Competitive Cheer Championships presented by UK HealthCare! First and foremost, we would like to thank the regional host schools for their hard work, which contributed significantly to the success of the regional competitions.

There are several items for review on the Competitive Cheer page of the KHSAA website, including the state instructions, time schedules, order of appearance, maps, and more. Slight changes may occur as each school reviews the time schedule for accuracy.

TIME SCHEDULES

PARTICIPATING TEAMS CONFERENCE CALL

Teams qualifying for the state championships are also invited to join the KHSAA in a conference call that will take place on Monday, December 8, at 1:30 PM (ET).
Details about joining the call will be sent to participating coaches. [...]

2025-2026 Competitive Cheer Detailed Station Appearance and Time Schedule

admin — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 14:45:17 +0000

2025-2026 Competitive Cheer Order of Appearance

admin — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 14:43:15 +0000

2025-2026 Competitive Cheer State Timetable

admin — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 14:41:02 +0000

10/23/25 – Competitive Cheer State Qualifiers Numbers Released for 2025

Sarah Bridenbaugh — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 14:12:36 +0000

STATE QUALIFIERS

The number of qualifiers for each region and each division of Competitive Cheer is released in this notice.
Declaration numbers are pro-rated by region to avoid penalizing larger regions.
After reviewing the declarations/withdrawals, this chart illustrates the updated number of squads per division and per region that will qualify for state competition.

All-Girls Small – minimum 5, maximum of 15 All-Girls Medium – minimum 16, maximum of 19 All-Girls Large – minimum 20, maximum of 23 All-Girls Super – minimum 24, maximum of 30 Coed Division – 1 or more boys, minimum 5, maximum of 30 Game Day, Small (minimum 5, maximum 19) Game Day, Large (minimum 20, maximum 30) Region Teams Entered Total Advancing to State Teams Entered Total Advancing to State Teams Entered Total Advancing to State Teams Entered Total Advancing to State Teams Entered Total Advancing to State Teams Entered Total Advancing to State Teams Entered Total [...]

10/10/2025 – Competitive Cheer Regional Information Available

Sarah Bridenbaugh — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 12:47:16 +0000

Information regarding the KHSAA Competitive Cheer Regional competitions for the 2025-26 season has been posted on the KHSAA website. Several items for participating schools to review are available on the Competitive Cheer page of the KHSAA website prior to the competition. This includes regional instructions for managers, participating teams, and fans, as well as a detailed time schedule for each region.

INSTRUCTIONS/DECLARATIONS

A link to the regional instructions is provided here: REGIONAL INSTRUCTIONS
Declaration numbers have been compiled for 2025-26:
- DECLARATIONS BY SCHOOL
- TOTAL DECLARATIONS BY REGION

REGIONAL TIME SCHEDULES

Detailed time schedules for each region have also been posted, changes may occur as schools double-check for accuracy.
A final email will be sent once the schedule is set.

2025-2026 Cheer Division Declarations by School

Sarah Bridenbaugh — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 15:10:21 +0000

2025-2026 Cheer Division Declarations by Region

Sarah Bridenbaugh — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 15:09:14 +0000

09/25/25 – Competitive Cheer Nominations Sought for Midway/KHSAA Student-Athlete of the Year

Sarah Bridenbaugh — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 12:34:59 +0000

The nomination process for the Midway University/KHSAA Male and Female Student Athlete-of-the-Year among Competitive Cheer participants for 2025-2026 is now open.

This award is based on athletic and academic achievement as well as community service and leadership. The link to the application contains additional criteria and a form to nominate one participant from each 2025-2026 team. Nominations must come from a member school, but can be submitted by an administrator, guidance counselor, or coach. Nominations may only be submitted online at https://khsaa.org/ge35-midway-university-khsaa-female-student-athlete-of-the-year-nomination-form/.

The winner will be announced early in the postseason and recognized at an awards event at Midway University in early summer 2026. From the winners selected for each KHSAA championship, one student-athlete will be selected as the 2025-2026 Midway University/KHSAA Student-Athlete of the Year announced at the event. All individual winners will also receive their recognition awards at that time.

The deadline for nominations for the Midway University/KHSAA Student-Athlete of the Year in [...]

09/16/25 – Media Credential Application for remainder of 2025 is now open

Brian Milam — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 14:41:05 +0000

The KHSAA’s online media credentialing system for fall state championships (golf, field hockey, soccer, cross country, volleyball, football, competitive cheer, and dance) is now live and can be accessed via the following link: credentials.khsaa.org

Credentials to each KHSAA state championship event are issued by the KHSAA to working members of the media who regularly cover high school athletics. Credentials must be requested prior to the established deadline for each sport through the online credentialing system.

Credentials should be requested by the sports editor/director for all members of their organization needing to attend an event. Credentials for freelance photographers and stringers must be requested by the sports editor/director at the outlet the freelancer will be representing. Media outlets are responsible for the actions of all individuals representing their organization, including compliance with KHSAA policies and procedures. No credentials will be issued outside of the online credentialing system. The KHSAA reserves the right to limit the [...]

09/08/25 – Competitive Cheer Rules Clinic Now Available

Sarah Bridenbaugh — Mon, 08 Sep 2025 12:39:32 +0000

The required KHSAA Competitive Cheer Online Rules Clinic is now available through your Arbitersports Eligibility Dashboard.

The clinic is required for all coaches (varsity, junior varsity, and freshmen), regardless of whether or not the coach receives pay.

If you have yet to log into the KHSAA360 (Arbitersports.com) system prior to receiving this email, you will need to set your password on the arbitersports.com login screen (select “Forgot Password”).

For full instructions on how to access your Eligibility Dashboard to complete the Online Rules Clinic and the rest of your Bylaw 25 requirements, see below:

https://scribehow.com/shared/Accessing_and_Completing_Online_Rules_Clinics_and_Other_Bylaw_25_Requirements_on_ArbiterSports__4fugZqZfTxelU4KFQ-zJHg

If you are having difficulties finding your requirements dashboard following the instructions above, it can be found at the following link:

https://app.arbitersports.com/eligibility/coach

Deadlines for Coaches:

September 8 to September 28 – the clinic may be viewed at no charge during this period.
September 29 to October 28 – the clinic may be viewed for the [...]

08/29/25 – Competitive Cheer Declaration Form for KHSAA Postseason Now Open

Sarah Bridenbaugh — Fri, 29 Aug 2025 12:46:15 +0000

The declaration form (CC101) for the sport-activity of Competitive Cheer is now open!

The deadline to complete this form is Tuesday, September 30. This is for KHSAA Regional and State Competitions, so please discuss what division(s) your school will be entering, as there will be no adjustments to divisions once the entries are posted. Each member school’s Athletic Director or Head Coach shall only submit one form to declare. You can find CC101 at the following link: https://ly.khsaa.org/tcmw

SQUAD SIZES/DIVISIONS

All-Girls Divisions (4 divisions):
- Small (Traditional 2.5 Minute): minimum 5, maximum of 15
- Medium (Traditional 2.5 Minute): minimum 16, maximum of 19
- Large (Traditional 2.5 Minute): minimum 20, maximum of 23,
- Super Large (Traditional 2.5 Minute): minimum 24, maximum of 30
Coed (1 division):
- Coed (Traditional 2.5 Minute): 1 or more boys; minimum 5, maximum of 30
Game Day (2 divisions) –
- Game Day Small – minimum [...]

