Dance Blog Updates
03/08/24 – Competitive Cheer & Dance Tryout Window and Spring Allowances Reminders
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!
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
- khsaatickets.org
- khsaa.tv
- State Competitive Cheer Championship Program
- State Dance Championship Program
The official press release containing […]
12/06/23 – George Rogers Clark to Host Cheer, Dance State Championships Over Weekend
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
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.
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 […]
11/21/23 – State Dance Time Schedules & Instructions Now Available
Congratulations to all participants and coaches who have qualified for the 2023-24 KHSAA State Dance 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 Dance 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 3:00 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
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 […]
11/02/23 – Dance State Qualifiers Numbers Released
The number of state qualifiers from each region and each division of Dance is released in this notice. Statewide declarations supported advancers to be 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.
Jazz Hip Hop Pom Game Day 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 1 7 4 10 5 10 5 3 2 2 2 2 10 5 10 5 10 5 3 4 2 14 7 13 7 7 3 4 3 2 9 5 4 2 7 3 Totals 16 10 43 22 37 19 27 13A reminder to participating teams that all regional information, schedules, and instructions were released earlier this month. Please double-check the time […]
10/19/23 – NFHS Understanding Copyright & Compliance Course Required for Cheer & Dance Coaches
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 Dance Regional Information & Instructions Available
Information pertaining to the KHSAA Dance 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 Dance page of the KHSAA website. This includes regional instructions for managers, participating teams, and fans as well as a detailed time schedule for each regional competition. The KHSAA has also totaled the declarations for Dance. Competitions will remain intra-region at each site.
INSTRUCTIONS/DECLARATIONS
- A link to the regional instructions are provided here: REGION INSTRUCTIONS
- Declaration numbers have been compiled for 2023-24. Links to that information are below:
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) […]
10/06/23 – KHSAA Announces 2022-23 NFHS State Coaches of the Year
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 & […]
09/25/23 – Dance Nominations Sought for Midway/KHSAA Student-Athlete-of-the Year
The nomination process for the Midway University/KHSAA Student Athlete-of-the-Year among Dance 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 Dance […]
08/24/23 – Tentative 2023-2024 Dance Regional Host Sites
The following schools are tentative sites for the 2023 Dance 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.08/14/23 – Dance Declaration Form Now Open
The declaration form (DA101) for the sport-activity of Dance 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 per school and must be signed into the KHSAA School subdomain (https://schools.khsaa.org/) to declare. You can find DA101 on the school subdomain under the dropdown menu “Forms and Reports” and under “Dance Forms”.
DIVISIONS
- Jazz (minimum of 5, maximum of 30)
- Hip Hop (minimum of 5, maximum of 30)
- Pom (minimum of 5, maximum of 30)
- Game Day (minimum of 5, maximum of 30)
- **This year, the […]
08/14/23 – Dance Rules Clinic Now Available
The mandatory online KHSAA Rules Clinic for the sport-activity of Dance 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 per […]
07/11/2023- Fall Sports Tryout Reminders
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
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.
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 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.
02/24/23 – Competitive Cheer & Dance Tryout Window and Spring Allowances Reminders
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
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
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
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
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.
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 number of credentials […]
11/23/22 – State Dance Time Schedules & Instructions Now Available
Congratulations to all participants and coaches who have qualified for the 2022-23 KHSAA State Dance 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 Dance 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 3:00 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 […]
11/07/22 – Dance State Advancers Numbers Released
The number of state qualifiers from each region and each division of Dance is released in this notice. Statewide declarations supported advancers to be 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.
Jazz
Hip Hop
Pom
Game Day
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
1
6
4
8
4
11
6
7
4
2
4
2
14
8
10
5
6
3
3
4
2
15
8
13
7
5
3
4
4
2
8
4
4
2
4
2
Totals
18
10
45
24
38
20
22
12
The 2022-2023 KHSAA State Dance Championships will be held on December 11 at George Rogers Clark High School in Winchester. After […]
10/25/22 – NFHS Understanding Copyright & Compliance Course Required for Cheer & Dance Coaches
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 […]
10/21/22 – Dance Regional Information & Instructions Available
Information pertaining to the KHSAA Dance Regional (formally known as semi-state) 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 Dance page of the KHSAA website. This includes regional instructions for managers, participating teams, and fans as well as a detailed time schedule for each regional competition. The KHSAA has also totaled the declarations for Dance for the 2022-23 season. Competitions will remain intra-region at each site.
INSTRUCTIONS/DECLARATIONS
- A link to the regional instructions are provided here:
REGION INSTRUCTIONS - Declaration numbers have been compiled for 2022-23. Links to that information are below:
TICKETS
- All regional dance competition tickets will be sold online via GoFan, the KHSAA’s official digital ticket vendor and can be found at khsaatickets.org.
- There shall be no […]
09/26/22 – Dance Nominations Sought for Midway/KHSAA Student Athlete-of-the-Year Award
The nomination process for the Midway University/KHSAA Student-Athlete of the Year among Dance 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 the […]
09/21/22 – Dance Rules Clinic Now Open
The mandatory online KHSAA Rules Clinic for the sport-activity of Dance is available beginning today, September 21. The clinic is required of all coaches (varsity, junior varsity, and freshman) and whether or not the coach receives pay.
Below is additional information:
- September 20 to October 6 – the Dance Clinic will be online only and may be viewed at no charge during this period.
