AAA-Non-Sports Blogs
08/27/19 – Hype Student Leadership Conferences This Week in Lexington
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 27, 2019
The 19th Annual KHSAA HYPE Student Leadership Conferences will be held this week at the Lexington Convention Center (Aug. 29-30). The conferences are a free service provided by the Association for student-athletes to learn teamwork exercises and sportsmanship initiatives, and discuss current issues.
The first conference will be held Thursday, Aug. 29 in the Bluegrass Ballroom at the Lexington Convention Center, with the second session taking place the following day (Friday, Aug. 30). Assisting with this year’s conference will be a group of four student-athletes that represented the KHSAA at the NFHS National Student Leadership Summit in July: Hannah Eastes (Fort Campbell), Mick Clines (Bishop Brossart), Lindey Lipe (Muhlenberg County) and Marcus Hay (Fort Campbell). In addition to helping facilitate this year’s conference, the group will help plan the 2020 HYPE Student Leadership Conference.
Topics for this year’s breakout sessions include seminars on Brain Mapping and Goal Setting (Omari […]
08/24/19- Parents and Adult Fans: The Biggest Challenge Facing High School Sports Today
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.
Inappropriate adult behavior at high school athletic events in Kentucky and across the United States has reached epidemic proportion.
When more than 2,000 high school athletic directors were asked in a recent national survey what they like least about their job, 62.3% said it was “dealing with aggressive parents and adult fans.”
And the men and women who wear the black and white stripes agree. In fact, almost 80% of officials quit after the first two years on the job, and unruly parents are cited as the reason why. As a result, there is a growing shortage of high school officials here in Kentucky, and in some sports like wrestling, swimming, and track and field, the shortage is severe. No officials means no more games.
If you […]
08/21/19- KHSAA to Host Middle School AD Workshop
For the first time, the KHSAA will conduct a workshop specifically designed for Middle School Athletic Administrators (ADs). The workshop will be held at the KHSAA offices in Lexington, 2280 Executive Drive, on Monday, September 16. The workshop will begin at 10 a.m. and should conclude by 2:30. There is no fee to register.
Registration for the meeting will be limited to the first 125 middle school administrators that register. In order to register, visit the link at https://khsaa.org/ms02-middle-school-athletic-administrator-workshop-registration/
The content of the meeting will be a thorough review of 702 KAR 7:065, Section 4, which is the state regulation governing middle school play. In addition, helpful guidance will be presented to ensure proper interpretation and application of the provisions of the regulation.
KHSAA Staff, including the Commissioner and Assistant Commissioner Sarah Bridenbaugh who currently serves as the designated representative on staff related to this regulation, will be present to offer both explanation and […]
08/21/19- Reminder about KHSAA Annual Meeting, Newer Athletic Administrators Workshop
As was noticed in two July 31 memos to our membership, registration for both the newer Athletic Administrators Workshop on September 17 and the KHSAA Annual Meeting on September 18. For those that desire housing, there is a block of rooms being held at the Hyatt Regency for September 17 but those rooms must be reserved by August 27 using the instructions in the original memo.
NEWER ADMINISTRATORS WORKSHOP INFORMATION
The complete memo with links to register etc. for the newer athletic director institute is located at https://khsaa.org/07-30-19-advanced-athletic-director-training-institute/
The registration form for the newer athletic director institute is located at https://schools.khsaa.org/ge47-advanced-athletic-administrators-institute-form/
The list of those registered thus far for the Newer Administrators Workshop is at https://khsaa.org/2019-2020-newer-athletic-administrators-workshop-listing/
ANNUAL MEETING INFORMATION
The complete memo with links to register etc. for the Annual Meeting (Delegate Assembly) is located at https://khsaa.org/07-30-19-2019-khsaa-annual-meeting-reminder/
The registration form for the Annual Meeting is located at https://schools.khsaa.org/ge38-annual-meeting-delegate-designation/
[…]08/21/19- Reminder about Title IX Specific Workshops
As was previously announced at our Regional Meetings, the KHSAA will be conducting two Title IX Workshops for 2019-20. The first will be on Friday morning, September 13 at Caldwell County High School in Princeton at 8:30 a.m. Central Time. The second will be on Friday morning, September 20 at Rowan County High School in Morehead at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time.
This workshop should be extremely beneficial for all member schools, especially as schools prepare for revisits during the coming years. Registration will take place from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. at the venue. EILA credit has been applied for in order to help the appropriate administrators who attend and in addition, this meeting will count three (3) hours toward the Bylaw 25 required hours for Athletic Directors. The meetings should conclude by 12:30 p.m. The focus of this meeting will be the elements of Title IX as it relates to the management of the […]
06/21/19- Ferguson tabbed Midway University/KHSAA Female Student-Athlete of the Year for 2018-19
Ferguson tabbed Midway University/KHSAA Female Student-Athlete of the Year for 2018-19
June 21, 2019The third annual Midway University/KHSAA Female Student-Athlete of the Year program concluded when the award winners from the past year were invited to campus for a ceremony to announce the overall winner for 2018-19. It was announced at the ceremony that Maci Ferguson (tennis) of Russell High School was named the overall winner for 2018-19.