06/03/25 – Myers, Harper Named 2024-25 Midway/KHSAA Student-Athletes of the Year

Brian Milam — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 00:31:27 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JUNE 3, 2025

The 2024-25 Midway University/KHSAA Student-Athlete of the Year awards program culminated on Tuesday at Midway University, as Madelyn Myers of Murray (Tennis) and Grant Harper of Barren County (Swimming & Diving) were recognized as the overall Student-Athletes of the Year.

Beginning in May 2016, Midway has presented a Female Student-Athlete of the Year award at each KHSAA girls’ state championship event. The awards program was expanded in 2019-20 to include male student-athletes, with Midway honoring a deserving student-athlete in each KHSAA sport and sport-activity.

The awards are based on athletic and academic achievement, as well as community service and leadership, with Midway choosing one overall Male and Female Student-Athlete of the Year each academic year. School administrators, coaches and athletic directors nominate student-athletes, and the nominees are voted upon by a closed panel consisting of representatives from Midway.

2024-25 Midway University/KHSAA Student-Athletes of the Year

05/08/25 – Competitive Cheer Region Dates/Sites for 2025

Sarah Bridenbaugh — Thu, 08 May 2025 14:44:14 +0000

The following schools are the dates/sites for the 2025 Competitive Cheer Regionals.

Regions Site Date 1-2 McCracken County November 8 3-4 Central Hardin November 1 5-6 Mason County November 8 7-8 Clay County November 1

Contact Assistant Commissioner Sarah Bridenbaugh (sbridenbaugh@khsaa.org) should you have any questions pertaining to competitive cheer.

– 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 289 member schools, both public and non-public. The KHSAA awards 229 state championships to 72 teams and 270 individuals in 21 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 [...]

03/19/25 – NFHS Announces Cheer, Dance Rule Changes

Brian Milam — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 12:00:13 +0000

Risk Minimization Focus of 2025-26 High School Spirit Rules Changes

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

INDIANAPOLIS – Six changes in the cheer section regarding risk minimization were among the revisions recommended by the NFHS Spirit Rules Committee at its meeting last February in Orlando, Florida. All recommended changes were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors and take effect with the 2025-26 high school spirit season.

“The committee continues to look at the risk minimization for all participants in cheer and dance activities,” said James Weaver, NFHS director of performing arts and sports and liaison to the NFHS Spirit Rules Committee. “These changes continue our ongoing progression to making this activity safer for every participant who is in cheer or dance.”

The committee also approved a major reorganization to the NFHS Spirit Rules Book. The definitions that comprised Rule 1 have been moved into respective rules for cheer and dance. Going forward, Rule 1 is [...]

02/18/25 – Competitive Cheer & Dance Tryout Window and Spring Allowances

Sarah Bridenbaugh — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 19:12:43 +0000

Bylaw 23) 1) f) states…
f) Organized Play and Involvement of Members of the Coaching Staff Out of Season During the School Year

Coaches (paid or unpaid) shall not coach (give instruction in any manner or evaluate) members of that school’s team during competition on the campus of a member school if the activity involves at least fifty (50) percent of the normal playing squad being from any member school (e.g., 6 or more in football or soccer, [...]

12/12/24 – Competitive Cheer, Dance to Begin in Winchester

Brian Milam — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 18:56:39 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: DEC. 12, 2024

The 2024 KHSAA Competitive Cheer State Championships presented by UK HealthCare and the 2024 KHSAA Dance State Championships presented by UK HealthCare are set to begin at George Rogers Clark in Winchester this weekend.

The Competitive Cheer State Championships will kick off the first of three total sessions on Friday at 5:30 p.m. ET with Coed and All-Girls Medium competition. On Saturday, the Game Day Large and Game Day Small divisions will compete in Session 1 starting at 9 a.m., followed by the All-Girls Small, All-Girls Large and All-Girls Super divisions in Session 2 starting at 2:30 p.m.

The Dance State Championships will open with Game Day, Hip Hop Small and Hip Hop Large competition in the first of two sessions on Sunday at 1 p.m. and close with Jazz and Pom that evening starting at 5:30 p.m.

Tickets for each session of the Competitive Cheer State Championships and [...]

12/09/24 – Competitive Cheer & Dance Tickets on Sale Now!

Sarah Bridenbaugh — Mon, 09 Dec 2024 15:12:17 +0000

A reminder to coaches and fans that tickets for the State Competitive Cheer (December 13-14) and State Dance (December 15) are on sale now! Encourage your fans to purchase early!

- The price will be lower, and all fees will be included if purchased prior to midnight on the day of the event. The single session price increases by $3, all fees included, after midnight on the day of the event.
- A multiple-session pass is also an option on Saturday of Competitive Cheer (December 14th) and on Sunday of Dance (December 15th). The price will be lower, and all fees will be included if purchased prior to midnight on the day of the event.
- The price for the multiple session pass increases by $5, all fees included, after midnight on day prior to the event.
- Kentucky Children’s Hospital is sponsoring FREE tickets for all children 10 and under. To receive these [...]

11/21/24 – Winter Media Credential Applications Now Open

Brian Milam — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 20:12:09 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NOV. 21, 2024

The KHSAA’s online media credentialing system for winter state championships (competitive cheer, dance, swimming & diving, bowling, wrestling, indoor track & field) is now live and can be accessed via credentials.khsaa.org.

11/18/24 – State Competitive Cheer Time Schedules & Instructions Released

Sarah Bridenbaugh — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 18:49:07 +0000

Congratulations to all participants and coaches who have qualified for the 2024 KHSAA State Competitive Cheer Championships presented by UK HealthCare! First and foremost, we would like to thank the regional host schools for all of their hard work that contributed to the success of the regional competitions.

TIME SCHEDULES

PARTICIPATING TEAMS CONFERENCE CALL

Teams qualifying for the state championships are also invited to join the KHSAA in a conference call that will take place on Monday, December 9 at 1:30 PM (ET).
Details about joining the call will be sent to participating coaches. State Championship details, including parking, [...]

11/18/24 – KHSAA Awards 2023-24 NFHS State Coaches of the Year

Brian Milam — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 17:40:40 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NOV. 18, 2024

The complete list of 2023-24 honorees from Kentucky is below.

Baseball: Brad Burns, Pleasure Ridge Park
Boys’ Basketball: Ryan Perry, Lyon County
Boys’ Cross Country: Chris Davis, Bishop Brossart
Football: Mark Spader, Bowling Green
Boys’ Golf: Chris Cunningham, South Oldham
Boys’ Soccer: Chris Grimm, Lafayette
Boys’ Swimming & Diving: Jamie Palumbo; Bryan Station, Great Crossing, Lexington Catholic, Madison Central, Sayre, Scott County
Boys’ [...]