- October 7 to October 21 – the Dance Clinic will be online only and may be viewed for the makeup fee ($100) during this period.
- October 22 to November 5 – the Dance Clinic will be online only and 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.
For member schools, the clinics are located on the School Log-in Page. To access the clinic, go to http://schools.khsaa.org and — under the section entitled […]
09/06/22 – Dance Declaration Form Now Open
The declaration form (DA101) for the sport-activity of Dance 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 per school and must be signed into the KHSAA School subdomain (https://schools.khsaa.org/) to declare. You can find DA101 on the school subdomain under the dropdown menu “Forms and Reports” and under “Dance Forms”.
DIVISIONS
- Jazz (minimum of 5, maximum of 30)
- Hip Hop (minimum of 5, maximum of 30)
- Pom (minimum of 5, maximum of 30)
- Game Day (minimum of 5, maximum of 30)
- **This year, […]
07/29/22 – Dance Postseason Update & Semi-State Hosts Sought
The KHSAA office is accepting applications to host the semi-state rounds of the Dance postseason. Two hosts are needed for the semi-state round and regions can alternate host sites (Region 1 one year and Region 2 site the next) or choose to have a permanent site based upon facility abilities and availability. The competition rules will stipulate 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 other KHSAA championships.
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 […]
06/11/22- Kopser, Gloyd Named 2021-22 Midway/KHSAA Student-Athletes of the Year
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 […]
03/07/22- UK HealthCare Expands Partnership with KHSAA, Continues Long-Term Commitment to State Championship Events
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
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.
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 […]
12/09/21 – State Competitive Cheer, State Dance Championships Start Friday at George Rogers Clark
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
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 […]
11/30/21 – State Dance Time Schedule Now Available
The time schedules for the 2021-22 KHSAA State Dance 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
A conference call for participating teams will take place on Monday, December 6 at 2:30 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 –
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 […]
11/08/21 – Dance Semi-State Information, Instructions, & Number of State Advancers Released
Information pertaining to the KHSAA Dance Semi-State competitions for 2021-22 has been posted to the KHSAA website. There are several items for participating schools to review prior to the competition on the Dance page of the KHSAA website. This includes semi-state instructions for managers, participating teams, and fans as well as a detailed time schedule for each semi-state. The KHSAA has also totaled the declarations for Dance for the 2021-22 season. Competitions will remain intra-region at the semi-state level.
INSTRUCTIONS/DECLARATIONS
- A link to the regional instructions are provided here:
- Declaration numbers have been compiled for 2021-22. Links to that information are below:
TICKETS
- All semi-state dance competition tickets will be sold online via GoFan, the KHSAA’s official digital ticket vendor and can be found at khsaatickets.org.
- There shall be no paper tickets sold […]
10/12/21 – NFHS Understanding Copyright & Compliance Course Required for Cheer & Dance Coaches
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 […]
10/08/21- Changes in COVID-19 RTA/RTP Implemented Per SMAC Guidance
As they have done since the start of the pandemic, the Sports Medicine Advisory Committee (SMAC) composed of Kentucky Medical Association (KMA) member doctors has held multiple special meetings to continually review the Return to Play Guidance and Recommendations (RTA/RTP). As a result of those continued meetings and review of current and evolving literature, changes have been made to the RTA/RTP and RTA/RTP form and those changes are located at https://khsaa.org/resources/Covid19/CovidResumptionofSports/ApprovedVersion/kma-covid-rtp-algorithm.pdf. For districts that have summarily adopted the “KHSAA” recommendations, these changes should be considered immediate.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, this group has been passionate advocates for the students being involved in sport due to the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual benefits, but also for safety in mitigating the spread of the virus. They are also keenly aware of the first priority of nearly everyone in the education community, that being a full year […]
10/06/21 – Dance Postseason Championships Dates Adjusted
The KHSAA has spent the last few weeks gathering data from the Dance participating schools about the schedule for 2021-22 Dance championships. It was also critical that the current conditions and concerns around indoor events related to the pandemic be reviewed as well as the strong survey response for staff to consider an alternative date, particularly in light of the lateness of the 2021 championships. Many of our schools have followed up to the survey indicating their concerns about the final schedule even though the dates selected were in fact the originally requested dates when Dance was originally adopted. Many schools reported significant conflicts with any potential February dates as did UDA representatives. Keep in mind that the availability of judges and the dates of national events for both the National Dance Alliance (NDA) and Universal Dance Association (UDA) were vital factors in finalizing the postseason schedule.
This final schedule also attempts to take into […]
09/01/21 – UPDATED Dance Declaration Form Now Open
The declaration form (DA101) for the sport-activity of Dance is now open. The new deadline to complete this form is Friday, October 29th. Each member school shall only submit one form and you must be signed into the KHSAA School Subdomain to submit.
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 per school and must be signed into the KHSAA School subdomain to declare. You can find DA101 on the school subdomain under the dropdown menu “Forms and Reports” and under “Dance Forms”.
A couple of important notes:
- Semi-State 1 (Regions 1-2): November 21 at Valley High School
- Semi-State 1 (Regions 3-4): November 20 at George Rogers Clark High School
- State: December 12 at George Rogers Clark High […]
09/20/21 – Dance Rules Clinic Now Available
The mandatory online KHSAA Rules Clinic for the sport-activity of Dance is available beginning today, September 20. 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“.
Below is additional information:
- September 20 to October 17 – the Dance Clinic will be online only and may be viewed at no charge during this period.
