Kentucky High School Athletic Association

For the sixth year, UK Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, through its partnership with the KHSAA, seeks nominations for the Kentucky Comeback Athlete of the Year, meeting the following criteria:

The nominee must have overcome illness or injury that affected their ability to participate in KHSAA sanctioned sports.
The nominee must have returned to their sport(s) and demonstrated excellence and achievement beyond expectations.
The student-athlete must consistently demonstrate good sportsmanship and ethical behavior on and off the playing field.
The nominee must be in verified good academic standing with their school.
The student must have participated and been a member of an athletic team during the 2020-21 academic year.
Nominations should be submitted by January 31, 2022, to the KHSAA via form GE36 at http://khsaa.org/ge36-uk-healthcare-comeback-athlete-of-the-year/.
Nominees will then be sent to UK Orthopedics and Sports Medicine for review and selection.

Nominees will be automatically forwarded to UK HealthCare and the Sports Medicine Staff […]

12/10/22 – List of Items for Annual Required Financial Aid Report

It is now time for ALL KHSAA member schools to complete the required annual financial aid report in compliance with Bylaw 11 for the 2021-2022 academic year. In an effort to assist Principals and Athletic Directors in preparing for this report, this checklist of information is provided so that you can spend a few days gathering the required data and information prior to the deadline to complete the report.

Member schools will have until February 1 to submit this year’s survey. Gathering this information before clicking the link to submit should allow you to quickly complete the report in an expedited fashion. Assistant Commissioner Sarah Bridenbaugh (sbridenbaugh@khsaa.org) will be the contact for sending out the request for submissions and should be able to address any of your questions.

The following is a list of information you should have available when submitting the 2021-2022 Financial Aid Report:

SCHOOL INFORMATION & TUITION

The specific public […]
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10/27/21- Immediate Vacancy Announcement for the Position of Communications Director

THE POSITION IS OPEN IMMEDIATELY AND WILL REMAIN OPEN UNTIL FILLED, AND WILL NOT BE FILLED BEFORE NOVEMBER 14, 2021

The Kentucky High School Athletic Association is accepting applications for the position of Communications Director

QUALIFICATIONS (REQUIRED)

A four (4) year college degree;
Professional experience commensurate to job responsibilities;
Accurate attention to detail in the completion of projects and meeting deadlines;
Ability to adjust and adapt to an ever-changing media market and a rapidly changing organization expanding its past operations, mission, and purpose;
Ability and desire to work in a multi-tasking, ever-changing work environment;
Ability and desire for statewide travel;
Ability and desire to work hours that extends significantly beyond the scheduled work day and work week for the majority of the year;
Publications, radio, television or other media relations experience;
Effective communication and organizational skills necessary for working with the Association membership, media, the general public, and other groups; and
Awareness of sports […]
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10/30/21- 2021 Final Adjusted Standings (after tie-breakers)

10/15/21 – Esports in Public Schools on the KY K-12 Internet Service

On average, KY K-12 schools get four billion attempted cyberattacks each year. However, during the past 20 months of the pandemic, the number of attempted cyberattacks on KY K-12 schools has significantly increased above four billion. Given all the new federal relief funds coming to K-12 to help address the pandemic, it is anticipated by national cybersecurity experts, that K-12 will be getting 86% more attempted cyberattacks going forward over the next school year.

Therefore, KDE will be taking measures and actions to further strengthen the KY K-12 cybersecurity defenses going forward. It is important to note that KDE will not do anything that weakens or compromises that cybersecurity defense given all its KY K-12 cloud-based instructional and administrative systems, used daily/hourly by KY K-12 schools, rely on a capable, reliable, and stable KY K-12 Internet service.

Therefore, any technology-enabled service that uses the KY K-12 Internet service from any KY K-12 public school and […]

10/11/21 – Fall Draw Show Airing Wednesday on KHSAA.tv

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 11, 2021

On Wednesday, Oct. 13 the pairings for the 2021 KHSAA Field Hockey, Boys’ and Girls’ Soccer and Volleyball State Tournaments will be revealed during the annual Fall Championship Draw Show at 10 a.m. ET. The show will be broadcast live online by KHSAA.tv through the NFHS Network from the KHSAA offices.

The 2021 KHSAA Field Hockey State Tournament begins on Thursday, Oct. 21 with quarterfinal games being played on campus sites. Play continues with the semifinals and championship on Saturday, Oct. 23 and Monday, Oct. 25 at Christian Academy-Louisville.

Soccer’s state championships open with semi-state matches on Oct. 18-19, followed by a second round of semi-state play on Oct. 21-23. Both initial rounds will be played on campus sites. The semifinals (Oct. 27-28) and finals (Oct. 30) will be played in Lexington at Frederick Douglass High School.

The draw for the KHSAA State Volleyball Tournament will wrap […]

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 […]

10/07/21 – Wrestling Online Rules Clinic Now Available

The mandatory Online KHSAA Rules Clinic for the sport of Wrestling is now available. The clinic is required of all officials as well as all coaches (varsity, junior varsity and freshmen), regardless of 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“.

For officials, login to the officials’ subdomain at https://officials.khsaa.org/

OFFICIALS

October 6 to January 3 (Officials) – the Wrestling Clinic will be online only and may be viewed at no charge during this period.
January 4 to January 23 (Officials) – the Wrestling Clinic will be online only and may be viewed for the makeup fee ($30) during this period.
January 24 to January 30 (Officials) – the Wrestling Clinic will be […]
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10/04/21-Vacancy Announcement for Entry-Level Event Staff Position(s) (Regular, Full-time)

Kentucky High School Athletic Association.
Vacancy Announcement for the position of Event Management Specialist

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF RESUMES AND COVER LETTER FOR CONSIDERATION: OCTOBER 31, 2021

The Kentucky High School Athletic Association is accepting applications for the position of Event Management Specialist. This is an entry-level administrative-level position for the KHSAA with focused duties primarily around the championships conducted by the Association.

LIKELY RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE POSITION

Work directly for the Commissioner of the Association as well as assisting the Associate Commissioner, Assistant Commissioners, General Counsel and Communications Director and other members of the staff.
Page layout for all KHSAA instructions related to managing the district, region, semi-state (state rounds hosted by member schools) championship events to include directives for managers, participating teams, workers and officials, including all aspects of design and mechanical production of these documents.
Compilation of material and records related to the site selections and seeding plans of all district and […]
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10/07/21- Changes in COVID-19 RTA/RTP Implemented

The […]

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 […]
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10/05/21 – Esports Online Rules Clinic Now Available

The mandatory online KHSAA Rules Clinic for the sport-activity of Esports is available through the KHSAA School Log-in Page. The clinic is required of all coaches (varsity, junior varsity, and freshman), regardless of whether or not the coach receives pay.

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 27 to November 2 – the Esports Clinic will be online only and may be viewed at no charge during this period.
November 3 to November 22 – the Esports Clinic will be online only and may be viewed for the makeup fee ($100) during this period.
November 23 to December 6 – the Esports Clinic will be online only and may be viewed for the makeup fee ($200) per the Bylaw 27 schedule during this period.

After […]

09/20/21 – Minimum Time Between Contests at Fall District/Region Postseason Events

Per the KHSAA’s “Healthy at Sports” guidance document, a recommended minimum time between the start of contests at the district and regional postseason events has been established. These guidelines will also be utilized in planning KHSAA State Championship Events.

At events where more than two schools are involved, it is recommended for there to be time between contests for egress of fans and participants, potential cleaning of common facilities and restrooms, as well as ingress of the teams for the next contest.

When developing brackets for field hockey and volleyball, there should be a minimum of two hours between the start of contests being held on the same day. For example, if the first match of a district tournament doubleheader is scheduled for 5 p.m., the second match should not be scheduled to begin until at least 7 p.m.

For soccer brackets, there should be a minimum of two and a half hours between […]

09/20/21 – Initial RPI Rankings Released for Football

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 20, 2021

The first official KHSAA Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) standings for the 2021 football season have been posted at KHSAA.org for all classes.