2024-2025 Competitive Cheer Detailed Station Appearance and Time Schedule

admin — Thu, 07 Nov 2024 21:18:31 +0000

2024-2025 Competitive Cheer Order of Appearance

admin — Thu, 07 Nov 2024 21:16:12 +0000

2024-2025 Competitive Cheer State Timetable

admin — Thu, 07 Nov 2024 21:14:26 +0000

11/05/24 – Competitive Cheer State Qualifiers Numbers Released for 2024

Sarah Bridenbaugh — Tue, 05 Nov 2024 18:08:21 +0000

STATE QUALIFIERS

The number of qualifiers for each region and each division of Competitive Cheer is released in this notice.
Declaration numbers are pro-rated by region so as not to penalize larger regions.
After reviewing the declarations/withdrawals, this chart illustrates the updated number of squads per division and per region that will qualify for state competition.

10/15/24 – 2024 KHSAA Competitive Cheer Regional Information & Instructions Available

Sarah Bridenbaugh — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 11:38:28 +0000

Information pertaining to the KHSAA Competitive Cheer Regional competitions for 2024-25 has been posted to the KHSAA website. There are several items for participating schools to review prior to the competition on the Competitive Cheer page of the KHSAA website. This includes regional instructions for managers, participating teams, and fans as well as a detailed time schedule for each region.

INSTRUCTIONS/DECLARATIONS

A link to the regional instructions is provided here:
- REGIONAL INSTRUCTIONS
Declaration numbers have been compiled for 2024-25. Links to that information are below:
- DECLARATIONS BY SCHOOL
- TOTAL DECLARATIONS BY REGION

COACHES BOX

Each regional site will have a “coaching box” of a maximum of 6 seats.
Each participating school can decide who will occupy these seats during the school’s performance, as long as it doesn’t exceed six (6) total (i.e. 2 alternates, 4 coaches or 3 alternates, 3 coaches, etc.).

2024-2025 Cheer Division Declarations by Region

admin — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 10:13:22 +0000

2024-2025 Cheer Division Declarations by School

admin — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 10:09:30 +0000

Cheer Region Schedule 2024-2025- Regions 1-2 (BK Regions 1-2 and 3-4)

admin — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 20:39:01 +0000

Cheer Region Schedule 2024-2025- Regions 3-4 (BK Regions 5-6 and 7-8)

admin — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 20:38:30 +0000

Cheer Region Schedule 2024-2025- Regions 5-6 (BK Regions 9-10 and 11-12)

admin — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 20:37:54 +0000

Cheer Region Schedule 2024-2025- Regions 7-8 (BK Regions 13-14 and 15-16)

admin — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 20:37:03 +0000

10/01/24 – KHSAA Combined Participation Tops 115,000 for First Time in 2023-24

Brian Milam — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 19:08:33 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: OCT. 1, 2024

More than 115,000 participants occupied roster spots in KHSAA sports and sport-activities in the 2023-24 school year, marking an all-time record and an increase of more than 5% from the previous year.

A total of 115,608 participants were on rosters for Kentucky high school competition in 2023-24, which is up 5,792 from the previous record of 109,816 set in 2022-23. The latest total includes 63,694 boys and 51,914 girls, a record high for both genders and the first time that girls’ participation has exceeded 50,000.

The 115,608 roster spots were comprised of 86,357 individuals, including 46,635 boys and 39,722 girls.

The 2023-24 total marks a third consecutive increase across KHSAA member schools after numbers briefly declined during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey, national participation eclipsed the 8-million mark for the first time last school year.

“We are extremely pleased with our compilation [...]

09/24/24 – Competitive Cheer Nominations Sought for Midway/KHSAA Student-Athlete-of-the Year

Sarah Bridenbaugh — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 14:21:33 +0000

The nomination process for the Midway University/KHSAA Student Athlete-of-the-Year among Competitive Cheer participants for 2024-2025 is now open.

This award is based on athletic and academic achievement as well as community service and leadership. The link to the application contains additional criteria and a form to nominate one participant from each 2024-2025 team. Nominations must come from a member school, but can be submitted by an administrator, guidance counselor, or coach. Nominations may only be submitted online at https://khsaa.org/ge35-midway-university-khsaa-female-student-athlete-of-the-year-nomination-form/.

The winner will be announced early in the postseason and recognized at an awards event at Midway University in early summer 2025. From the winners selected for each KHSAA championship, one student-athlete will be selected as the 2024-2025 Midway University/KHSAA Student-Athlete of the Year announced at the event. All individual winners will also receive their recognition awards at that time.

The deadline for nominations for the Midway University/KHSAA Student-Athlete of the Year in the sport [...]

08/25/24 – Competitive Cheer Online Rules Clinic Now Available

Sarah Bridenbaugh — Thu, 29 Aug 2024 11:44:21 +0000

The mandatory online KHSAA Rules Clinic for the sport-activity of Competitive Cheer is available through your Arbitersports Eligibility Dashboard.

The clinic is required of all coaches (varsity, junior varsity, and freshmen), regardless of whether or not the coach receives pay.

For full instructions on how to access your Eligibility Dashboard to complete the Online Rules Clinic and the rest of your Bylaw 25 requirements, see below:

https://scribehow.com/shared/Accessing_and_Completing_Online_Rules_Clinics_and_Other_Bylaw_25_Requirements_on_ArbiterSports__4fugZqZfTxelU4KFQ-zJHg

Below is additional information:

August 21 to October 20 – The clinic may be viewed at no charge during this period.
October 21 to October 28 – The clinic may be viewed for the makeup fee ($100) during this period.
October 29 to November 12 – The clinic may be viewed for the makeup fee ($200) per the Bylaw 27 schedule during this period. After this time, postseason penalties per Bylaw 27 will apply.

The presentation can be viewed on most PC or Mac desktops [...]

08/22/24 – Competitive Cheer Declaration Form for KHSAA Postseason Now Open

Sarah Bridenbaugh — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 19:03:00 +0000

The declaration form (CC101) for the sport-activity of Competitive Cheer is now open.

The deadline to complete this form is Monday, September 30. This is for KHSAA Regional and State Competitions, so please discuss what division(s) your school will be entering as there will be no adjustments to divisions once the entries are posted. Each member school Athletic Director or Head Coach shall only submit one form to declare. You can find CC101 at the following link: https://ly.khsaa.org/tcmw

SQUAD SIZES/DIVISIONS

All-Girls Divisions (4 divisions):
- Small (Traditional 2.5 Minute): minimum 5, maximum of 15
- Medium (Traditional 2.5 Minute): minimum 16, maximum of 19
- Large (Traditional 2.5 Minute): minimum 20, maximum of 23,
- Super Large (Traditional 2.5 Minute): minimum 24, maximum of 30
Co-Ed (1 division):
- Coed (Traditional 2.5 Minute): 1 or more boys; minimum 5, maximum of 30
Game Day (2 divisions) –
- Game Day [...]

08/09/24 – KAPOS Coaches Conference Information

Sarah Bridenbaugh — Fri, 09 Aug 2024 15:15:41 +0000

On behalf of the Kentucky Association of Pep Organization Sponsors (KAPOS), the KHSAA wanted to send a note to member schools about the upcoming KAPOS Coaches Conference. This year’s event will be Saturday, August 17 at the KHSAA Office in Lexington. For more details and registration information, use the link below. Please contact KAPOS (hack.hudson@kapos.org) with any questions about this event.