- October 18 to October 24 – the Dance Clinic will be online only and may be viewed for the makeup fee ($100) during this period.
- October 25 to November 1 – the Dance Clinic will be online only and may be viewed for the makeup fee ($200) per the Bylaw 27 schedule during […]
09/13/21 – Dance Nominations Sought for Midway/KHSAA Student Athlete-of-the-Year Award
The KHSAA is excited to open the nomination process for the Midway University/KHSAA Student-Athlete of the Year among Dance participants for 2021-22.
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 2021-22 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 2022. From the winners selected for each KHSAA championship, one student-athlete will be selected as the 2021-2022 Midway University/KHSAA Student-Athlete of the Year and announced at the banquet. All winners will also receive their recognition at that banquet.
The deadline for nominations for the Midway University/KHSAA Student-Athlete of the Year […]
05/12/21 – KHSAA State Competitive Cheer, State Dance Championships Head to George Rogers Clark HS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 12, 2021
Multiple state champions will be determined this week in Winchester as George Rogers Clark High School hosts the 2020-21 KHSAA Competitive Cheer (May 13-14) and 2020-21 KHSAA Dance Championships (May 16). Both events will be streamed live at khsaa.tv for subscribers to the NFHS Network, with a limited number of tickets available for purchase at khsaatickets.org.
The ninth annual KHSAA State Competitive Cheer Championships begin Thursday, May 13 with the Game Day division. The first session is scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m., followed by the second session at 1 p.m.
The competition continues Friday, May 14 with the Coed and All-Girls’ Small divisions in the first session of the day at 9:30 a.m. The second session will feature the All-Girls’ Large and All-Girls’ Super divisions and is set to begin at 12:40 p.m. The final session of the day will include the All-Girls’ Medium division and […]
05/10/21- Senate Bill 128: Supplemental School Year Program Additional Guidance Related to NCAA
Information specific to this topic is now included in the compiled SB128 SSYP Informational post at https://bit.ly/3dUJ9us
05/10/21 – State Dance Information
Information about the 2021 KHSAA State Dance Championships has been posted to the KHSAA website. State championship instructions, competition schedule, maps, and directions can all be found at https://khsaa.org/sports/winter/dance/ under the “State Competition Information and Instructions” dropdown menu. Coaches are encouraged to review all information prior to attending the state championships.
A video conference call for the participating schools will be held on Tuesday, May 11th at 10:00 AM EST. Participating coaches/administrators will receive an invitation to this meeting via email.
Coaches are reminded to be sure to have GoFan comp tickets for the entire squad, and up to two (2) coaches, which were sent to the Athletic Director for each competing school. All tickets will be redeemed on their phone at either the main ticket gate or pass gate.
This year’s championship will take place at George Rogers Clark High School in Winchester on May 16th. Doors for fans will open at 12:30 […]
04/21/21 – Dance Regional Information
Regional instructions for 2021 Dance managers, teams, and fans have been posted to the KHSAA website. A link is also provided below for you.
Regional Managers Contact Information
AWARDS
- At the regional competitions, in order to accommodate larger competitions and the need for social distancing among spectators and eliminate mass gatherings, no regional trophies or awards presentations will be made at event.
- Those earned trophies will be given to the teams upon arrival at the state championship.
COACHES
- Primarily due to capacity restrictions at the time sites were formulated, for 2021 each squad will be limited to a maximum of two (2) alternate participants and a maximum of two (2) coaches admitted.
- Additional coaches as necessary, up to a limit of four (4) in the coaching box, will need to purchase admission.
- Future limitations of this type for 2021-22 and beyond will be determined at a later time. […]
04/19/21 – Competitive Cheer & Dance Tryout Window
During the February Board of Control meeting, it was approved for 2021 only, a two-week tryout window that may begin the Monday following the state championship in each activity if desired by the member schools. We wanted to notify Competitive Cheer & Dance participating schools that the tryout window for 2021 is May 17 – May 30. There shall be no further official practice or play during the remainder of the academic school year.
– 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 284 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 […]
04/12/21- Senate Bill 128: Supplemental School Year Program Guidance for Sports and Sport-Activities
For a complete list of the provisions and information related to the implementation of SB128 and the SSYP, please see the following document-
04/06/21 – Reducing Injury Risk During Inversions, Release Stunts and Tosses Focus of 2021-22 High School Spirit Rules Changes
INDIANAPOLIS, IN — Adjusted points of contact that reduce injury risk during inversions and release stunts and tosses are the most notable revisions in the 2021-22 high school spirit rules.
At its recent virtual meeting, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Spirit Rules Committee produced rules changes that emphasized the committee’s continued focus on risk minimization. A total of seven proposals were recommended to the NFHS Board of Directors, which reviewed and later approved the changes to take effect next year.
“The NFHS Spirit Rules Committee continues its efforts to increase the health and safety of all cheer and dance participants,” said Dr. James Weaver, NFHS director of performing arts and sports and liaison to the NFHS Spirit Rules Committee. “This year’s rules changes allow for good safety practices and allow for education and practice in the sport of spirit.”