Due to the limited number of contests for football compared to the other sports and the application of RPI data on a much more extensive basis, as the office maintains the district standings, there are additional clarifications and operations in football that are not necessary for other sports, as follows:

At the end of the season, each school will have eleven RPI observations.
- With an eleven (11) slot grid, the number of games being considered (and for team record) will be 11 times 11 times 11, or a total of 1,331 games and records. This lessens the overall impact of a specific single game in the OWP and OOWP columns, particularly over the course of the season, and ensures competitive comparative equity while still affording […]
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09/17/21 – Initial RPI Rankings Released for Field Hockey, Soccer and Volleyball

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 17, 2021

The first official KHSAA Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) standings for the 2021 field hockey, boys’ and girls’ soccer and volleyball seasons have been posted at KHSAA.org.

Football’s RPI rankings will be released for the first time on September 20. Due to the limited number of contests for football compared to the other sports and the application of RPI data on a much more extensive basis as the office maintains the district standings, there will be additional clarification and operations in football that are not necessary in other sports.

The RPI (https://khsaa.org/rpi-ratings-percentage-index/) is a tool developed for all team sports by using the official KHSAA/Riherds Scoreboard data. It is provided for a variety of reasons, including district tiebreaking and bracketing in specific sports, as well as a means to increase publicity, interest and promotion.

The Board of Control has also approved that the RPI is to be used as […]

09/15/21 – Reminders About Required Title IX Student Interest Survey During 2021-2022, KHSAA Assistance Available

For all KHSAA member schools, 2021-2022 is the year for the biennial student interest survey related to Title IX. None of the basic survey requirements have changed, as you are to survey your students in grades 9 through 11, as well as the identified 8th graders within the feeder pattern of your school system. Only minimal changes have been made to the survey instrument, KHSAA Form T61.

T61 Student Interest Survey Assistance is now available as a membership benefit from the KHSAA. If you have specific questions about the survey requirement or other Title IX specific information, contact Assistant Commissioner Darren Bilberry at the KHSAA at 859-299-5472 or via email at dbilberry@khsaa.org. If you desire the KHSAA to set up and tabulate your survey for you via our electronic system and need assistance, contact Information Technology Director Rob Catron via email at rcatron@khsaa.org to request your survey.

The required target response rate for survey validity […]

09/04/21- Reminder about KHSAA Annual Meeting on 9/21

Registration for the KHSAA Annual Meeting on September 21 at the Central Bank Center (fka Lexington Center) remains open at the link below.

ANNUAL MEETING INFORMATION
The complete memo with links to register etc. for the Annual Meeting (Delegate Assembly) is located at
https://khsaa.org/08-13-21-2021-khsaa-annual-meeting-reminder/ and the information surrounding the meeting including proposals are at https://khsaa.org/general/day-to-day/annual-meeting-information/

The registration form for the Annual Meeting is located at
https://schools.khsaa.org/ge38-annual-meeting-delegate-designation/

The staff looks forward to seeing you at one of these important meetings!

09/01/21 – Competitive Cheer Declaration Form Now Open

The declaration form (CC101) for the sport-activity of Competitive Cheer is now open. The deadline to complete this form is Friday, 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 to declare. You can find CC101 on the school subdomain under the dropdown menu “Forms and Reports” and under “Cheerleading Forms”.

A couple of important notes:

SQUAD SIZES

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, maximum of 30
Co-Ed – minimum of 5, maximum of 30; 1 or more males.
Game Day […]
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08/31/21 – 2021 Bylaw 9 Reminder

While there will be an Annual Meeting proposal from the Board regarding Bylaw 9, the provisions remain in place for 2021-22. Please forward as necessary. It is imperative that there be good communication within each school and school system prior to the Annual Meeting as this rule and any revisions will be decided by the member schools.

As out-of-season fall basketball events continue being held, member school administrators must watch the outside activity of students who have previously been on high school basketball teams and keep those athletes informed to prevent violations.

Bylaw 9, Sec. 1(a)(1) (https://bit.ly/325L5ej) states that athletes who have previously BOTH been enrolled in grade nine and then subsequently represented a KHSAA member school in a contest as defined in Bylaw 23(3)(d) may not play in an organized basketball game from the first day of classes for the student body through the first day of practice (October 15).

Bylaw 9, Sec. 1(a)(2) lists the […]

08/09/22 – Tentative Host Sites for 2022 Regionals in Cross Country

*As of 08/09/22, the following schools are tentative sites for the 2022 Cross Country Regionals.

08/24/21 – HYPE Student Leadership Conference Registration Now Open

After the cancellation of last year’s conference due to the pandemic, the KHSAA is planning to conduct its HYPE Student Leadership Conference in person on Sept. 24 at Central Bank Center in Lexington.

WHAT IS HYPE?
HYPE is a one-day student leadership conference where students will enjoy educational interaction with each other to discuss issues and garner information to take back and share/implement with their teams and student body. The event is staged and presented by the KHSAA Student-Athlete Group.

DATE
Friday, September 24

LOCATION
Central Bank Center (430 W. Vine St., Lexington, next to Rupp Arena) – Meeting Rooms 1-8.

COST
There is no charge to attend. Schools are responsible for transportation and any meals.

LUNCH
Lunch will be “on your own”.

ATTENDEES
Each school may select up to 18 individuals to […]

08/24/21 – Social Media Accounts and Websites Impersonating the NFHS Network

We are aware of the issues with scam social media accounts and websites impersonating the NFHS Network to distribute false links to game broadcasts. This is hardly a new problem, but it is continuing to get worse and seems to amplify in advance of Friday night football games.

The fake sites are NOT stealing and streaming the video feeds. They are scraping the scheduled events and marketing them as if they will have them, in hopes of scamming someone into entering their payment info. The NFHS Network reports these accounts when they become aware, but new ones are constantly popping up. Member schools can help prevent fans from being scammed by following the NFHS Network accounts and sharing posts directly from them. You should also make sure you are regularly communicating with your fans so they know the correct websites to view your contests.

If any NFHS Network school partners see something like that – […]

08/23/21- Reminder about COVID-19 Return to Play Following Isolation

Recently, there has been misinformation shared among the membership about the Return to Play policy following a positive COVID-19 test. Whether this is a result of misinterpretation or deliberate on the part of some individuals is open for debate. Most importantly, nothing has changed since early 2021 regarding this process and procedure as was adopted following the unanimous recommendation of our KMA Sports Medicine Committee. The process is based on ever-studied scientific data that is under continual review as more and more is known about the impacts of the virus, particularly, potential heart impacts such as myocarditis.

It is also critical not to mix terms. Isolation occurs following a positive test of a specific person. Quarantine is what happens when others who have not had the positive test are exposed or potentially exposed to the person with the positive test. Nothing about this reminder relates to quarantine. Details on quarantine can be found in the […]

08/18/21- Updates and Reminders on Schedule Change and Score Reporting

First off, thank you to our member schools for your help last year in adjusting to a revised method to report scores and schedule updates to the Riherds / KHSAA Scoreboard.

GENERAL NOTES FOR ALL SPORTS

Some of the methods will necessarily change in 2021-22 as Bylaw 22 on forfeiture of contests is fully enforced. However, we still want to emphasize the needed integrity of the reporting of games canceled due to COVID-19. The data from those cancelations plays a huge role in seeing how the virus is potentially affecting sports and frankly, ensuring our ability to continue play. We hope this data will be accurate as we move through the fall and vaccinations increase to help slow the spread and reduce quarantine time.

The daily email links to enter scores will continue to be sent. Note that these emails, along with emailing scheduleentry@khsaa.org and calling the scoreboard hotline at 1-800-453-6882 are the only […]

08/13/21- 2021 KHSAA Annual Meeting Reminder

This is intended for all KHSAA member school Superintendents, Principals, and Athletic Directors and the links can be forwarded as needed.

ANNUAL MEETING

This reminder that the 2021 Annual Meeting of the membership of the KHSAA is to be held on Wednesday, September 21 at the Central Bank Center (FKA Lexington Center). Final agenda documents are being published as they become final in the coming weeks, but the meeting is expected to begin at approximately 8:00 a.m. ET. and conclude not later than 12:30 p.m. Details and requirements for the Annual Meeting Delegate are summarized below. To submit the name of your delegate, go to https://schools.khsaa.org/ge38-annual-meeting-delegate-designation/

At this point, there is not a virtual option finalized, although efforts are being made to record the meeting for viewing by those unable to attend.