Link to Information for Conference

08/08/24 – Board of Control Approves Adjustments to Competitive Cheer Game Day Divisions

Sarah Bridenbaugh — Thu, 08 Aug 2024 17:33:31 +0000

At its most recent meeting, the KHSAA Board of Control approved a proposed adjustment to the Game Day division. To better align with the current UCA Game Day divisions, KHSAA will offer Small Game Day for teams with 5-19 members, and then the Large Game Day will be for teams with 20-30 members. Schools who wish to compete in the KHSAA Competitive Cheer postseason for 2024-25 will receive a notification when CC101 (Competitive Cheer Division Declaration form) is open and available.

The KHSAA will offer the following divisions for 2024-2025:

Small All-Girl (Traditional 2.5 Minute): minimum 5, maximum of 15
Medium All-Girl (Traditional 2.5 Minute): minimum 16, maximum of 19
Large All-Girl (Traditional 2.5 Minute): minimum 20, maximum of 23,
Super Large All-Girl (Traditional 2.5 Minute): minimum 24, maximum of 30
Coed (Traditional 2.5 Minute): 1 or more boys; minimum 5, maximum of 30
Game Day Small: minimum 5, maximum of 19
Game Day [...]

08/02/24 – Board of Control Conducts First Meeting of 2024-25

Brian Milam — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 17:06:16 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: AUG. 2, 2024

The KHSAA Board of Control conducted its first regularly scheduled meeting of the 2024-25 academic year on Friday in Newport, approving a review of proposals to be considered at the 2024 Annual Meeting and approving competition rules information regarding three sports and two sport-activities.

A two-day series of meetings began with an orientation for new and returning Board members and then launched into the full Board work session on Thursday, followed by the conducting of Friday’s full Board meeting. The Board and staff welcomed new Board members Noel Crum of Stambaugh, Chuck Mullins of Hazard and Coy Samons of Murray, as well as new Assistant Commissioner Abby Jackson.

“This meeting offered an opportunity to help the Board members become familiar with both new Board and staff members, as well as lengthy discussions about the future of the important work that they do,” said Commissioner Julian Tackett. “The wide variety [...]

06/04/24 – Thurmond, Germann Named 2023-24 Midway/KHSAA Student-Athletes of the Year

Brian Milam — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 20:20:41 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JUNE 6, 2024

The 2023-24 Midway University/KHSAA Student-Athlete of the Year awards program culminated Tuesday on the campus of Midway University, as Carlie Thurmond of Bethlehem (Soccer) and Max Germann of Boyle County (Track & Field) were recognized as the overall Student-Athletes of the Year.

2023-24 Midway University/KHSAA Student-Athletes of the [...]

Local Host City KHSAA Championships Hotel Contacts

admin — Mon, 13 May 2024 17:02:50 +0000

2025-26 State Event Housing Suggestions from Local CVB representatives – select tab at bottom to change sports

03/08/24 – Competitive Cheer & Dance Tryout Window and Spring Allowances Reminders

Sarah Bridenbaugh — Fri, 08 Mar 2024 13:18:38 +0000

As a reminder to KHSAA member schools, there is a specific allowance in Bylaw 23 for Competitive Cheer and Dance teams to have a tryout period in the spring. During April, schools are permitted to designate a single two-week tryout period following which there shall be no further practice or competition outside of the defined season as detailed in Bylaw 23. Portions of Bylaw 23 are below for reference.

Bylaw 23) 1) f) states…
f) Organized Play and Involvement of Members of the Coaching Staff Out of Season During the School Year

12/06/23 – Competitive Cheer & Dance Tickets on Sale Now!

Sarah Bridenbaugh — Wed, 06 Dec 2023 21:12:22 +0000

A reminder to coaches and fans that tickets for the State Competitive Cheer (December 8-9) and State Dance (December 10) are on sale now! Encourage your fans to purchase early! All ticket prices are in advance, $15 each per session which includes all fees. On the day of the event, prices per session increase to $17. Children ten-and-under will be admitted free, but must still “purchase” the free ticket through GoFan. All tickets will be sold online via GoFan, the KHSAA’s official digital ticket vendor. Tickets for each game are available online only at khsaatickets.org. All of the competitions will be broadcast live on khsaa.tv to subscribers of the NFHS Network.

2023 KHSAA STATE COMPETITIVE CHEER & DANCE CHAMPIONSHIPS PRESENTED BY UK HEALTHCARE

The official press release containing [...]

12/06/23 – George Rogers Clark to Host Cheer, Dance State Championships Over Weekend

Brian Milam — Wed, 06 Dec 2023 21:00:21 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: DEC. 6, 2023

The 2023-24 KHSAA Competitive Cheer State Championships presented by UK HealthCare and the 2023-24 KHSAA Dance State Championships presented by UK HealthCare are set to return to George Rogers Clark in Winchester this weekend, with the former taking place Friday, Dec. 8, through Saturday, Dec. 9, and the latter taking place Sunday, Dec. 10.

The 12th annual Competitive Cheer State Championships will kick off the first of three sessions on Friday at 5 p.m. ET with Game Day Large and Game Day Small competition. On Saturday, All-Girls Large and Coed competition will begin at 9 a.m., followed by the All-Girls Small, All-Girls Medium and All-Girls Super divisions starting at 1:45 p.m.

The seventh annual Dance State Championships will open with Jazz and Game Day competition in the first of two sessions on Sunday at 1 p.m. and close with the Hip-Hop and Pom divisions starting at 4:30 p.m.

Tickets [...]

12/04/23 – Media Credentials Now Available for Winter Championships

Brian Milam — Mon, 04 Dec 2023 19:50:59 +0000

The KHSAA’s online media credentialing system for 2023-24 winter state championships (competitive cheer, dance, esports, wrestling, swimming & diving) is now live and can be accessed via credentials.khsaa.org.

The media credentialing system for the Mingua Beef Jerky Girls’ Basketball Sweet 16® and UK HealthCare Boys’ Basketball Sweet 16® will be made available at a later date.

11/21/23 – State Competitive Cheer Time Schedules & Instructions Now Available

Sarah Bridenbaugh — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 14:37:44 +0000

Congratulations to all participants and coaches who have qualified for the 2023 KHSAA State Competitive Cheer Championships presented by UK HealthCare. First and foremost, we would like to thank the regional host schools for all of their hard work and the success of the regional competitions. There are several items for your review on the Competitive Cheer page of the KHSAA website, including the state instructions, time schedules, order of appearance, maps, and more.

TIME SCHEDULES

PARTICIPATING TEAMS CONFERENCE CALL

Participating Teams are also invited to join the KHSAA in a conference call that will take place on Monday, December 4 at 1:30 PM (ET). Details about joining the call will be sent to participating coaches. State Championship details including parking, check-in procedures, ticketing, and other pertinent details related to attending the event will be discussed.

STATE INSTRUCTIONS

State Championship [...]

11/15/23 – Board of Control Adopts Changes to State Formats For Swimming, Indoor Track & Field, Girls’ Wrestling; Sets State Archery Site, Accepts Results of Bylaw 9 Amendment

Brian Milam — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 22:27:11 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NOV. 15, 2023

The KHSAA Board of Control conducted its third regularly scheduled meeting of the 2023-24 academic year on Wednesday in Lexington, approving changes to the Swimming State Championship format and event implementation plans for the inaugural Indoor Track & Field and Girls’ Wrestling State Championships.