To reduce injury risk for the top person in a pyramid during […]
03/05/21 – Change in Attendance Limitation Recommendation
We have confirmed that officially, effective today, all of the guidance limitations within the Governor’s orders on a variety of venues have been changed. The venue recommendations for limitation have been changed throughout the state increasing by ten percent each. Therefore the recommended maximum attendance threshold is increased to 25% of capacity effective today for indoor events hosted by our member schools. While this remains guidance, it is obviously in the best interest, legally and otherwise, of our member schools. Universal masking remains required, social distancing is to be consistently applied to the fullest extent possible.
It is certainly not required to change current procedures, but this does give them some planning time for upcoming events week. Guidance documents for spring outdoor events will be revised in the coming days to reflect this change.
From talking to so many of you, there remains considerable confusion in our membership as to the differences between “venues” as […]
03/05/21 – Dance Postseason Updates
The KHSAA has totaled the declarations for Dance for the 2021 season. After evaluation and for this year only, there will be two (2) postseason sites and those dates have now been finalized. It is recommended that any site that was previously planning to host a regional competition in 2021 be afforded that opportunity again in 2022. No changes were made to the regional alignments and competition will remain intra-region at the regional level but with fewer sites in response to the number of declarations and to aid in judging panel logistics. The schedule also takes into account that across the state, three different calendar weeks are used for spring breaks and two large national competitions obviously affect the availability of judging and staffing resources.
At the regional competitions, in order to accommodate larger competitions and the need for social distancing among spectators and eliminate mass gatherings, no regional trophies and awards presentation will be […]
02/20/21- Interim Guidance Regarding Spring Sports Travel
While spring sports guidance is in final production, the office has received several inquiries regarding travel for spring sports. There will effectively be no changes from the winter sports guidance and each guidance document will include enhancements and sources available at the present time. The following represents the recommended guidance for the member schools and will be published in the guidance documents for all spring sports and sport-activities.
Restrictions/Recommendations On In-State Contests
- While local decision-making is a hallmark relative to the management of Kentucky schools, there remain several recommendations relative to team travel in- and out-of-state. (CONSIDER)
- This guidance is not intended to make local district decisions less or more difficult or provide an arbitrary decision path for such consideration, but rather to ensure that all issues are considered as travel is contemplated. (CONSIDER)
- This guidance and similar guidance from the KHSAA, KDE and KDPH is aimed at mitigating the risk of COVID-19 exposure […]
2/22/21-Dance Nominations Sought For Midway/KHSAA Student Athlete-of-the-Year Award
The nomination process for the Midway University/KHSAA Student-Athlete of the Year among Dance participants for 2020-2021 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 2020-2021 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 2021. From the winners selected for each KHSAA championship, one student-athlete will be selected as the 2020-2021 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 […]
01/22/21 – Dance Postseason Updates
Following the Board of Control’s January 21 meeting, we wanted to update the membership on some details as we go forward in the Dance season. Keeping in mind the availability of judges, the dates of nationals for both the National Dance Alliance (NDA) and Universal Dance Association (UDA) were vital in setting our postseason schedule. We realize that there are other competitions and conflicts max exist, but some conflicts will inhibit our ability to secure judging personnel if not properly know.
Our review of options and plans will include consideration of the feasibility of accomplishing the following objectives (if possible) in priority order:
1) Maintain an optimal number of qualifying teams, even if the field is subdivided differently than past practice;
2) A focus on ensuring, at minimum, parental attendance, as permitted within current approved state and local health department guidelines, with additional attendance considerations being reviewed if public health considerations warrant such;
[…]
01/21/21 – Board of Control Reviews Status of Winter and Spring Sports
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 21, 2021
The Board of Control held its fourth regularly-scheduled meeting of the 2020-21 academic year on Thursday at the KHSAA Office, conducting a thorough status review of ongoing operations and championship plans. Staff provided an overview of all winter and spring sports and sport-activities, while outlining considerations and options for the winter events that will be presented for final review at the Board’s next meeting on Feb. 17.
“Today’s meeting provided an opportunity to update the Board of Control and our constituency on the various issues and COVID-19 mitigations facing each of our sports and sport-activities,” said KHSAA Commissioner Julian Tackett. “Circumstances change rapidly during the pandemic but we hope to have a clearer picture for how we can proceed with our winter championships when the Board next meets in February.”
Included in the staff’s report on basketball, was a preliminary discussion on ticketing to the 2021 Boys’ and Girls’ […]
12/10/20- Board of Control Confirms Decision to Start Winter Sports Practice December 14
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 10, 2020
The Board of Control conducted a special meeting on Thursday morning, upholding its earlier decision by a 12-5 vote to begin practice for winter sports on Dec. 14th and regular-season competition on Jan. 4th. Prior to confirming the start of the winter sports season, the Board voted 12-5 to push back the dates for the boys’ and girls’ Sweet 16® to March 29-April 8 after narrowly defeating other alternative dates, with the event schedule and format to be finalized at a later date in consultation with Rupp Arena.
“These are extremely complex issues. Our Board has spent an extraordinary amount of time examining every aspect surrounding the resumption of sports, particularly those that are indoors and have extreme concerns from public health officials,” said KHSAA Commissioner Julian Tackett. “At the same time, there is significant data being shared about the need for students to be engaged with one another […]
11/19/20 – Board of Control Pushes Back Start of Winter Sports Season to January 4
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 19, 2020
The Board of Control conducted its third regularly-scheduled meeting of the 2020-21 academic year on Wednesday and elected to postpone the start of the winter sports season to January 4th by unanimous vote. In congruence with the Governor’s order issued later the same day, official practice for all indoor interscholastic winter sports shall cease on Friday, November 20 at 5 p.m. and is planned to resume on Monday, December 14. This cessation will apply to all indoor interscholastic sports at all school levels, including but not limited to basketball, bowling, competitive cheer, dance, indoor track and field, swimming, and wrestling.