ANNUAL MEETING DELEGATE DESIGNATION

The Annual Meeting has continuous improvement/leadership training opportunities throughout the morning as members work to carve […]

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

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

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

07/27/21- Update and Information Relative to NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) for Kentucky High School Students

At its July 23, 2021 meeting, the KHSAA Board of Control heard an update on recent activity at the intercollegiate level regarding NCAA changes with Name, Image, and Likeness. On June 24, 2021, An Executive Order was entered by Governor Andy Beshear’s office solely and exclusively related to the intercollegiate level. This order can be viewed on our website at https://bit.ly/3i5ir5v. These changes, exclusively at the collegiate level, will provide intercollegiate student-athletes attending a postsecondary institution an opportunity to earn compensation for their NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) in amounts that are “commensurate with the market value” for the authorized use of their NIL. It should be noted that this use isn’t unfettered and contains several limitations to remain NCAA eligible.

The KHSAA continues to receive inquiries about this order and its potential impact on high school students participating in KHSAA sports. Nothing about this order or any other action or contemplated action in […]

KHSAA NIL Reference Information Presented to Board of Control 7/23/21

Selected and Specific References to Recent Changes in NIL at NCAA Level

07/27/21- Bylaw and Policy Reminders During 2021-22 School Year

With the start of the 2021-22 school year, several of the pandemic adjustments approved last year have been allowed to sunset. As such, the following areas and reminders are issued to the membership for clarity.

Bylaw 2 – Age
- No student will have the statutory age rule waived unless waiver is already contemplated within KRS 156.070 (2) as detailed at the link highlighted here.
Bylaw 3 – Maximum Number of Years
- Students who applied by the deadline for the Supplemental School Year Program as detailed in Senate Bill 128, who remain enrolled in the same school district, whose school district approved the program, and who have been appropriately designated on the online roster system by the Designated Representative of the member school shall receive specific waivers of KHSAA Bylaw 3 More

07/27/21 – Fall 2021 Esports Enrollment is Open

Esports requires critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity from players to achieve and sustain success. The development of these types of skills benefits students for life. Thousands of schools across the country are already competing in esports. You can too. Learn more here.

Enrollment for the Fall 2021 esports season is now open on PlayVS. Please find more information about the season below including new titles and season dates. If you are interested in learning more about esports and how your school can get started, click here to schedule a consultation with the KHSAA PlayVS rep.

Fall 2021 Titles
Through the PlayVS platform, your school has access to the most popular titles available this Fall:

Rocket League (PC, Console)
League of Legends (PC)
FIFA (PS4)
Madden (PS4)
Splatoon 2 (Nintendo Switch)
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Nintendo Switch)
SMITE (PC)

Fall 2021 Key Dates
Preseason […]

07/15/2021- COVID Return to Play Protocol

07/13/21 – Field Event Safety, Uniform Changes Highlight High School Track and Field/Cross Country Rules Revisions

INDIANAPOLIS, IN — Two rules revisions involving the competitor’s uniform, along with procedural changes in several field events designed to reduce the risk of injury, highlight rules changes in high school track and field and cross country for the 2022 season.

These changes were among the rules revisions recommended by the National Federation of State High school Associations (NFHS) Track and Field and Cross Country Rules Committee and subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

Similar to a number of other NFHS rules committees, the Track and Field and Cross Country Rules Committee altered its rules regarding head coverings worn for religious reasons.

Rule 4-3-1b(8) now states that ”head coverings worn for religious reasons are not considered hair devices; must not be made of abrasive, hard or unyielding materials; and must be secured to the body and/or uniform.” The change clarifies that there is no need for prior authorization from the state association for […]

07/12/21 – Player Equipment Changes Highlight Rules Revisions in High School Softball

INDIANAPOLIS, IN — Two significant player equipment changes involving the wearing of head coverings and beads were among the rules revisions approved in high school softball for the upcoming 2022 season.

These changes along with six other rules revisions were recommended by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Softball Rules Committee at its June 14-16 meeting held in a virtual format and subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

In Rule 3-2-5b, language that previously prohibited hard items to control the hair, including beads, has been removed from the rules book. The committee did not believe that the use of hard items, such as beads, presented an injury risk to other players. In contrast, the prohibition of such items has been interpreted as adversely affecting one’s cultural background.

In addition, head coverings worn for religious reasons in high school softball no longer will require prior approval from the respective state high […]

07/09/21 – Adjustment Made to Pre-Pitch Sequence in High School Baseball

INDIANAPOLIS, IN — High school baseball pitchers who do not receive signals from the catcher must now simulate taking a sign with one foot on the pitcher’s plate before proceeding with a pitch.

This addendum to Rule 6-1-1 was the lone rule change forwarded by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Baseball Rules Committee and was subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors. The baseball committee’s annual rules meeting was held June 6-8 in a virtual format.

A pitcher leaning forward to receive a sign from the catcher is fundamental to the pre-pitch phase of the game as it indicates to both the batter and the players in the field that the ball is about to be put in play and is the typical signal for any runners on base to begin taking their leadoffs.

Further, most high school baseball coaches deliver their defensive play calls – including pitch selections – […]

07/06/21 – Introductory Esports Course Launched by NFHS Learning Center

INDIANAPOLIS, IN — Boasting an ever-increasing number of participants, esports (or electronic sports) continues to rise as one of the more popular and unique activity programs for high school students. The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and its Learning Center now address the competitive, organized gaming landscape with a first-of-its-kind course – “Introduction to Esports” – which is now available for free on NFHSLearn.com.

“Introduction to Esports” was developed by the NFHS Learning Center in partnership with Butler University (Indianapolis, Indiana) and PlayVS to not only more clearly define esports, but to offer several key examples of esports’ social benefits, inclusiveness, organizational structure and competition.

“The NFHS Learning Center is pleased to offer this online course for esports. These programs are oftentimes misunderstood, and the course provides education on what you need to know and do to get started,” said Dan Schuster, NFHS director of educational services. “Esports provides opportunities for […]

06/28/21 – New “Title IX” Course Added to NFHS Learning Center

INDIANAPOLIS, IN — To educate current and future coaches, administrators, parents and student-athletes on Title IX legislation and its monumental influence on high school activities, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) has announced a new “Title IX” course is now available at no cost on the online NFHS Learning Center.

“Title IX has now been around for 49 years, however, the NFHS Learning Center has developed this resource to educate the interscholastic community about the federal legislation in a visual and understandable way,” said Dan Schuster, NFHS director of educational services. “We look forward to providing this free resource across the country.”

Passed June 23, 1972, Title IX outlawed discrimination on the basis of sex within any federally funded educational program or activity and has since served as the flagship legislation for the growth of high school girls athletic programs. Over the course of 49 years, Title IX compliance has generated a […]

06/07/21- Lehmkuhler, Smallwood Named Midway/KHSAA Student-Athletes of the Year

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 7, 2021

The 2020-21 Midway University/KHSAA Student-Athlete of the Year awards program culminated on the campus of Midway University on Monday, as Claire Lehmkuhler (Woodford County) and Jackson Smallwood (Grant County) 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.

06/01/21- Entry Open for Member Schools to Designate SB128 Students

Instructions on Designating Members of your roster as SSYP Students

It is necessary that you go into the member school database to perform these operations:

Login to the school subdomain. NOTE: Only the Principal or AD will have the rights and privileges to this data entry.
Select “Maintain/View/Print Rosters”
Select Maintain Overall Athletic Roster
Select Supplemental Year Opt-in
Read the entire instructions at the top, and you are advised to watch the video that is linked from those instructions (https://youtu.be/XG4yXrLBWd8)
You will be able to edit this list through Sunday, June 20, 2021. After that point, any edits must be made using the GE95 form (https://bit.ly/3eHCF3H) which will request that change be made by the KHSAA staff.