The Board approved the selection of Russell County High School (Regions 1-3), the University of Louisville (Regions 4-6) and Scott High School (Regions 7-9) as 2024 State First Round sites for Swimming and approved revisions to relay card procedures for the regional and state meet rounds to help address facility deck and crowd capacity concerns.

The Board also approved the increase of the total number of qualifiers advancing from the swimming & diving region meets to the State First Round to 48 per event statewide, including approval of the format structure for those three first-round events. This will result in a total of a total [...]

2023-2024 Competitive Cheer Order of Appearance

admin — Mon, 06 Nov 2023 13:27:16 +0000

2023-2024 Competitive Cheer State Timetable

admin — Thu, 02 Nov 2023 15:24:37 +0000

11/01/23 – Competitive Cheer State Qualifiers Numbers Released

Sarah Bridenbaugh — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 12:38:24 +0000

The number of qualifiers for each region and each division of Competitive Cheer is released in this notice. Statewide declarations supported the divisions with more than 16 participating schools entered to be pro-rated by region so as not to penalize larger regions. Any division with less than 16 entries will advance to the KHSAA State Championships provided each squad competes at the region event. After reviewing the declarations/withdrawals, this chart illustrates the updated number of squads per division and per region that will qualify for state competition.

10/19/23 – NFHS Understanding Copyright & Compliance Course Required for Cheer & Dance Coaches

Sarah Bridenbaugh — Thu, 19 Oct 2023 11:56:59 +0000

This is a reminder that all KHSAA Cheer and Dance Coaches (Head and Assistant, paid or unpaid) must complete the NFHS Music Copyright Course “Understanding Copyright and Compliance”. This course is free and 100% online and is required whether or not a team competes in KHSAA competition. This course from the NFHS is geared toward music teachers, spirit coaches (cheer and dance) and school administrators. Understanding Copyright and Compliance is available through the NFHS Learning Center at www.NFHSLearn.com.

The course explores copyright laws and how those laws impact the interscholastic community and the course was produced with the assistance of NAME (National Association for Music Education) and USA Cheer. It also expands on topics such as fair use, public domain, copyright infringement penalties and much more. Spirit squads, as well as Dance teams, are increasingly met with copyright infringement claims and this course is a tool to assist cheer and dance coaches in education on [...]

10/10/23 – 2023 KHSAA Competitive Cheer Regional Information & Instructions Available

Sarah Bridenbaugh — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 12:10:26 +0000

Information pertaining to the KHSAA Competitive Cheer Regional competitions for 2023-24 has been posted to the KHSAA website. There are several items for participating schools to review prior to the competition on the Competitive Cheer page of the KHSAA website. This includes regional instructions for managers, participating teams, and fans as well as a detailed time schedule for each region.

INSTRUCTIONS/DECLARATIONS

A link to the regional instructions is provided here:
- REGIONAL INSTRUCTIONS
Declaration numbers have been compiled for 2023-24. Links to that information are below:
- DECLARATIONS BY SCHOOL
- TOTAL DECLARATIONS BY REGION

COACHES BOX

Each regional site will have a “coaching box” of a maximum of 6 seats.
Each participating school can decide who will occupy these seats during the school’s performance, as long as it doesn’t exceed six (6) total (i.e. 2 alternates, 4 coaches or 3 alternates, 3 coaches, etc.).

10/06/23 – KHSAA Announces 2022-23 NFHS State Coaches of the Year

Brian Milam — Fri, 06 Oct 2023 20:42:00 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: OCT. 6, 2023

As part of its annual awards program, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Coaches Association recognizes Coach of the Year honorees from each state. Those named Coach of the Year at the state level then advance for consideration for Sectional Coach of the Year honors. Winners are chosen through a combination of their coaching accomplishments, particularly for the season in question, as well as their contributions outside of competition to help grow their respective sports. These awards are announced following the recognized year.

The complete list of 2022-23 honorees from Kentucky is below.

Baseball: Jeremy Shope, Whitley County
Boys’ Basketball: Josh Cook, George Rogers Clark
Boys’ Cross Country: Brian Ruggles, North Oldham
Football: Keegan Kendrick, Bullitt East
Boys’ Golf: Kyle Congleton, Madison Central
Boys’ Soccer: Stephen Collins, Ryle
Boys’ Swimming & Diving: Mike Essig, Trinity (Louisville)
Boys’ Tennis: Al Hertsenberg, Covington Catholic
Boys’ Track & [...]

09/18/23 – Competitive Cheer Nominations Sought for Midway/KHSAA Student-Athlete-of-the Year

Sarah Bridenbaugh — Mon, 18 Sep 2023 17:28:37 +0000

The nomination process for the Midway University/KHSAA Student Athlete-of-the-Year among Competitive Cheer participants for 2023-2024 is now open.

This award is based on athletic and academic achievement as well as community service and leadership. The link to the application contains additional criteria and a form to nominate one participant from each 2023-2024 team. Nominations must come from a member school, but can be submitted by an administrator, guidance counselor, or coach. Nominations may only be submitted online at https://khsaa.org/ge35-midway-university-khsaa-female-student-athlete-of-the-year-nomination-form/.

The winner will be announced early in the postseason and recognized at an awards event at Midway University in early summer 2024. From the winners selected for each KHSAA championship, one student-athlete will be selected as the 2023-2024 Midway University/KHSAA Student-Athlete of the Year announced at the event. All individual winners will also receive their recognition awards at that time.

The deadline for nominations for the Midway University/KHSAA Student-Athlete of the Year in the sport of [...]

08/24/23 – Tentative 2023-2024 Competitive Cheer Regional Sites

Sarah Bridenbaugh — Thu, 24 Aug 2023 12:28:59 +0000

The following schools are tentative sites for the 2023 Competitive Cheer Regionals. KHSAA Staff is finalizing details with host sites and once host schools accept all responsibilities/conditions of hosting a regional event, this list will be updated.

08/18/23 – KAPOS Coaches Conference Information

Sarah Bridenbaugh — Fri, 18 Aug 2023 13:47:46 +0000

On behalf of the Kentucky Association of Pep Organization Sponsors (KAPOS), the KHSAA wanted to send a note to member schools about the upcoming KAPOS Coaches Conference. This year’s event will be Saturday, August 26 at the KHSAA Office in Lexington. For more details and registration information, use the link below. Please contact KAPOS (hack.hudson@kapos.org) with any questions about this event.

Coaches Conference

08/14/23 – Competitive Cheer Declaration Form Now Open

Sarah Bridenbaugh — Mon, 14 Aug 2023 15:30:55 +0000

The declaration form (CC101) for the sport-activity of Competitive Cheer is now open. Each member school shall only submit one form and you must be signed into the KHSAA School Subdomain to submit.

The deadline to complete this form is Friday, September 29. This is for KHSAA Regional and State Competitions, so please discuss what division(s) your school will be entering as there will be no adjustments to divisions once the entries are posted. Each member school Athletic Director or Head Coach shall only submit one form and must be signed into the KHSAA School subdomain (https://schools.khsaa.org/) to declare. You can find CC101 on the school subdomain under the dropdown menu “Forms and Reports” and under “Cheerleading Forms”.