Details regarding any allowances for indoor interscholastic sports, which will be restricted prior to December 14, will be distributed to the membership prior to the Governor’s ordered shutdown of school-related in-person activity on Friday, November 20. The season calendar for each winter sport, as well as current virus data […]
11/10/20 – NFHS Understanding Copyright and Compliance Course Required for Cheer & Dance Coaches
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 […]
09/25/20 – Dance Declaration Form Now Open
The declaration form for the sport-activity of Dance is now open. The deadline to complete this form is Monday, November 9th. Each member school shall only submit one form and you must be signed into the KHSAA School Subdomain to submit.
This declaration is for KHSAA Regional and State Competitions, so please discuss with your coach what division(s) your school will be entering as there will be no adjustments to divisions for any reason once the entries are posted.
Please contact Assistant Commissioner Michael Barren (mbarren@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 280 member schools both public and non-public. The KHSAA awards 215 […]
09/25/20 – 2020-21 Dance Rules Clinic Now Available
The mandatory online KHSAA Rules Clinic for the sport-activity of Dance is available beginning today, September 25. 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“.
- September 25, 2020 to January 5, 2021 – the Dance Clinic will be online only and may be viewed at no charge during this period.
- January 6, 2021 to January 25, 2021 – the Dance Clinic will be online only and may be viewed for the makeup fee ($100) during this period.
- January 26, 2021 to February 8, 2021 – the Dance Clinic will be online only and may be viewed for the makeup fee ($200) per the […]
09/16/20- Board of Control Approves Dates for Winter Sports to Begin Practice
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 16, 2020
The KHSAA Board of Control held its second regularly-scheduled meeting of the 2020-21 academic year Wednesday morning, approving practice and competition dates for the winter sports and sport-activities of basketball, bowling, competitive cheer, dance, swimming & diving, and wrestling.
Bowling is permitted to practice on November 2. Competitive cheer and dance can begin official practice for its seasons this Monday, September 21 with a gradual segmented approach to activity over the next few weeks. Further details will be distributed to the member schools that allow for the resumption. Both competitive cheer and dance have already seen regional championships moved into the new year per the board’s July meeting. In cheer, these segments will further clarify “stunting” which has been restricted during the pandemic and resumption to play.
Additionally, the Board approved clarifications on sideline cheer in that stunting (defined per NFHS rules as “One or more bases support one […]
08/20/20- Board of Control Upholds Decision to Begin Fall Sports September 7
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 20, 2020
The Board of Control held a virtual Zoom meeting Thursday morning, affirming its July position by a 16-2 vote to begin practice for fall sports on August 24th with competition starting the week of September 7th. The Board considered two other motions during the meeting, both of which would have delayed the start of the fall seasons to varying degrees, but neither motion received enough support for adoption.
The fall sports of Field Hockey, Soccer, Volleyball, Cross Country, and Football can begin official practice August 24, with a restriction of 7.5 hours of practice during the first week (as previously approved by the Board) and full practice starting Monday, August 31.
“We hope to submit practice revisions early Friday following the Board’s approval, which will hopefully be relatively minimal. If approved to expand numbers and activity, it will hopefully bring a more normal look to some practices while still […]
07/28/20- Board of Control Approves Fall Sports to Begin Practice August 24
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 28, 2020
The Board of Control conducted a virtual meeting Tuesday morning via Zoom, during which time it addressed the future of the 2020 fall sports season. With 17 members voting in favor (and one member abstaining), the Board approved a plan to leave fall sports in the fall and begin official fall practice on August 24th in Cross Country, Field Hockey, Soccer, Volleyball, and Football, with the first date of competition set for September 11th for Football and September 7th for the remaining fall sports.
“Our board strongly believes in the tremendous psychological advantages formed through the relationships between our student-athletes and their school coaches and school personnel, as well as the strong community values surrounding interscholastic, education-based athletics,” said KHSAA Commissioner Julian Tackett. “College and professional sports are great, but our unique opportunity to build relationships with our neighbors within one state is not one we take for granted.”
[…]07/27/20 – Student-Athlete Participation Rises for the 3rd Straight Year to New Record Totals
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 27, 2020
Student-athlete participation increased for the third-straight year in Kentucky High School Athletic Association sports and sport-activities to reach record levels in 2019-20. A total of 107,166 rostered participants competed across the KHSAA’s 13 sports and six sport-activities according to information submitted by the membership, surpassing last year’s then-record total of 106,931. Football was one of 12 offerings to show an increase from the previous year, breaking a trend of declining participation for the last three years by adding 202 new student-athletes [freshmen, JV, varsity] during the 2019-20 season to remain the state’s most popular sport with 13,277 rostered participants.
“The continued rise in student-athlete participation the last three years emphasizes the importance of school-based athletics in the fabric of the educational experience for these young adults,” said KHSAA Commissioner Julian Tackett. “The importance of these coach-to-student and student-to-student relationships is only amplified in these uncertain times, as we strive […]
07/14/20 – Board of Control Revises Divisions to the Sport-Activity of Dance
The Board of Control conducted its first meeting of the 2020-21 academic year on July 10, examining various issues concerning the restart of school-based athletics in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic. During the course of its meeting, the Board approved a recommendation to extend the guidance and allowances for Segment 3 of the document issued for summer play in KHSAA sports and sport-activities through Sunday, August 2, except for the sport of golf.