Policy Reminder on Data Records of Students Utilizing the SSYP

All schools must indicate through the online system, which if any students are utilizing the SSYP.
Each member school shall designate, on or […]
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06/01/21 – NFHS to Hold Second Annual Virtual National Student Leadership Summit in August

INDIANAPOLIS, IN — For the second straight year, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) will host world-renowned leadership experts for the NFHS Virtual National Student Leadership Summit (NSLS). The 2021 virtual conference will be broadcast August 8-10 on the NFHS Network (www.NFHSNetwork.com) and will be the 14th national student leadership initiative sponsored by the NFHS since 2001.

Originally, the NFHS’ summer plans included both the virtual version of the summit and the return of the in-person NSLS after a one-year hiatus. However, extended sports and activities calendars in some states and lingering COVID-19 concerns significantly impacted the number of in-person registrants and led to a cancellation earlier this month. As a result, all efforts have been focused on the virtual event experience with the goal of eclipsing last year’s three-day total of 22,000 student viewers.

Though a live gathering in Indianapolis would have been ideal, hosting the summit in a virtual […]

05/19/21- NCAA Additional Flexibility for High School Seniors in 20-21 Utilizing the SSYP Under SB128

Information relative the additional flexibility granted on May 19, 2021, for 2020-21 seniors who return for supplemental education during 2021-22 is listed in the information at https://bit.ly/3dUJ9us

High School Basketball Shot Clock

The NFHS recently announced its basketball playing rules changes for 2021-22. We like you, did not know what changes were approved until they were announced. (CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS)

Among those changes is the approval of the shot clock, but only if adopted by the state association. As this is now a playing rule option beginning in 2022-23, we will begin the gathering of data so the Board of Control can make a final determination during the 2021-22 school year. The Board previously approved a membership survey on the shot clock issue, however, such was delayed until the NFHS rules decision was finalized. This process by the Board of Control will involve a lengthy review and may also include separate data gathering (surveys) of the coaches of the member schools and other interested individuals.

To keep the general public from making fictitious or malicious responses, we are again using our Board election system that […]

SB128 Decisions Reporting and Relationship to Athletics

As the time has begun for Boards of Education to make final determinations on SB128, we have a form where you can indicate the choice of your board (or school in the case of our non-public schools). By submitting this information to our office in a one-question response (literally one click), we will then update your school profile to allow the designation of specific students under the school subdomain. You are reminded that unless designated in the roster system, a student may not participate in the privilege of athletics next year as a repeating student (as we have stated since the bill passage and signature).

To keep the general public from making fictitious or malicious responses, we are again using our Board election system that is in the school subdomain.

LISTING OF STUDENTS – Records of Students Utilizing the SSYP

All schools must indicate through the online system, which if any students are utilizing the SSYP.
Each […]
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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

04/26/21- Change in Masking Requirements for OUTDOOR Sports and Sport-Activities With Less than 1,000 attendees

Based on today’s previously unannounced notice regarding masking from the Governor’s Office and the Department for Public Health, immediate changes in all sports and sport-activities conducted outside are being implemented.

For all outdoor sports and outdoor sport-activities in KHSAA member high schools and regulated middle schools, the mask /face covering requirement is being suspended for any event or activity with less than 1,000 attendees. This will immediately remove the mask requirement at outdoor events with less than 1,000 attendees for coaches, uniformed players not in the contest, officials during various interactions during these contests and fans and administrators in attendance. This includes baseball, lacrosse, fastpitch softball, tennis, track and field, and bass fishing events with KHSAA schools. This would also apply to those schools conducting spring football practice. Masks / face coverings remain permissible in all sports, even if normally precluded by the playing rules, as a COVID accommodation.

Off-season outdoor activity by member schools […]

04/20/21- Change in COVID Guidance for Outdoor Sports and Sport-Activities

ATTENDANCE AT OUTDOOR CONTESTS
Following consultation with the Kentucky Department for Public Health and in the review of recent guidance and research, the attendance recommendations for all KHSAA sanctioned play will immediately move to 60% of documented capacity for venues with less than 1,000 capacity, and 50% for venues that hold a greater amount. This change is not compulsory on facilities but is the revised recommendation.

Remember that in calculating those limitations, it is logical to include only congregated seating in those determinations at outdoor venues. For example, in many track and field complexes, as well as baseball and softball stadiums, there are allowances for the placement of fans along fence lines and in parts of the parks that are not directly in bleacher or congregate seating areas. This would be a reasonable adaptation and application of the limits per our conversations with health authorities if those pods of individuals seated in those areas are […]

4/20/21 – Separate Weight Classes for Girls, Choice of Weight Classes Established in High School Wrestling

INDIANAPOLIS, IN — States will have a choice of 12, 13 or 14 weight classes for both boys and girls competition in high school wrestling, effective with the 2023-24 season.

This will be the first separate weight classes established for girls in high school wrestling, and it marks the first time that state associations will have a choice in the number of weight classes.

The landmark change in weight classes was one of several significant revisions recommended by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Wrestling Rules Committee at its April 7-9 meeting held virtually this year. All recommendations were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

States must select one of the three sets (12, 13 or 14) of weight classes for girls and one of the three sets (12, 13 or 14) for boys. States cannot adopt all three sets and cannot switch back and forth during the season.

The […]

04/15/21 – Standing Forward Takeoffs Approved in High School Swimming and Diving Rules

INDIANAPOLIS, IN — In an effort to increase participation in high school swimming and diving, standing forward takeoffs have been approved, effective with the 2021-22 school year.

This significant addition to high school diving was one of several rules changes recommended by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Swimming and Diving Rules Committee at its March 21-23 meeting held virtually this year. All of the committee’s recommended rules revisions were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

The addition to Rule 9-5-2 states that for standing takeoffs, “the diver will assume a starting position that includes an upright head and body with arms straight and in a position of the diver’s choice. The diver may move the arms to various preparatory positions provided there is no attempt to start the dive.”

The new language also notes that just before or after the starting position is assumed, the diver shall stop oscillating […]

04/12/21- Senate Bill 128: Supplemental School Year Program Guidance for Sports and Sport-Activities

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE COMPLETE DOCUMENT

For a complete list of the provisions and information related to the implementation of SB128 and the SSYP, please see the following document-

04/11/21- Reminders about Off-season Team Sport Allowances and Restrictions

With the conclusion of basketball season, member schools are reminded of the regulations regarding off-season play. There have been no additional adjustments enacted, considered or contemplated at this time by the Commissioner’s office or the Board of Control for play by students and participation by coaches. While member schools are expected at all times to adhere to sport mitigation strategies as detailed in the COVID-19 documentation, no further adjustments to Bylaw 23 have been made.

The Bylaw references are Bylaw 23, listed in its entirety at https://bit.ly/2RGO1ZE, Section 1 of this bylaw applies to all sports and sport-activities.

Keep in mind the following references:

Bylaw 23, Sec. 1 (c) – Defines the end of school. The rules prior to the end of school are somewhat more restrictive than the rules after the conclusion of the school year. Per Bylaw 23, the end of school is defined – For all interpretations and regulations concerning […]
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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 […]

04/05/21- Spring Sports Guidance Revision

TEMPERATURE CHECK AT CONTESTS AND PRACTICES
Following consultation with the Kentucky Department for Public Health and in the review of recent guidance and research, the requirement for monitoring the temperatures of attendees at athletic practices and contests has been suspended. While there remain considerable differences between an environment in near-exclusive school-aged student populations and events that gather the community in general, there does not appear to be a significant enough correlation between temperature and the virus to prevent the suspension of the requirement. While many COVID-positive patients do present with a fever, research over these last months is inconclusive as to cause, effect, and spread.

The guidance documents online will be changed in the coming days to reflect this change, but it can be implemented immediately and will mirror recent changes to the overall guidance from the Department of Education in its school day documentation. The references to temperature checks and alternative actions caused by […]

03/23/21 – Nominations for KHSAA Student Advisory Group/NFHS National Student Leadership Summit Now Being Accepted

The KHSAA is seeking applications to become a member of its Student Advisory Group. One of the main duties of the group is the planning and execution of its HYPE Student Leadership Conferences. Those chosen attend the NFHS National Student Leadership Summit in July and then manage the KHSAA HYPE Conferences.

