Serving Kentucky's Schools and Student Athletes Since 1917

2025-2026 News Releases

NFHS Learning Center Continues to ‘Protect the Purpose’ of High School Sports, Activities

2025-2026 News Releases

Dr. Karissa L. Niehoff, NFHS Chief Executive Officer 

The difference between high school sports and all other levels of sport in the United States? Education, without a doubt. And with the focus headed in other directions at the college level the past few years, the NFHS is leading the way to ensure that high school sports remain focused on the EDUCATION in education-based sports and other activity programs.

            Today, the NFHS is launching its Protect the Purpose campaign. The goal is to help high school students learn valuable lessons through participation in high school athletics and activities that prepare them for successful lives and careers. This special emphasis will help state associations, coaches, administrators and others to keep sports competitively balanced, minimize the risk of injury for students and keep programs focused on education. 

            While the Protect the Purpose campaign is new, the focus on education has been the […]

More

08/04/25 – Brian Milam joins KHSAA Executive Staff

2025-2026 News Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: AUG. 04, 2025

The Kentucky High School Athletic Association introduces an addition to its Executive Staff today with the hiring of Louisville native Brian Milam from WKYT-TV in Lexington as its Communications and Media Relations Director. Milam joins the Communications team at the Association and fills the vacancy held by Connor Link, who departed this summer.

“We are extremely pleased to add Brian to our communication team. His passion for high school athletics and athletes is well known and has been shown in his decades-long work with two Kentucky CBS affiliate stations,” said KHSAA Commissioner Julian Tackett. “Brian has worked with many of our member schools, athletic directors, coaches, athletes, our staff and various media across the state. Taking this step for him and KHSAA comes at a great time, and working with our Publications and Event Services Director, Jenny Elder, will give us a tremendous communications team. […]

More

08/01/25 – Board of Control conducts first meeting of 2025-26

2025-2026 News Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: AUG. 1, 2025

The KHSAA Board of Control conducted its first regularly scheduled meeting of the 2025-26 academic year on Thursday and Friday in Louisville, approving a review of proposals to be considered at the 2025 Annual Meeting and preparing for discussions that will continue to serve and meet the member schools’ needs. 

A two-day series of meetings began with an orientation for new and returning Board members and then launched into the full Board work session on Thursday afternoon, followed by conducting the full Board Meeting on Friday. The Board and staff welcomed new Board members, Jeremy Roach of Princeton and Terry Yeast of Winchester. 

“The first meeting each year offers a great opportunity for our new board members to become familiar with the process of these meetings and with our staff members,” said Commissioner Julian Tackett. “The first meeting is always one […]

More

07/18/25 – NFHS Announces Girls’ Lacrosse Playing Rule Changes

2025-2026 News Releases

Five Rules Changes Approved For 2026 High School Girls’ Lacrosse Season

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

INDIANAPOLIS – Improving game flow and pace of play are the primary focuses of the 2026 high school girls’ lacrosse rules changes.

Five rules changes were recommended by the NFHS Girls’ Lacrosse Rules Committee during its annual meeting last June at The Alexander in Indianapolis. All proposals were later approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

A change to Rule 5-2 Penalty 1 (Starting Play – Draw) allows any player to take the free position when one player draws illegally. Also, for Rule 7-3 Penalties 1a and 3a (Deputy Rules), the offending player shall be placed 4 meters away (instead of behind) from the player taking the free position for a goal circle foul.

Rule 4-3-3d, e, aligns the restart procedure after a possession time-out when the goalkeeper has possession of the ball […]

More

07/17/25 – NFHS Announces Track & Field Rule Changes

2025-2026 News Releases

Addition of Javelin Specifications Highlight High School Track & Field Rules Revisions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

INDIANAPOLIS – With 21 state associations now incorporating the javelin into outdoor track & field competition, the NFHS Track & Field Rules Committee voted to move the implement construction specifications into the Track & Field Rules Book, effective with the 2026 season.

The addition of javelin specifications was one of 11 changes recommended by the committee at its June meeting in Indianapolis, all of which were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

“Moving the implement construction specifications for the javelin into the rules book provides greater clarity, consistency and accessibility for high school coaches, athletes and meet officials,” said Julie Cochran, NFHS director of sports and liaison to the Track & Field Rules Committee. “By incorporating the construction requirements directly into the NFHS Track & Field Rules Book, we ensure that all […]

More

07/16/25 – NFHS Announces Softball Playing Rule Changes

2025-2026 News Releases

Electronic Communication by Players Clarified in High School Softball

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

INDIANAPOLIS – No player shall be allowed to transmit or record audio or video from the playing surface in high school softball. This new language in Rule 1-8-6 of the NFHS Softball Rules Book further clarifies the use of electronic devices and what is permitted in the sport after language was added last year to allow for electronic communication for coaching purposes.