SQUAD SIZES/DIVISIONS

All-Girls Small – minimum of 5, maximum of 15
All-Girls Medium – minimum of 16, maximum of 19
All-Girls Large – minimum of 20, maximum of 23
All-Girls Super-Large – minimum [...]

08/14/23 – Competitive Cheer Rules Clinic Now Available

Sarah Bridenbaugh — Mon, 14 Aug 2023 13:00:37 +0000

The mandatory online KHSAA Rules Clinic for the sport-activity of Competitive Cheer is now available today, August 14. The clinic is required of all coaches (varsity, junior varsity, and freshman) whether or not the coach receives pay.

COACHES
For member schools, the clinics are located on the School Log-in Page. To access the clinic, go to https://schools.khsaa.org/ and — under the section entitled Rules Clinics — click on the link that says “View Online Rules Clinics“.

August 14 to October 5 (Coaches) – the Clinic will be online only and may be viewed at no charge during this period.
October 6 to October 20 (Coaches) – the Clinic will be online only and may be viewed for the makeup fee ($100) during this period.
October 21 to November 4 (Coaches) – the Clinic will be online only and may be viewed for the makeup fee ($200) during this period. After this time, postseason penalties [...]

07/11/2023- Fall Sports Tryout Reminders

admin — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 18:52:31 +0000

Good afternoon to all member schools. This message is intended for all member schools based on multiple inquiries received in the last few days. Please share this with all members of your fall sports coaching staff, and the coaches of Competitive Cheer and Dance. This post is not intended to be comprehensive regarding all aspects of Bylaw 23, but intended to highlight areas around tryouts.

References for this information come from the Bylaws of the Association, online as part of the KHSAA Handbook. There is not (and has never been) a separate tryout period for fall sports prior to the start of practice. Recently, we have been made aware that several schools have posted “tryouts” for fall sports that are being held prior to the first date of practice. This is not permitted.

SPORTS OF CROSS COUNTRY, FIELD HOCKEY, GOLF, SOCCER AND VOLLEYBALL

Required activity (including tryouts) can begin for Cross Country, Field Hockey, [...]

06/06/23 – Johnson, Ferree Named 2022-23 Midway/KHSAA Student-Athletes of the Year

Brian Milam — Tue, 06 Jun 2023 19:31:44 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JUNE 6, 2023

The 2022-23 Midway University/KHSAA Student-Athlete of the Year awards program culminated this week on the campus of Midway University, as Rafaella Johnson of Elizabethtown (Cross Country) and George Ferree of Trinity (Louisville) (Wrestling) were recognized as the overall Student-Athletes of the Year.

The awards are based on athletic and academic achievement, as well as community service and leadership, with Midway choosing one overall Male and Female Student-Athlete of the Year each academic year. School administrators, coaches and athletic directors nominate student-athletes online at khsaa.org, and the nominees are voted upon by a closed panel consisting of representatives from Midway.

02/24/23 – Competitive Cheer & Dance Tryout Window and Spring Allowances Reminders

Sarah Bridenbaugh — Thu, 30 Mar 2023 11:56:51 +0000

As a reminder to KHSAA member schools, there is a specific allowance in Bylaw 23 for Competitive Cheer and Dance teams to have a tryout period in the spring. During April, schools are permitted to designate a single two-week tryout period following which there shall be no further practice or competition outside of the defined season as detailed in Bylaw 23. Portions of Bylaw 23 are below for reference.

Bylaw 23) 1) f) states…
f) Organized Play and Involvement of Members of the Coaching Staff Out of Season During the School Year

03/24/23 – NFHS Announces Competitive Cheer, Dance Rule Changes

Brian Milam — Fri, 24 Mar 2023 19:41:29 +0000

Released Inversions, Tosses to Stunts Highlight High School Spirit Rules Changes for 2023-24

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

INDIANAPOLIS (March 24, 2023) – Two major rules changes for the 2023-24 high school spirit season involve released inversions and tosses to stunts to clarify rules for consistency.

Continued efforts to promote skill development and minimize risk led to eight total rule changes recommended by the NFHS Spirit Rules Committee at its February 13-14 meeting in Orlando, Florida. All recommended changes were approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

Several rules regarding released inversions with various twisting limitations were consolidated into Rule 3-3-6a. As a result, every usage of a “half turn” was changed to a “one twist” to allow for consistency. This revision establishes the same twisting allowance for each type of landing. Previously, there were full twist-, half- and quarter-turn landings.

“Consolidating each landing to one twist considers sensible anatomic [...]

12/19/22 – KHSAA Announces NFHS State Coach of the Year Honorees for 2021-22 Seasons

Brian Milam — Mon, 19 Dec 2022 22:13:25 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: DEC. 19, 2022

As part of its annual awards program, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Coaches Association recognizes Coach of the Year honorees from each state. Those named Coach of the Year at the state level then advance for consideration for Sectional Coach of the Year honors. Winners are chosen through a combination of their coaching accomplishments, as well as their contributions outside of competition to help grow their respective sports. These awards are announced following the recognized year.

The complete list of 2021-22 honorees from Kentucky is below.

Baseball: David Rexroat, Russell County
Boys’ Basketball: William Unseld, Warren Central
Girls’ Basketball: Kristy Orem, Pikeville
Boys’ Cross Country: Ian Johnstone, Conner
Girls’ Cross Country: Tom Stickel, Lexington Christian
Field Hockey: Jody Schaefer, Assumption
Football: Noel Rash, Beechwood
Boys’ Golf: Greg Zimmerer, Christian Academy-Louisville
Girls’ Golf: Sam Westfall, Madisonville-North Hopkins
[...]

12/08/22 – Competitive Cheer, Dance State Championships Return to George Rogers Clark

Brian Milam — Thu, 08 Dec 2022 21:19:33 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: DEC. 8, 2022

The 2022-23 KHSAA Competitive Cheer and Dance State Championships presented by UK HealthCare are set to return to George Rogers Clark in Winchester this weekend.

The KHSAA Competitive Cheer State Championships will kick off the 11th iteration of the event on Friday, starting at 5:15 p.m. ET with Game Day Large and Small competition. Saturday’s opening session, which features Coed, All-Girls Large and All-Girls Super lineups, will resume the contest at 9 a.m. Once Cardinal Arena is cleared between sessions, All-Girls Small and All-Girls Medium teams will start to compete at 2 p.m.

The sixth annual KHSAA Dance State Championships will begin with Jazz and Game Day routines at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday. The venue will once again clear at the conclusion of Sunday’s first session before Hip Hop and Pom competition will bring the weekend to a close, starting at 3 p.m.

Tickets to the event are only [...]

12/07/22 – Media Credentials Now Available for Winter Championships

Brian Milam — Wed, 07 Dec 2022 20:43:15 +0000

The KHSAA’s online media credentialing system for winter sports championships (competitive cheer, dance, eSports, bowling, swimming & diving, wrestling) is now live and can be accessed via the following link: credentials.khsaa.org

Credentials to each KHSAA State Championship event are issued by the KHSAA to working members of the media who regularly cover high school athletics. Credentials must be requested prior to the established deadline for each sport through the online credentialing system.