In other action, the Board approved revisions to the Dance competition rules and designated the competition dances as Jazz, Hip Hop, Pom, and Game Day with no squad size subdivisions.
Additional information will be released to coaches in the annual Dance rules clinic and the event declaration form will be updated in early August.
The entire release from the Board of Control meeting can be viewed here: https://khsaa.org/07-13-20-board-of-control-extends-segment-3-restrictions-to-august-3/
– KHSAA –
About the Kentucky High School Athletic […]
07/13/20- Board of Control Extends Segment 3 Restrictions to August 3
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 13, 2020
The Board of Control conducted its first meeting of the 2020-21 academic year on July 10 in Covington, examining various issues concerning the restart of school-based athletics in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic. During the course of its meeting, the Board approved a recommendation to extend the guidance and allowances for Segment 3 of the document issued for summer play in KHSAA sports and sport-activities through Sunday, August 2, except for the sport of golf.
As a result of the Board’s action, the traditional July 15 start of practice for KHSAA fall sports has been pushed back until Aug. 3, however, it should be noted that Kentucky has some of the earliest starts to fall practice (dates when activity could be mandatory) in the continental United States. Mandatory tryouts or practices cannot be held prior to Aug. 3, including for the sport-activities of Dance and Competitive Cheer, which have […]
04/29/20- Revised Covid-19 Policies and Guidance Issued, May 1 to May 31
THESE REVISIONS ARE IN PLACE FOR THE PERIOD OF MAY 1 to MAY 31.
THESE POLICIES WILL BE REVIEWED REGULARLY FOR EXTENSION AFTER THAT PERIOD OR REVISION DURING THAT PERIOD AS NECESSARY AS STATE, FEDERAL AND CDC POLICIES AND DIRECTIVES CHANGE
RESTRICTIONS ON THE USE OF THE CAMPUS OF ANY KHSAA MEMBER SCHOOL OR ON PROPERTY OWNED BY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF ANY MEMBER SCHOOL, OR ITEMS RELATED TO SPORT OR SPORT-ACTIVITY PARTICIPATION DURING THIS PERIOD-
04/21/20- Spring Sports Cancellation, Basketball Events Not To Be Resumed
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 21, 2020
With the announcement yesterday of the recommended closure of all K-12 schools to in-person instruction throughout Kentucky for the remainder of the school year, the KHSAA Board of Control today approved the Commissioner’s recommendation and announcement by unanimous vote that the 2020 state basketball tournaments will not be resumed, while also approving the cancellation of all regular-season practices and contests as well as all postseason tournament championship events for all spring sports and sport-activities for the 2019-20 school year. This means the termination of the Archery, Bass Fishing, Esports, Baseball, Softball, Tennis, and Track & Field seasons. This will also result in the continuance of all provisions of the Coronavirus Dead Period provisions until further notice to the member schools from the Commissioner.
The KHSAA has worked closely and continuously with the Governor of our beloved Commonwealth, representatives of the Department of Public Health, Interim Commissioner Kevin Brown and […]
03/13/20- (revised 04/02/20 and 4/17/20)- Athletic Dead Period Instituted for Athletic Programs in All Sports and Sport-Activities Due to Covid-19
This information is in effect, as stated below, through April 30, 2020. Prior to that time, revised guidance and policy will be issued to be effective May 1 as we all collectively work to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus on our campuses and among our athletes and coaches. Updated 4/2/20 and 4/17/20 based on inquiries from member schools and revised orders from the Governor and CDC Guidance.
This impacts all KHSAA constituents and includes guidance from the Governor, Public Health Officials, the Kentucky Department of Education, and additional guidance from federal authorities. This original directive will continue to be updated regularly. This will be the sole site for information regarding interscholastic athletics in Kentucky involving rostered athletes or those that have participated in practices this year and coaches from KHSAA member schools, as well as the use of interscholastic facilities.
Effective Friday, March 13, all sports and sport-activities, regardless of season, are declared to […]
03/26/20 – Risk Minimization Remains Theme of 2020-21 High School Spirit Rules Changes
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (March 26, 2020) — High school spirit rules changes for the 2020-21 school year remain centered on increasing safety for cheerleading and dance teams across the country.
This year, minimizing injury risk for stunting personnel and during inversions and releases were among the 16 rules changes recommended by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Spirit Rules Committee, which met February 10-11 in Orlando, Florida. All changes recommended by the committee were approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.
“The committee has been working for years to make spirit activities safer for our student participants, while maintaining a high level of competition and crowd leading,” said James Weaver, NFHS director of performing arts and sports. “This will continue to be a primary focus of the Spirit Rules Committee.”
Stunting personnel safety was addressed in Rule 3-2-1c, a new addition to the NFHS Spirit Rules Book. The rule states that bases may […]
03/30/20- Status of KHSAA Sponsored Events and Deadlines
Updated: 3/31/20, 8:00 a.m.
This information is solely a summary of KHSAA events. Other specific information concerning options including the required Coronavirus Shutdown Period is listed elsewhere on the KHSAA website at https://khsaa.org/athletic-dead-period-instituted-for-athletic-programs-in-all-sports-and-sport-activities/. This list will be continually updated and potentially revised.