The National Federation of State High School Associations offers a student leadership initiative – the National Student Leadership Summit (NSLS). The NSLS will focus on relevant and contemporary issues affecting today’s students in education-based athletics and performing arts. Students will sharpen their leadership skills and will realize the privilege and power of their influence in their school, community, and state.

At this time, the NFHS is planning on an in-person Summit scheduled for July 20-22, 2021 in Indianapolis. If selected, expenses from Lexington to Indianapolis are covered (meals, lodging, transportation). By applying and being selected, the student is acknowledging that he/she will be […]

03/22/21 – Last Call for Complete Sets of Tickets to KHSAA Boys’ Sweet 16® Presented by UK HealthCare & Orthopaedics

A limited number of sets of tickets (books of seats for the entire tournament) are available for the KHSAA Boys’ Sweet 16® Tournament presented by UK HealthCare and Orthopaedics. The tournament will be held from March 31 to April 3. Due to current COVID-19 restrictions in place in conjunction with the current Governor’s orders and Department for Public Health guidelines, seating is limited and online purchases are sold in sets of 2 to 6 seats for the entire tournament. Adjust the Qty in the top left portion of the screen and then click on the illuminated section(s) to see available inventory in the desired quantity. The available sets of tickets for all fifteen games will be sold through Friday, March 26 after which time, all seats will be single tickets for each game.

CLICK HERE TO ORDER COMPLETE SETS OF TICKETS FOR THE ENTIRE […]
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03/16/21 – Esports Nominations Sought for Midway Student-Athlete of the Year Awards

This message is being sent to Athletic Directors and Head Coaches in the sport-activity of Esports …

The nomination process for the Midway University/KHSAA Male and Female Student-Athlete of the Year Award among Esports 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 banquet at Midway University in early summer 2021. From the winners selected for each KHSAA championship, one student-athlete will be selected as the overall 2020-2021 Midway University/KHSAA Student-Athlete of the Year and announced at the banquet. All winners will […]

03/10/21 – Bass Fishing Nominations Sought for Midway Student-Athlete of the Year Awards

The nomination process for the Midway University/KHSAA Male and Female Student-Athlete of the Year Award among Bass Fishing participants for 2020-2021 is now open.

The deadline for nominations for the Midway University/KHSAA Student-Athlete […]

03/09/21- Seeded District Reminders

Over the last couple of days, we have had several questions regarding district seeding and it is best that we summarize a few things before the deadline to play those games tomorrow. Nothing about this information is new, but these do represent the number of questions that have been received.

All of this relates solely to seeded district games.

From the January 15 notice to the schools-
TIEBREAKING GAMES-WHICH GAME
A reminder from the guidance document, if a district has voted to play multiple times for seeding, the first game played shall be the tiebreaking game in the seed pattern, regardless of previous decisions. Much like decisions to have senior night activities very early, as many are doing, there is no guarantee of the second game, and this will ensure that as much as possible, ties are broken on the court. In specific districts, those schools voted again after the original guidance was issued and […]

02/24/21 – Bass Fishing Rules Clinic Now Available

The mandatory online KHSAA Rules Clinic for the sport-activity of Bass Fishing is available beginning today, February 24, 2021. Remember, the clinic is required of all coaches at the varsity, junior varsity, and freshmen levels, regardless of whether or not the coach receives pay. Below is additional information:

COACHES

February 24 to March 16 (Coaches) – the Bass Fishing Clinic will be online only and may be viewed at no charge during this period.
March 17 to April 5 (Coaches) – the Bass Fishing Clinic will be online only and may be viewed for the makeup fee ($100) during this period.
April 6 to April 19 (Coaches) – the Bass Fishing 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.

The presentation can be viewed on most PC […]

02/21/21- District and Region Basketball Scheduling of Games

As we continually review public health data, consult with the Department for Public Health, and refer to our own “Healthy at Sports” guidance document, a standard minimum time between the start of contests at the district and regional postseason events has again been established as was the case in the fall. These minimum times and spacing guidelines will also be utilized in planning KHSAA State Championship Events, likely to an even greater extent.

Per the KHSAA’s “Healthy at Sports” guidance document, in events where more than two schools are involved, it is required for there to be time between contests for egress of fans and participants, sanitization of equipment and restrooms, and ingress of the teams for the next game. In considering this requirement, a realistic standard has been developed.

When developing brackets for basketball, there should be a minimum of two hours between the start of contests being held on the same […]

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 […]
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02/15/21 – Board of Control Election Procedures

BOARD OF CONTROL BALLOT – BOARD OF CONTROL ELECTIONS – INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE BALLOT:

Balloting is ONLY done online for these positions.
All schools from Basketball Regions 1, 2, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 have at least one election in which to ballot. Other schools may disregard this notice.
Balloting was available per the Constitution beginning on February 15.
Only the Principal or Designated Representative may vote. The names on file as verified by the KHSAA website at the time of this ballot distribution are listed on the school directory page at http://khsaa.org/general/resources/member-school-directory/.
If the wrong individual is listed as the Designated Representative, the correction may be made by anyone with Athletic Director system rights (Principal, AD) prior to the ballot being submitted. For support in correcting these entries, contact Rob Catron or Kara Howard at the KHSAA offices, however the change will be for all […]
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02/18/21 – Esports Rules Clinic Now Available

The mandatory online KHSAA Rules Clinic for the sport-activity of Esports is now available online. Remember, the clinic is required of all coaches at the varsity, junior varsity, and freshmen levels, regardless of whether or not the coach receives pay. Below is additional information:

COACHES

February 15 to April 5 (Coaches) – the Esports Clinic will be online only and may be viewed at no charge during this period.
April 6 to April 25 (Coaches) – the Esports Clinic will be online only and may be viewed for the makeup fee ($100) during this period.
April 26 to May 3 (Coaches) – the Esports 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.

The presentation can be viewed on most PC or Mac desktops and laptops, along with […]

02/08/21 – Face Masks, Religious Headwear Major Topics of 2021 Field Hockey Rules Changes

INDIANAPOLIS, IN — Guidance for the use of face masks and the allowance of religious headwear to be worn during play without state association consent are among the most significant rules changes that will take effect with the 2021 high school field hockey season.

During its virtual meeting held January 11-13, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Field Hockey Rules Committee included these subjects in its list of eight proposed rules changes that were reviewed and later approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

“Given that many schools played a modified or shortened season with the 2020 rules and some have not yet played or may not play, the committee thought it wise to limit changes to the 2021 rules,” said Anna Saccoccio, chair of the NFHS Field Hockey Rules Committee. “Safety of players is always a main concern, and the 2021 rules will clarify any confusion and concerns around the use […]

02/05/21 – Blocking Below the Waist in Free-Blocking Zone Addressed in High School Football Rules

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – The rule regarding blocking below the waist in the free-blocking zone in high school football has been revised for the upcoming 2021 season.

This rule change was recommended by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Football Rules Committee at its January 10-12 meeting, which was held virtually this year. This change to the 2021 NFHS Football Rules Book was subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

As a result of numerous interpretations of current language regarding blocking below the waist in the free-blocking zone, the committee approved another condition in Rule 2-17-2 that must be met for a legal block below the waist in the free-blocking zone, which is a rectangular area extending laterally 4 yards either side of the spot of the snap and 3 yards behind each line of scrimmage.

The new requirement (2-17-2c) is that the block must be an immediate, initial action following the […]

01/28/21 – NFHS Announces Universal Tennis as New Official Partner

INDIANAPOLIS, IN — The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) has announced a new official partnership with Universal Tennis, a global online platform for connecting players, coaches, clubs and federations to grow the sport.

Universal Tennis is most widely known for the Universal Tennis Rating (UTR), a system that provides an accurate rating for every participating tennis player in the world regardless of age, gender or nationality. The UTR algorithm uses scores and quality of opponents from a player’s past 30 eligible matches to calculate a listing value on a point scale between 1 and 16.50. Players also have access to additional statistics that allow for a better understanding of personal performance as they track their improvement. With more than 2.3 million users from about 125 countries, UTR seeks to help players find better matches for any skill level.