This change was the highlight of the NFHS Softball Rules Committee’s rules recommendations as a result of the committee’s annual rules meeting held last June at The Alexander hotel in Indianapolis. The NFHS Board of Directors subsequently approved the rules changes to take effect next year.

“While increased media exposure has positively influenced the growth and visibility of softball, the committee determined that the potential risks associated with players transmitting or recording audio or video through devices […]

More

07/15/25 – NFHS Announces Boys’ Lacrosse Playing Rule Changes

2025-2026 News Releases

12 Rules Changes Approved Ahead of 2026 High School Boys’ Lacrosse Season

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

INDIANAPOLIS – Among the changes for the 2026 high school boys’ lacrosse season, no defensive player other than a properly equipped goalkeeper can enter the team’s own crease with the perceived intent of blocking a shot or acting as a goalkeeper, or a personal foul for illegal equipment will be called as a non-releasable foul.

This topic highlighted 12 rules changes recommended by the NFHS Boys Lacrosse Rules Committee during its annual meeting last June at The Alexander in Indianapolis. All proposed changes were subsequently accepted by the NFHS Board of Directors.

The changes to Rules 4-18-4 PENALTY, 5-6-2 (NEW), 5-10 and 6-6-4 minimize risk of injury by discouraging players who are not properly equipped from acting as a goalkeeper by making the penalty more severe.

Relatedly, goalkeepers will no longer be given a maximum of five seconds […]

More

07/14/25 – NFHS Announces Baseball Playing Rule Changes

2025-2026 News Releases

Double First Base Introduced into High School Baseball

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

INDIANAPOLIS – Beginning with the 2027 season, a double first base will be required in high school baseball games to minimize the risk of collisions by runners and fielders.

This rule revision was one of 10 proposed by the NFHS Baseball Rules Committee during its annual meeting held last June at The Alexander hotel in Indianapolis. The rules changes were accepted by the NFHS Board of Directors.

New language was added to Rule 1-2-9, noting that the double first base must be white and a contrasting solid color. The white portion of the base is located in fair territory, while the colored half is located in foul territory, split by the first base foul line. There is to be no space between the two portions of the double base.

“Adding the double first base is symbolic […]

More

07/02/25 – KHSAA, Friends of Coal Announce Inaugural Friends of Coal Captains Club Honorees

2025-2026 News Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JULY 2, 2025

The Kentucky High School Athletic Association, in partnership with Friends of Coal Kentucky, is proud to introduce the Friends of Coal Captains Club, a new initiative that recognizes and celebrates exceptional student-athlete leaders from across the Commonwealth.

The Friends of Coal Captains Club honors student-athletes who not only excel in their sport but also demonstrate leadership, resilience and a deep commitment to their teammates and communities. These values are at the core of both Kentucky’s coal industry and interscholastic athletics.

“The Friends of Coal Captains Club is about more than athletic performance – it’s about character, teamwork and the perseverance that defines both Kentucky coal miners and our student-athletes,” said Terry Marsh, Chairman of Friends of Coal Kentucky. “These captains represent the best of our schools and our communities.”

“There is no doubt that the rich history and importance of the coal industry and the border-to-border community importance of […]

More

07/01/25 – Fromeyer Named 2024-25 Officials Supervisor of the Year

2025-2026 News Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JULY 1, 2025

Each year, the Kentucky High School Athletic Association honors the top officials for the sports in which it licenses officials, as well as a single supervisor of officials from among those sports. Finalists in each sport are selected through a combination of not only on-field performance but also local association activity and leadership, training efforts and the mentoring of newer officials.

In addition to one official in each sport being named Outstanding Official of the Year, the KHSAA also recognizes the Larry G. Boucher Officials Supervisor of the Year in appreciation of their dedication and service to schools and student-athletes across the state. Winners are selected following consultation with local assigning secretaries, veteran officials’ observers, coaches throughout the state and additional staff review.

The Larry G. Boucher Officials Supervisor of the Year for the 2024-25 school year is Steve Fromeyer of Newport for his outstanding efforts in the sport […]

More

icon-angle icon-bars icon-times