- Tryout Period for Sport-Activities, including Cheer and Dance has been postponed. See the post at https://khsaa.org/03-19-20-spring-sport-activity-tryout-window-postponed-for-now/ for details.
- All opportunities at KHSAA member schools and Kentucky middle schools for spring football practice have been eliminated for 2020. See the post at https://khsaa.org/spring-football-practice-eliminated-for-2020-for-high-and-middle-schools/ for details;
- No final determination has been made regarding annual Title IX and roster reporting for 2019-20. Member schools will be updated if and when this is revised.
- 2020 Mingua Beef Jerky/KHSAA Girls’ Sweet Sixteen (originally March 11-15) remains currently suspended. Will be continually reviewed as more data is available regarding school resumption or cessation, and activities being conducted in alignment with CDC and state and local […]
03/19/20- Spring Sport-Activity Tryout Window Postponed
The KHSAA was made aware of communication sent to member schools from Varsity Spirit (specifically Universal Cheer Association and Universal Dance Association) about “virtual tryouts”. This notification was not approved by the KHSAA and as a reminder, the Athletic Dead Period that has been instituted for all sports and sport-activities in Kentucky because of the Covid-19 virus would preclude this type of tryout. No matter where held, this would then implicitly or explicitly imply mandatory participation by students and evaluation by coaches.
As previously stated, “all sports and sport-activities, regardless of season, are declared to be in a dead period.” In consultation with the Governor, Public Health Officials and the Kentucky Department of Education, an evaluation will be made for the period going forward.” No tryouts or “virtual tryouts” may take place until further notice.
The information related to the Covid-19 (coronavirus) is ever-evolving, and changes happen quickly. We will inform all stakeholders if there […]
03/16/20- Update on KHSAA Office Opening/Closing and Staff Availability
In partnership with our State Department of Education, the Governor’s office, our member schools, the NFHS and similar to many other state associations, KHSAA staff has been directed to work remotely from home until at least April 10 (revised 4/2/20). Administrators will available via email. Our hope is to return to the office for regular hours later in April, however, this is a very fluid situation and could change at any time. Updates will be posted online.
As of now and through at least May 1, all activity by rostered participants, coaches and those who have participated in at least one practice session for a middle or high school remain shut down as do all athletic facilities in control of our membership. As we all work together, everyone is hopeful to contain the spread of this virus. Staff will communicate any changes to future events through social media and the KHSAA website.
Closer to May […]
02/19/20 – Board of Control Votes to Keep Field Hockey as a KHSAA-Sanctioned Sport
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Feb. 19, 2020
The Board of Control approved a motion during Wednesday’s meeting at the KHSAA Offices for the Association to continue offering Field Hockey as a sanctioned-sport. The vote followed a planned review and evaluation of the feasibility and growth of field hockey and preliminary discussion during the Board’s January meeting.
Included in the rationale for continuing to sanction field hockey were the facts that (1) there is no negative financial impact for the Association, and (2) the sport had been played for nearly 50 years when the KHSAA first adopted it as a sanctioned championship in 2014. In addition to continuing to sanction field hockey, the motion included a visible commitment from the Association to attempt to promote and monitor growth, and regular reporting to the Board, as well as an amendment to the sanctioning policy to be drafted to allow the Board to make an exception to its required […]
01/16/20 – Board Approves Site and Date for Esports Championship, Approves Extensive Survey of Officials’ Fees, Reviews Ongoing Operations
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 16, 2020
The Board of Control addressed several operational issues at its meeting at the KHSAA offices on Thursday. Among the actionable items on the agenda, the Board approved an offer from the University of Kentucky to host the upcoming esports state championship and approved the movement of five schools in Track & Field, as well as Cross Country, for the 2020-21 school year.
The University of Kentucky has offered to host the upcoming esports state championship on Jan. 30 and the Board accepted that proposal. UK has made a substantial investment into its Gatton Student Center as it expands its involvement in the world of competitive gaming.
“We are grateful to UK for reaching out to us to host a championship event in esports this year, allowing our competition and its participants to continue to receive outstanding support, ” said Commissioner Julian Tackett. “Their new facility is outstanding and will […]
12/18/19 – KHSAA State Dance Championships Set for Saturday at Valley HS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 18, 2019
The third KHSAA State Dance Championships will take place Saturday at Valley High School in Louisville, with the Jazz Small, Hip Hop Large, Pom Large and Jazz Large divisions competing at 9 a.m. The second session will feature the Hip Hop Small and Pom Small divisions and is scheduled to begin at 12:15 p.m. Advance tickets to the event are available for purchase online at https://gofan.co/app/school/KHSAA.
The KHSAA State Dance Championships will be webcast live at KHSAA.tv for subscribers to the NFHS Network. Subscription plans for the NFHS Network are available for $10.99 a month and entitle users to every broadcast by the KHSAA and the more than 45 participating state associations.
Results will be posted to the Dance page at KHSAA.org upon the conclusion of each session. Following the event, fans can purchase DVD copies of the event and official championship photos at KHSAA.org.
12/10/19 – State Dance Instructions and Schedule Posted
Congratulations to all participants and coaches who have qualified for the 2019 KHSAA State Dance Championships at Valley High School in Louisville on December 21st. The instructions for participating teams and fans have been posted to the website and should be reviewed prior to the state competition. The order of appearance and detailed station-by-station order of appearance, have also been posted online.