“The NFHS is excited to partner with Universal Tennis to help enhance the game […]

02/04/21 – Religious Headwear Permitted Without State Association Approval in High School Volleyball

INDIANAPOLIS, IN — High school volleyball players will no longer need to obtain state association approval to wear religious headwear during competition. The rule change highlights three changes approved for the 2021-22 season.

The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Volleyball Rules Committee conducted its annual meeting January 10-12 in a virtual setting and recommended three rules changes that were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

“The Volleyball Rules Committee strongly considered both the financial impact and participation restrictions COVID-19 had on schools and state associations during the 2020-21 season as they approached the proposed rules changes,” said Lindsey Atkinson, NFHS director of sports and liaison to the Volleyball Rules Committee. “In doing so, the committee focused on rules that make the sport more inclusive by easing the restrictions on religious headwear, provided state associations with more flexibility in regard to officials uniforms, and lessened the penalty for a late lineup.”

[…]

02/04/21 – 2020-2021 Title IX Annual Report and Participation List Submission

Schools are now able to access all of the required online forms to submit their 2020-2021 Title IX Annual Reports. The information in this post presents a summary for each school as you work to complete the required Annual Participation Report as well as the Title IX Report for 2020-2021.

The deadline for submission is April 30, 2021.
The online system is currently available for entry and is the only acceptable means of submitting the report.
If you have specific questions about Title IX and the law itself, our office should be able to help get you some assistance. Asst. Commissioner Darren Bilberry (dbilberry@khsaa.org) is our primary contact for your questions related to the law and its interpretations, and the Commissioner and General Counsel are available should you have other inquiries of that type.
As for the reports, Information Technology Director Rob Catron (rcatron@khsaa.org) can assist you with electronic issues, including login and report […]
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02/03/21 – Archery Nominations Sought for Male and Female Midway Student-Athlete of the Year Awards

The nomination process for the Midway University/KHSAA Male and Female Student-Athlete of the Year Award among Archery participants for 2020-2021 is now open.

The deadline for nominations for the Midway University/KHSAA Student-Athlete of […]

02/03/21 – Archery Rules Clinic Now Available

The mandatory online KHSAA Rules Clinic for the sport-activity of Archery is available beginning today, February 3, 2021. Remember, the clinic is required of all coaches at the varsity, junior varsity, and freshmen levels, regardless of whether or not the coach receives pay. Below is additional information:

COACHES

February 3 to February 22 (Coaches) – the Archery Clinic will be online only and may be viewed at no charge during this period.
February 23 to March 7 (Coaches) – the Archery Clinic will be online only and may be viewed for the makeup fee ($100) during this period.
March 8 to March 15 (Coaches) – the Archery 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.

The presentation can be viewed on most PC or Mac desktops and laptops, along […]

01/29/21 – Applications Being Accepted for Louis Stout Memorial Scholarships for 20-21

When former Commissioner Louis Stout passed away in 2012, his widow Anna directed that donations on his behalf go to the Louis Stout Memorial Fund for Students. She felt this was a chance for the KHSAA to honor student-athletes who excel in athletics, academics, school service and community service. The award process for 2020-2021 is now underway.

Applications are being accepted for students to apply for those awards through Sunday, February 28, 2021. The award winners will be announced in conjunction with the boys’ state basketball tournament in March. Two grants, each in the amount of a one-time scholarship of $2,000 payable to an institution of higher learning, will be awarded. The scholarship is not renewable and is not endowed for expansion. Minimum criteria is a 3.5 (converted to 4.0 scale) grade point average; involvement in varsity sports or sport-activities; involvement in other school activities, a record of community service/involvement and a member of the […]

01/26/21- Reminders about Sports and Sport-Activity Return to Play

In the past couple of weeks, there have been several questions regarding the COVID-19 Return to Play protocol. There have been no changes to the protocol since it was adopted early part of the fall prior to the start of play, but the questions coming in lately indicate the need for a refresher.

Rather than detail the policy again in this post, both the required and recommended elements can be reviewed on the KHSAA website at https://bit.ly/2SQDOxm

Below are listed various questions that have been presented and the appropriate responses. This information will be updated as necessary as either additional inquiries occur, or further data or recommendations are issued.

What is the difference between isolation and quarantine?

Isolation separates sick people with a contagious disease from people who are not sick. (dealing with the person who has tested positive)
Quarantine separates and restricts the movement of people who were exposed to a contagious […]
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01/26/21- Basketball Nominations Sought for Male and Female Midway Student Athlete-of-the-Year Awards

The nomination process for the Midway University/KHSAA Male and Female Student-Athlete-of-the-Year among rostered Basketball participants for 2020-2021 is now open.

The winner will be announced early in the postseason and recognized at an awards banquet scheduled to be held 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 and announced at that time. All winners will also receive their recognition awards at that time.

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

01/25/21 – List of Items for Annual Required Financial Aid Report

As you may recall, the 2019-20 financial aid report was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is now time for ALL KHSAA member schools to complete the required annual financial aid report in compliance with Bylaw 11 for the 2019-2020 academic year. In an effort to assist Principals and Athletic Directors in preparing for this report, this checklist of information is provided so that you can spend a few days gathering the required data and information prior to the deadline to complete the report.

The link to submit the financial aid report will become active on February 1 and member schools will have until Feb. 28 to meet the requirement. Gathering this information before the link is sent on February 1 should allow you to quickly complete the report in an expedited fashion. Assistant Commissioner Sarah Bridenbaugh (sbridenbaugh@khsaa.org) will be the contact for sending out the request for submissions and should be able […]

1/25/21 – First Phase (T-35 Report) Open for Title IX Reporting Entry for 2020-2021 and Student Survey Administration

The initial phase of entry for the 2020-2021 Title IX Reports, the ability to enter the financial information from 2019-20 to be entered on the 2020-2021 form T-35, is available and online at schools.khsaa.org. There have been only minimal changes based on the great cooperation and feedback from the membership.

T35 EMPHASIS POINTS

There has been a continual effort to eliminate inconsistent information that has been entered on that form, and the following points are emphasized:

Entry for the T35 is now open. Login to https://schools.khsaa.org and begin entry when you are ready.
The T35 requires you to enter 2019-2020 expense information, as it has been audited within your school and district.
Your previous Annual Reports can be quickly reviewed in the KHSAA School Subdomain (the login page) by clicking on the tab labeled Past Title IX Annual Reports, in case you want to review past submissions.
The T35 is to be entered with all […]
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12/17/20 – New NFHS Learning Center Course – “The Student Experience” – Relays Participation Benefits to Students

INDIANAPOLIS, IN — The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) has announced “The Student Experience” – a free student-centered course focused on the long-term benefits of education-based activities participation – as a new addition to the NFHS Learning Center.

“The last few years, we have had a lot of success delivering coursework and resources directly to students through the NFHS Learning Center to help them get the most out of their interscholastic experience,” said Dan Schuster, NFHS director of educational services. “By taking ‘The Student Experience,’ we want them to understand why participating in high school activities programs is so important to their future.”

In the past year, the NFHS Learning Center has released several resources within “The Parent Seat,” a collection of courses and videos that promote the true purpose of education-based athletics and performing arts to parents of participants. “The Student Experience” is the first course offering that conveys a […]

12/15/20 – Visual, Technical Revisions Offer Improved User Experience to NFHS Learning Center’s ‘Sudden Cardiac Arrest’ Course

INDIANAPOLIS, IN — Revisions recently introduced to “Sudden Cardiac Arrest” aligns one of the NFHS Learning Center’s most significant courses with recent updates to its other offerings.

Currently available to take free of charge, the revised “Sudden Cardiac Arrest” course has been reviewed by both NFHS course partner, Simon’s Heart, and by the NFHS Sports Medicine Advisory Committee (SMAC). As part of the revisions, the course received both branding and technology updates that had already been implemented to other NFHS Learning Center coursework.

“We are pleased to continue our successful partnership with Simon’s Heart to bring revised Sudden Cardiac Arrest content to the interscholastic community,” said Dan Schuster, NFHS director of educational services. “The course revisions centered around upgrading the look and feel of the course, as well as technology upgrades to improve the user experience.”

Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is the number one cause of death in the United States for student-athletes during […]

12/2/20- Reminder about Great Offer from Partner Midway University

Exclusive KHSAA Tuition Discount

As a member of the KHSAA network of coaches and administrators, Midway University is proud to offer a 15% tuition reduction of all online undergraduate programs and graduate programs* to all employees, coaches, athletic directors, and officials and their dependents.

Midway University is one of the first in Kentucky to offer online programs to make achieving a bachelors or master’s degree possible for working adults. And since Midway University has held its tuition rates, and even lowered them for some programs, they are one of the most affordable choices. With the KHSAA extra 15% discount, that makes an incredible value.

To find out more, click the link at https://bit.ly/3mwvcpC.

Or to get started, email admissions@midway.edu, schedule a virtual admissions meeting or apply online.

11/20/20- Winter Indoor Sports Delayed, Information for Member Schools

With the Governor’s School Closing Order of this past Wednesday (details of which can be seen here) along with the Board of Control decision to delay the start of the indoor winter sports seasons to January 4 (details of which can be seen here), changes are going to need to be made over the next few weeks. The text of the orders is contained at the following links- https://bit.ly/36QG23f and https://bit.ly/3nz1ArU. As our office did not know the details of the final order until it was announced late Wednesday, we spent Thursday reconciling the details of the Board’s necessary action on the start of winter sports competition with the recent orders in order to best provide guidance to our membership. This conversation is ongoing with our office, the Governor and Lt. Governor’s office and the Kentucky Department of Education to ensure consistent messaging as well as our nearly daily consultation with […]

11/15/20- Exclusive KHSAA Tuition Discount

To find out more, click the link at https://bit.ly/3mwvcpC.

Or to get started, email admissions@midway.edu, schedule a virtual admissions meeting or apply online.

11/11/20 – Esports Online Rules Clinic For Coaches Now Available

The esports online rules clinic is now available at khsaa.org and required of all member school head and assistant coaches (varsity, junior varsity and freshmen), regardless of whether or not the coach receives pay. With the esports rules clinic being offered for the first time this year, the clinic will be available for free during the fall season but is a mandatory requirement of all coaches and should be completed before the fall postseason begins on December 11.

A revised clinic will be offered for the spring season which will also be required but will have the standard fee, late and super-late periods for completion.

COACHES

November 10 to December 11 (Coaches) – […]
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10/30/20- 2020 Final Adjusted Standings (after tie-breakers)

10/27/20 – NFHS Learning Center Releases New Content for Parents, Offers NFHS National Parent Credential

INDIANAPOLIS, IN — The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) has announced additional parent-centered content on the NFHS Learning Center, along with the NFHS National Parent Credential certification for those who complete the designated course offerings.

“We are pleased to be able to offer more tools and resources for parents to utilize with their students,” said Dan Schuster, NFHS director of educational services. “The NFHS National Parent Credential provides a new professional development pathway for parents.”

Supporting the NFHS Learning Center’s continued efforts to correct negative parent behavior at events, the curriculum for the National Parent Credential is comprised of two free courses – “The Parent Seat” and “Positive Parenting Within School Programs.” Parents who achieve the National Parent Credential receive a certificate and a badge to be displayed on their Learning Center dashboard.

A promotional video for the NFHS National Parent Credential can be viewed here: https://nfhslearn.com/library/videos/nfhs-national-parent-credential.

The all-new “The Parent […]

10/20/20- Adopted Revisions to Football Alignment for 2021 and 2022, Removal of Scheduling Embargo

At its most recent meeting, the KHSAA Board of Control approved the mid-alignment adjustments to the football alignment for 2021 and 2022. With the school enrollments that were received for 2019-20 (the pre-Covid second-month reports were utilized as specified by the Competition Rules), there were minimal changes to the alignment. There were no geographic moves proposed or approved with the mid-alignment review.

In Class 1A, District 7, Sayre was placed for the 2021 and 2022 seasons and will be a fully scheduled member.

In Class 2A, District 5, Trimble County is returning to the alignment following two-seasons of non-district status.

In Class 3A, District 5, Jackson County will withdraw from the district for 2021 and 2022.

There were no other changes to the alignment. The complete alignment appears on the KHSAA website at https://bit.ly/3jmgYpa

With this action, the embargo on game contracts for 2021 and 2022 has been removed. To ensure that all schools […]

2021 and 2022 Approved Alignment of Teams – Football

CURRENT ALIGNMENT OF TEAMS – FOOTBALL – 2019 THROUGH 2022 PLAYING SEASONS

The Kentucky High School Athletic Association shall sponsor postseason competition in football provided that there is sufficient interest of the membership to participate in the said competition. Member schools desiring to participate in KHSAA sponsored postseason competition shall notify the Association office before September 1. The Commissioner shall divide the state into geographic sections within six (6) enrollment-based classes with the approval of the Board of Control. In the interim, newly added or deleted programs will be handled on a case by case basis by the Commissioner’s office.

For the postseason competition, in Class 6A, For playoff bracketing only, the 5th place team in District 1 would become the 4th place team in District 5

For the postseason competition, in Class 1A, Sayre will be the 4th seed in District 7 for 2020 only.

For interim alignment review for 2021 and 2022 seasons, […]

10/16/20- COVID Basketball Information and Update

As we prepare for the start of official practice on October 26, reminders are in order for all involved. This was previously distributed to all schools earlier this month, but all representatives would be advised to be sure you are familiar. The guidance document is posted on the KHSAA website at https://bit.ly/3ib7pc5.

We have received a few inquiries recently regarding the start of basketball practice and the guidelines that have been issued. Keep in mind that the season is divided into segments for a purpose, and that gives natural opportunities for consideration of revisions based on what is happening with the pandemic.

Here are a few reminders based on the questions that have come into the office. This material is and was contained in the guidance document. It is imperative that coaches be familiar with the entire contents of the guidance document and realize that as everything with this pandemic, things […]

10/15/20 – KHSAA Cross Country State Meet Details & Location

As we approach the Cross Country postseason, the KHSAA wanted to update the membership regarding postseason meets for the sport of Cross Country.

STATE MEET SITE

The 2020 KHSAA State Cross Country Meet will be held at the Bourbon County Cross Country Course at 1054 Millersburg Rd in Paris, Ky. on October 30-31. Maps of the course will be available on the Cross Country website. The time schedule for 2020 will be posted with Class 2A to compete on Friday afternoon, October 30. Class 1A and 3A will compete on Saturday, October 31.

“We appreciate the great work of our longtime prior hosts at the Kentucky Horse Park and recognize their need for continual adjustments during the pandemic,” said KHSAA Commissioner Julian Tackett. “We have a longstanding relationship with the park and their absolutely wonderful staff. But with their current focus on equestrian events combined with our need to finalize arrangements in a timely manner, […]

10/12/20- Postseason Soccer, Volleyball, Field Hockey Situations and Questions

As we head into the postseason, we know our managers and member schools are working extremely hard to protect opportunities for students during this strange time while at the same time, juggling near-daily changing data to help make current decisions. We have had several questions that have emerged about teams advancing in light of specific quarantine and isolation issues.

Remember that the guidance we are operating under from the Department for Health specifies that a quarantine period (exposure to a person who tests positive) is for fourteen (14) days and an isolation period (for a person with a positive test) is for at least ten (10) days following the test. It has long been anticipated that an ill-timed quarantine or isolation period might end a season if schools cannot find additional scheduling options.

As an association, we will make all reasonable efforts to accommodate the competing school with rescheduling any contest provided that such rescheduled dates do […]

10/07/20- Football Updates and Scheduling Information including Tiebreaker for Games Not Played

This is being sent to all member schools through the Principal, Athletic Director, and the Football Coach of record, with a courtesy copy to member school Superintendents. Please forward as necessary. This notice is related solely to 2020 Football. Other notices and posts relative to Field Hockey, Soccer, and Volleyball have been distributed.