11/23/22 – State Competitive Cheer Time Schedules & Instructions Now Available

Sarah Bridenbaugh — Wed, 23 Nov 2022 16:14:56 +0000

Congratulations to all participants and coaches who have qualified for the 2022-23 KHSAA State Competitive Cheer Championships presented by UK HealthCare. First and foremost, we would like to thank the regional host schools for all of their hard work and the success of the regional competitions. There are several items for your review on the Competitive Cheer page of the KHSAA website, including the state instructions, time schedules, order of appearance, maps, and more.

TIME SCHEDULES

PARTICIPATING TEAMS CONFERENCE CALL

Participating Teams are also invited to join the KHSAA in a conference call that will take place on Monday, December 5 at 1:30 PM (ET). Details about joining the call will be sent to participating coaches. State Championship details including parking, check-in procedures, ticketing, and other pertinent details related to attending the event will be discussed.

STATE INSTRUCTIONS

State Championship [...]

2022-2023 Competitive Cheer Order of Appearance

admin — Wed, 23 Nov 2022 11:29:23 +0000

2022-2023 Competitive Cheer State Timetable

admin — Wed, 23 Nov 2022 11:27:19 +0000

11/03/22 – Competitive Cheer State Advancers Numbers Released

Sarah Bridenbaugh — Thu, 03 Nov 2022 17:42:11 +0000

All-Girls Small – minimum 5, maximum of 15

All-Girls Medium – minimum 16, maximum of 19

All-Girls Large – minimum 20, maximum of 23

All-Girls Super – minimum 24, maximum of 30

Coed Division – 1 or more boys, minimum 5, maximum of 30

Game Day, Small (minimum 5, maximum 17)

Game Day, Large (minimum 18, maximum 30)

Region

Teams Entered

Total Advancing to State

[...]

10/25/22 – NFHS Understanding Copyright & Compliance Course Required for Cheer & Dance Coaches

Sarah Bridenbaugh — Tue, 25 Oct 2022 12:20:53 +0000

10/21/22 – Competitive Cheer Regional Information & Instructions Available

Sarah Bridenbaugh — Fri, 21 Oct 2022 17:22:12 +0000

Information pertaining to the KHSAA Competitive Cheer Regional competitions for 2022-23 has been posted to the KHSAA website. There are several items for participating schools to review prior to the competition on the Competitive Cheer page of the KHSAA website. This includes regional instructions for managers, participating teams, and fans as well as a detailed time schedule for each region.

INSTRUCTIONS/DECLARATIONS

A link to the regional instructions are provided here:
- REGIONAL INSTRUCTIONS
Due to a high number of entries in the Game Day division, the KHSAA will offer a Small and Large Division this year for the postseason competition. Game Day Small will consist of 5-17 athletes on the floor and Game Day Large will consist of 18-30 athletes. Declaration numbers have been compiled for 2022-23. Links to that information are below:
- DECLARATIONS BY SCHOOL
- TOTAL DECLARATIONS BY REGION

TICKETS

All regional [...]

2022-2023 Competitive Cheer Detailed Station Appearance and Time Schedule

admin — Tue, 18 Oct 2022 19:14:11 +0000

09/19/22 – Competitive Cheer Nominations Sought for Midway/KHSAA Student Athlete-of-the-Year Award

Sarah Bridenbaugh — Mon, 19 Sep 2022 11:36:11 +0000

The nomination process for the Midway University/KHSAA Student-Athlete of the Year among Competitive Cheer participants for 2022-2023 is now open.

This award is based on athletic and academic achievement as well as community service and leadership. The link to the application contains additional criteria and a form to nominate one participant from each 2022-23 team. Nominations must come from a member school but may be submitted by an administrator, guidance counselor, or coach. Nominations may only be submitted online at https://khsaa.org/ge35-midway-university-khsaa-female-student-athlete-of-the-year-nomination-form/

The winner will be announced early in the postseason and recognized at an awards banquet at Midway University in early summer 2023. From the winners selected for each KHSAA championship, one student-athlete will be selected as the 2022-2023 Midway University/KHSAA Student-Athlete of the Year and announced at the banquet. All individual winners will also receive their recognition at that banquet.

The deadline for nominations for the Midway University/KHSAA Student-Athlete of the Year in [...]

09/06/22 – Competitive Cheer Declaration Form Now Open

Sarah Bridenbaugh — Tue, 06 Sep 2022 18:26:44 +0000

The declaration form (CC101) for the sport-activity of Competitive Cheer is now open. Each member school shall only submit one form and you must be signed into the KHSAA School Subdomain to submit.

The deadline to complete this form is Saturday, October 1. This is for KHSAA Regional and State Competitions, so please discuss what division(s) your school will be entering as there will be no adjustments to divisions once the entries are posted. Each member school Athletic Director or Head Coach shall only submit one form and must be signed into the KHSAA School subdomain (https://schools.khsaa.org/) to declare. You can find CC101 on the school subdomain under the dropdown menu “Forms and Reports” and under “Cheerleading Forms”.

SQUAD SIZES/DIVISIONS

All-Girls Small – minimum of 5, maximum of 15
All-Girls Medium – minimum of 16, maximum of 19
All-Girls Large – minimum of 20, maximum of 23
All-Girls Super-Large – minimum of 24, [...]

08/29/22 – Competitive Cheer Rules Clinic Now Available

Sarah Bridenbaugh — Mon, 29 Aug 2022 12:28:38 +0000

The mandatory online KHSAA Rules Clinic for the sport-activity of Competitive Cheer is available beginning today, August 29. The clinic is required of all coaches (varsity, junior varsity, and freshman) and whether or not the coach receives pay.

For member schools, the clinics are located on the School Log-in Page. To access the clinic, go to https://schools.khsaa.org/ and — under the section entitled Rules Clinics — click on the link that says “View Online Rules Clinics“.

August 29 to October 6– the Competitive Cheer Clinic will be online only and may be viewed at no charge during this period.
October 7 to October 21 – the Competitive Cheer Clinic will be online only and may be viewed for the makeup fee ($100) during this period.
October 22 to November 5 – the Competitive Cheer Clinic will be online only and may be viewed for the makeup fee ($200) per the Bylaw 27 schedule [...]

08/16/22 – KAPOS Coaches Conference Information

Sarah Bridenbaugh — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 18:17:15 +0000

On behalf of the Kentucky Association of Pep Organization Sponsors (KAPOS), the KHSAA wanted to send a note to member schools about the upcoming KAPOS Coaches Conference. This year’s event will be Saturday, August 27 at the KHSAA Office in Lexington. For more details and registration information, use the link below. Please contact KAPOS with any questions about this event. Coaches Conference

07/29/22 – Competitive Cheer Postseason Update & Regional Hosts Sought

Sarah Bridenbaugh — Fri, 29 Jul 2022 15:34:30 +0000

The KHSAA office is accepting applications to host the regionals of the Competitive Cheer postseason. Four hosts are needed, and regions can alternate host sites (Region 1 one year and Region 2 site the next) or choose a permanent location based upon facility abilities and availability. The competition rules will stipulate that the odd region listed in the alternation table would recommend the region site in the odd year and the even region in the even year. Sites selected must be able to accommodate the historic crowds, similar to the criteria for the current basketball site selection.