To view these items, go to https://khsaa.org/sports/sports-activities/dance/ and choose the “State Competition Information and Instructions” tab. As a reminder, there will be a team web conference for Coaches and Athletic Directors on December 17th at 2 p.m. (Eastern). The instructions for joining the web conference will be distributed in an email prior to that date.
Upon arrival at the state competition, all coaches and participants must enter the team entrance on the North Side of the school and check-in to receive their team packets, which will include all necessary materials.
Teams will […]
11/25/19 – State Competitive Cheer and Dance Coaching Credentials
The KHSAA wanted to remind Superintendents, Principals, Athletic Directors and Coaches about gaining access to the coaches’ box at the state championships for Competitive Cheer and Dance.
Coaches’ certifications will be checked in order to obtain a coaching credential or complimentary access.
- Coaches need to be Bylaw 25 certified and be sure all requirements are up to date.
- This requirement includes being current on the rules clinic, sports safety course and a valid date entered for the expiration of CPR certification.
- As a reminder, a maximum of four (4) certified coaches, including assistants, choreographers, etc. are permitted inside the box.
- If your school has more than four (4) certified coaches listed in the KHSAA database, those coaches will only be granted complimentary admission to the venue, but are not permitted on the competition floor in the box.
Please be sure to contact Assistant Commissioner Sarah Bridenbaugh (sbridenbaugh@khsaa.org) for questions concerning Competitive Cheer […]
11/21/19 – Regional Dance Results and State Qualifiers Posted
Complete results from our Regional Dance Championships, along with schools that have qualified to advance to the State Championships have been posted to the Dance page
The State Championships will be held on December 21, 2019, at Valley High School, in Louisville, KY. State Competition information and instructions will be posted to the page in the coming weeks.
10/15/19 – Dance Divisions Released
The divisions for the 2019 KHSAA Dance regionals have been compiled and released.
Click here to view individual school squad declarations
Click here to view the total declarations per region
Regional competition dates, sites and managers have been posted on the KHSAA website for some time. Please review the schedule for your competition.
UDA Scoresheets are again being used. Updated links on this information are posted in the General Dance Information-Judging and Scoresheets on the KHSAA Dance Page.
Reminder: All coaches must complete the Understanding Copyright and Compliance Course (free course) through the NFHS at www.nfhslearn.com. Click the link below for more information: https://khsaa.org/10-11-19-nfhs-understanding-copyright-and-compliance-course-required-for-cheer-dance-coaches/
– KHSAA –
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 […]
10/11/19 – NFHS Understanding Copyright and Compliance Course Required for Cheer & Dance Coaches
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 […]
09/30/19 – Dance Nominations sought for Female Midway Student Athlete-of-the-Year Awards
The KHSAA is excited to open the nomination process for the Midway University/KHSAA Male and Female Student-Athlete of the Year among Dance participants for 2019-2020. Midway University has expanded its partnership to include both male and female nominations for 2019-2020.
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 2019-2020 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 June 2020. From the winners selected for each KHSAA championship, one student-athlete will be selected as the 2019-2020 Midway University/KHSAA Student-Athlete of the Year and announced at the banquet. All winners will also […]
09/23/19- KHSAA and Midway University Expand Student-Athlete Awards Program
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 23, 2019
The Kentucky High School Athletic Association and Midway University are expanding their partnership in the Midway University/KHSAA Student-Athlete of the Year Awards program to include recognition for males beginning in the fall of 2019. The program originally began in the spring of 2016 as a way for Midway University to honor female student-athletes, and will now include male and female student-athletes for all KHSAA-sanctioned sports and sport-activities.
“We value our partnership with the KHSAA as we expand our on-campus offerings to include male students and male sports and look forward to continuing to get our message out across the Commonwealth to even more student-athletes and potential students,” said Midway University President John P. Marsden, Ph.D.
“It is exciting to expand our relationship with Midway University to coincide with its own expansion of sports offerings,” said KHSAA Commissioner Julian Tackett. “This was already a tremendous partnership through its effort to […]
09/09/19 – 2019 Dance Rules Clinic Now Available
The mandatory online KHSAA Rules Clinic for the sport-activity of Dance is available beginning today, September 9. 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“.
- September 9 to October 13 – the Dance Clinic will be online only and may be viewed at no charge during this period.
- October 14 to November 2 – the Dance Clinic will be online only and may be viewed for the makeup fee ($100) during this period.
- November 3 to November 16 – the Dance Clinic will be online only and may be viewed for the makeup fee ($200) per the Bylaw 27 schedule during this period.
More
08/28/19 – Dance Declaration Form Now Open
The declaration form for the sport-activity of Dance is now open. The deadline to complete this form is Tuesday, October 1st. Each member school shall only submit one form and you must be signed into the KHSAA School Subdomain to submit.
This declaration is for KHSAA Regional and State Competitions, so please discuss with your coach what division(s) your school will be entering as there will be no adjustments to divisions for any reason once the entries are posted. Any withdrawal from region/state competition following October 1st will result in penalties under Bylaw 27 including a fine (maximum of $500) and restrictions on out of state travel for the remainder of the year.
Please contact Assistant Commissioner Michael Barren (mbarren@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 […]
08/28/19 – Tentative Dance Regional Sites for 2019-20
2019-20 KHSAA DANCE REGION COMPETITION DATES/SITES
TIMES ARE LOCAL TO SITE
(as of 8/23/19)
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