As we have said all along, all of us involved in any way with education have been advised to be nimble to any changes to past plans during this pandemic. Certainly, a higher amount of football games have been lost during this already short fall season than anyone ever predicted or planned and those cancelations continue. As such, several situations have arisen as schools try to determine the rescheduling of future games, and additional minor adjustments are needed. These latest changes and clarifications are solely intended to help resolve issues and prevent further wholesale rescheduling late in the year if that is […]

10/02/20 – NFHS Learning Center Adds New Officiating Courses for Soccer, Track and Field

INDIANAPOLIS, IN — In support of its commitment to high school officials’ education, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) has announced two new free courses have been published to the online NFHS Learning Center – “Officiating Soccer: Pre-Game Conference for Officials” and “Officiating Track and Field.”

Designed as a complement to two other soccer officiating courses on the Learning Center, “Officiating Soccer: Pre-Game Conference for Officials” focuses on teaching referees the proper protocols to be carried out ahead of each contest. Key aspects include the importance of advance communication between officials, field inspections, and discussing relevant game-time topics and recent rule changes. Effectively executing the pre-game conference allows each referee to work cohesively with his or her team and be as informed and observant as possible during play.

“The pre-game conference for officials in the game of soccer serves to familiarize the contest officials with the host of responsibilities they have to […]

10/01/20- Celebrating Return to Play During National High School Activities Month (Op-Ed Column)

By Karissa Niehoff, Executive Director of the National Federation of State High School Associations and Julian Tackett, Commissioner of the Kentucky High School Athletic Association.

The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly caused everyone to hit the pause button on life. During the stoppage and forced time away from routines, and even as some activities have resumed, many people have come to more deeply appreciate the important things in life – family, friends, and faith among others.

Still, the loss of certain routines and regular activities seem to hurt worse than others, namely last spring when high school sports and performing arts were shut down. Millions of students, coaches, parents, and fans quickly began to realize and more deeply appreciate the privilege of involvement in these education-based programs in schools.

Now, slowly but surely, high school sports and performing arts are on their […]

10/1/20-2020 Basketball Rules Clinic Available Online for Officials and Coaches

The mandatory Online KHSAA Rules Clinic for the sport of Basketball is now available. The clinic is required of all officials as well as all coaches, varsity, junior varsity and freshman, and whether or not the coach receives pay.

Because of the nature of current events as well as rules changes, coaches you are likely placing your team at a competitive disadvantage if you delay/put off/procrastinate the completion of this clinic. Officials, your failure to stay on top of these key provisions will likely lead to administrative errors.

Please ensure that you have read the COVID guidelines posted on the KHSAA website. Many restrictions on scheduling, out of state travel, and rules modifications are detailed in that document. See the various links at /covid-19-fall-resumption-documents-8-25-20-revised-8-31-20/

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 […]

09/24/20 – NFHS, NFL Announce Partnership to Promote High School Football

INDIANAPOLIS, IN — The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and the National Football League (NFL) have announced a first-ever partnership aimed at promoting the growth, understanding and support for football at the high school level.

As a part of the partnership funded by the NFL, the NFHS will work to develop and execute a strategic plan with the primary objective of promoting high school football.

A major focus of the NFHS-NFL partnership will involve surveying of state high school association administrators, high school student-athletes, parents, coaches and officials with regard to their experiences in football and the benefits of participation. The NFHS will be working with UpMetrics on various survey instruments as a part of the arrangement.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for the NFHS and the NFL to work together to help ensure the long-term viability of high school football,” said Dr. Karissa Niehoff, NFHS executive director. “We are appreciative of […]

09/23/20 – Archery and Bass Fishing Participation Update

Following last week’s Board of Control meeting, we continue to receive inquiries regarding the sport-activities of Archery and Bass Fishing. Though both have an initial published practice date of October 1, they are classified as spring sport-activities by the Association.

It remains RECOMMENDED that the activities on campus be focused on the current season sports (fall at this point) and not on sports for other seasons (winter and spring sports) so as to lessen virus exposure and allow for a carefully measured return to in-person learning where and when local districts have made that decision.

For both Archery and Bass Fishing, practice and workouts are at the discretion of each member school.

For KHSAA sport-activities, catastrophic insurance coverage only applies to the postseason (regional and state championships). Participation in all other competitions is at the discretion of each member school without the benefit of catastrophic insurance provided by the Association.

For Archery:

09/18/20- Urgent Reminder on COVID Cancellations in Football, Soccer and Volleyball

REVISED 10/1/20–

Just a quick reminder on the score and schedule entry for COVID related cancellations IN ALL SPORTS on the KHSAA Scoreboard (Field Hockey, Football, Soccer, and Volleyball for the fall, 2020 seasons). As with a lot of things related to this pandemic, the specific experiences of our member schools are resulting in a constant procedural review and revision as we move forward.

Because of the impact on RPI and standings, we have removed the ability to update of delete games.
You will report that you have a COVID cancellation by submitting the form on the KHSAA website at the link CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT A DELETION OR REVISION TO THE SCOREBOARD.
From the point your form is sent, policies that were previously adopted in July will take effect.
The score will be permanently recorded as a 0-0 tie with a notation that it is a COVID cancelation.
The RPI […]
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09/17/20- RPI Impact on Cancelled Contests/Open Dates

UPDATED: 10/1/20

As reviewed at the July Board of Control meeting, the following procedure will apply to canceled games during the COVID-19 pandemic with respect to the calculation of RPI. These provisions are subject to revision during the pandemic.

The Board previously reviewed an adjustment (for 2020-21 only) to standings as well as RPI calculation methods due to possible cancelation of games resulting from the pandemic and local impact.
For Field Hockey, Football, Soccer, and Volleyball-
- In all contests, games canceled due to the pandemic including mandatory quarantines and isolation shall not have a result recorded other than a 0-0 score, and no forfeit fee provisions will be applied.
- Games canceled for other reasons remain subject to Bylaw 22.
- In all seeded games, games canceled due to the pandemic or mandatory quarantines, the formerly announced provision of counting a contest unable to be played or rescheduled will NOT be implemented. That method of […]
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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 […]

09/11/20- COVID-19 RELATED PSA/PUBLIC ADDRESS ANNOUCEMENTS

The following scripts for announcements can be used without attribution by local public address announcers, member schools and broadcasters. Many are sourced from the CDC in Atlanta as part of their efforts related to the global pandemic. Feel free to use at your discretion. Additional announcements and audio versions for use in broadcasts may be found on the CDC website at https://bit.ly/35gWHfn

READ #1
FANS, THE KENTUCKY HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION AND (INSERT YOUR SCHOOL), ALONG WITH THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT FOR PUBLIC HEALTH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PROACTIVE EFFORTS TO HELP PREVENT THE SPREAD OF COVID-19.

AS A REMINDER FOR TODAY’S/TONIGHT’S EVENT, ALL IN ATTENDANCE ARE REQUIRED TO:
• WEAR A MASK OVER YOUR NOSE AND MOUTH AT ALL TIMES, AND.
• PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING WITH THOSE WHO DO NOT RESIDE IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD, AND
• COUGH OR SNEEZE INTO A TISSUE OR YOUR ARM, AND WASH YOUR HANDS THOROUGHLY.

THANK YOU FOR […]

09/10/20- CPR of Indiana again offers KHSAA Members Discounted AED program

The KHSAA is proud to again partner Bill Callahan and the CPR Institute of Indiana to offer the chance for KHSAA member schools to purchase Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) at a deeply discounted price for a limited time. The program has been accepted by the KHSAA Sports Medicine Committee (member doctors of the KMA) and the price is the product of great work between CPR Institute and the NFHS Foundation.

A product flier with complete details is located on the KHSAA website at https://khsaa.org/sportsmedicine/NFHS AED Package Special (CPR Institute of Indiana Updated Sept-2020.pdf. Those units are currently selling on Amazon.com for just under $1300 not including a nearly $100 carrying case.

An order form is located on the KHSAA website at https://khsaa.org/sportsmedicine/NFHS Order Form Updated.xlsx .

Through this offer from CPR of Indiana, the cost of the units is only $700 […]

08/31/20- Clarifications Around Board of Control Approved Waiver of Bylaw 9