Athletic Administrators from both combined regions are responsible for making decisions such as expenses and division of any revenue as a group. The “host” region is not solely responsible for this and this will be a discussion topic at the upcoming fall Regional Meetings with schools.

The Commissioner’s office would [...]

06/11/22- Kopser, Gloyd Named 2021-22 Midway/KHSAA Student-Athletes of the Year

Brian Milam — Sat, 11 Jun 2022 12:00:11 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JUNE 11, 2022

The 2021-22 Midway University/KHSAA Student-Athlete of the Year awards program culminated this week on the campus of Midway University, as Renae Kopser (Ryle) and Ben Gloyd (Mayfield) were recognized as the overall Student-Athletes of the Year.

Beginning in May of 2016, Midway University started presenting a Female Student-Athlete of the Year award at each KHSAA girls’ state championship event. The awards program was expanded in 2019-20 to include male student-athletes, with Midway honoring a deserving student-athlete in each of the 19 officially recognized KHSAA sports and sport-activities.

The awards are based on athletic and academic achievement as well as community service and leadership, with Midway choosing one overall male and female student-athlete of the year each academic year. School administrators, coaches and athletic directors nominate student-athletes online at KHSAA.org, and the nominees are voted upon by a closed panel consisting of representatives from Midway University.

2021-22 Midway University/KHSAA [...]

Hair Adornments, Padding Requirements Among Risk-Based Rules Changes Set for High School Spirit in 2022-23

admin — Fri, 11 Mar 2022 17:00:52 +0000

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (March 11, 2022) — In consideration of expanded inclusivity, rules allowing securely affixed hair adornments such as beads and other devices were recently adopted for the 2022-23 high school spirit season.

The change allowing for such devices to be safely worn in the hair, which impacts Rule 2-1-5, is accompanied by another rule focused on increased risk minimization that disallows altered supports and/or braces from a manufacturer (Rule 2-1-11).

Collectively, those two focal points were among nine total rules changes recommended by the NFHS Spirit Rules Committee at its February 13-14 meeting in Orlando. Each of the revisions, many of which address ongoing efforts to minimize risk of injury to the sport’s participants, were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

“The NFHS Spirit Rules Committee continues to review and refine the safety rules for students in cheerleading and dance,” said James Weaver, NFHS [...]

03/07/22- UK HealthCare Expands Partnership with KHSAA, Continues Long-Term Commitment to State Championship Events

admin — Mon, 07 Mar 2022 16:36:50 +0000

UK HealthCare and the KHSAA announced Monday that they have expanded their long-time partnership. UK HealthCare, the hospitals and clinics of the University of Kentucky, will serve as the official health care provider for the KHSAA. This move will see UK HealthCare take its title sponsorship of the KHSAA State Football Championship and extend the term of that arrangement, become the title sponsor for the Boys’ Sweet Sixteen® Basketball tournament and serve as presenting sponsor for other KHSAA sports and sport-activity championships.

“We’re honored to be the official health care provider for KHSAA,” said Mark F. Newman, M.D., UK executive vice president for health affairs. “At UK HealthCare, we are always looking to partner with organizations across the state to provide top-tier health care to every Kentuckian who needs it. We appreciate the opportunity to extend this care to the young athletes of Kentucky.”

UK HealthCare has [...]

02/28/22 – Competitive Cheer & Dance Tryout Window

Sarah Bridenbaugh — Mon, 28 Feb 2022 14:51:37 +0000

Please contact Sarah Bridenbaugh (sbridenbaugh@khsaa.org) should you have 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 286 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 [...]

2021-22 KHSAA Competitive Cheer Medium, Coed Division Final Results

admin — Sat, 11 Dec 2021 18:07:36 +0000

12/09/21 – State Competitive Cheer, State Dance Championships Start Friday at George Rogers Clark

Joe Angolia — Thu, 09 Dec 2021 22:16:20 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 9, 2021

Ten state championship trophies will be claimed this weekend in Winchester as George Rogers Clark High School hosts the 2021-22 KHSAA State Competitive Cheer (Dec. 10-11) and 2021-22 KHSAA State Dance Championships (Dec. 12). Tickets to the event are only available for purchase online and can be found at khsaatickets.org. The entirety of the state competitive cheer and state dance championships will be streamed live at khsaa.tv for subscribers to the NFHS Network.

The 10th annual KHSAA State Competitive Cheer Championships begin Friday, Dec. 10 at 4:30 p.m. with the Game Day division. The competition continues Saturday, Dec. 11 at 9 a.m. with the first session featuring the All-Girls’ Small, Large and Super divisions. Cardinal Arena will be cleared following the conclusion of the first session, with the second session (featuring the All-Girls’ Medium and Coed divisions) scheduled for a 2 p.m. start time.

The fifth annual [...]

12/08/21- KHSAA Announces NFHS State Coach of the Year Honorees for 2020-21 Seasons

admin — Wed, 08 Dec 2021 15:13:28 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 8, 2021

As part of its annual awards program, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Coaches Association recognizes Coach of the Year honorees from each state. Those named Coach of the Year at the state level then advance for consideration for Sectional Coach of the Year honors. Winners are chosen through a combination of their coaching accomplishments as well as their contributions outside of competition to help grow their respective sport. These awards are announced during the late fall following the recognized year.

The complete list of honorees from Kentucky for 2020-21 is:

Boys Baseball- Richard Arnold, Trinity (Louisville)
Boys Basketball- Kevin Listerman, Highlands
Girls Basketball- Aaron Beth, Marshall County
Boys Cross Country- Joe Buechler, Holy Cross (Louisville)
Girls Cross Country- Brian Allesandro, Highlands
Girls Field Hockey- Amy Elliott, Kentucky Country Day
Boys Football (11-Player)- Justin Haddix, Boyle County
Boys Golf- James Chaney, Trinity (Louisville)
Girls Golf- Aaron [...]

2021-22 KHSAA Competitive Cheer Small, Large, Super Division Final Results

admin — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 20:24:05 +0000

2021-22 KHSAA Competitive Cheer Game Day Division Final Results

admin — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 20:21:11 +0000

11/30/21 – State Competitive Cheer Time Schedules Now Available

Sarah Bridenbaugh — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 17:53:42 +0000

The time schedules for the 2021-22 KHSAA State Competitive Cheer Championships have been posted on the KHSAA website. Coaches are encouraged to review this information prior to the state championships.

Detailed Station-By-Station Time Schedule

Timetable for Event

A conference call for participating teams will take place on Monday, December 6 at 1:30 PM (ET). Participating coaches will be sent the virtual meeting invite prior to the meeting. State Championship Instructions are also being finalized and pertinent details/changes will be covered during the conference call. Tickets are also available at khsaatickets.org

Please contact Sarah Bridenbaugh (sbridenbaugh@khsaa.org) should you have any questions.

– KHSAA –

2021-2022 Competitive Cheer Order of Appearance

admin — Fri, 26 Nov 2021 16:37:02 +0000

2021-2022 Competitive Cheer Detailed Station Appearance and Time Schedule

admin — Fri, 26 Nov 2021 16:23:19 +0000