A 2018 graduate of Russell High School, Ferguson left a lasting impact in her time as a standout for the Red Devils. A two-time Doubles State Champion and a four-time All-State Tennis Team Selection, Ferguson helped lead the Red Devils to five consecutive Region Championships. She also is a three-time Region 16 Player of the Year who also won the 2017 Wendy’s Heisman Award.
Ferguson not only excelled on the court, but also in the classroom. While putting in many hours with lessons and travel on […]
David Cornelius loved to whistle while he worked as football official
BY MIKE FIELDS (Aug. 19, 2019)
STANFORD – David Cornelius doesn’t know what he’ll be doing the first Friday night of this high school football season, but for the first time in decades he won’t be pulling on a striped shirt, slipping a whistle around his neck and taking the field for the game he loves.
Cornelius, 65, decided a few months ago that because of failing eyesight he had to give up officiating.
To say he’s going to miss it would be an understatement.
“It’s killing me to quit,” he said, trying to gather his emotions. “I loved it so much. It’s like losing a family member.
“What will I do Friday night? I don’t know yet. I guess I’ll go to a game, but it’ll be really hard.”
His wife Jessica knows it will be a difficult transition for him.
“The happiest I’ve ever seen him was when Friday would get here. He […]
08/15/19- CPR of Indiana again offers KHSAA Members Rare 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/Kentucky%20Document%20for%20Philips%20AED%20Units.pdf. Those units are currently selling on Amazon.com for just under $1300 not including a nearly $100 carrying case.
Through this offer from CPR of Indiana, the cost of the units is only $700 per unit (including a wall mounting unit), plus applicable shipping. For those schools that desire, tell Bill you want the unit delivered to the KHSAA Annual Meeting on September 18 in Lexington and your delegate can pick up […]
08/13/19 – NFHS Part 2 Exam Now Online for FB, FH, SO & VB Officials
NFHS Part 2 Tests for licensed officials in the sports of Football, Field Hockey, Soccer and Volleyball are now available online. The Part 2 exams, required for postseason eligibility, will be open until Tuesday, August 27 at 11:59 p.m. (ET).
The tests will automatically close at that exact time. Login at https://officials.khsaa.org/authorize/ to take the test. A minimum score of 80 on the exam is required to be considered for assignment to officiate postseason play.
First-year officials are not required to take the exam, however, if any first-year official has completed licensing requirements, the test may be taken.
Any official determined to have been involved in the improper administration of the exam, including taking it for another official or having it taken by another official, will have the score disregarded for the year and be subject to other penalties in compliance with the jurisdiction of the office through the Federal Court Decree.
Please keep […]
08/12/19 – Volleyball Online Rules Clinic Now Available for Coaches & Officials
The mandatory Online KHSAA Rules Clinic for the sport of Volleyball is available beginning today, August 12. 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.
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
August 12 to September 16 (Officials) – the Volleyball Clinic will be online only and may be viewed at no charge during this period.
September 17 to October 6 (Officials) – the Volleyball Clinic will be online only and may be viewed for the makeup fee ($30) during this period.
October 7 to Oct. 13 (Officials) – the Volleyball Clinic will […]
08/09/19- Football Contact Practice Reminder
This notice to all schools that offer football within the Association in response to a variety of inquiries.
Per Bylaw 23 (Limitation of Seasons), coaches should note that per the bylaw, once the first interscholastic activity occurs in pads (scrimmage or contest), Level “3” Thud or Level “4” Live Action (which are both considered contact) is limited to ninety-minutes per week (not including contests or scrimmages). Specifically within the bylaw, subsection 12 on the third page of the regulation, it states “Beginning Monday of the week the first scrimmage is played by the school, each school may participate in “Thud” or “Live Action” drills and game time simulations (not including contests or legal scrimmages) for no more than ninety-minutes per team, per week.“
This important rule is not new and applies to both middle and high school play.
For the complete regulation on practice and play, see the KHSAA website at https://khsaa.org/common_documents/handbook/bylaws/bylaw23.pdf.
08/09/19- Final Reminder, 2019-2020 Regional Meetings of the Membership
As was noticed on the July 17 memo, the regional meetings of the membership begin on Monday, August 12. This meeting is one of the very few requirements for maintaining membership in good standing with the KHSAA.
The first meeting will be held at Glasgow High School beginning at 8 a.m.
The schedule of meetings is as follows:
Monday, August 12, 2019, Glasgow HS
Tuesday, August 13, 2019, Hopkins County Central HS, Madisonville
Monday, August 19, 2019, KHSAA Offices, Lexington
Tuesday, August 20, 2019, Letcher County Central HS, Whitesburg
Thursday, August 22, 2019, Boyd County HS, Ashland
Monday, August 26, 2019, Pulaski County HS, Somerset
Tuesday, August 27, 2019, Owen County HS, Owenton
Thursday, September 12, 2019, Valley High School, Louisville
The complete memo with links to register etc. is located at https://khsaa.org/071719-2019-2020-regional-athletic-administrators-meetings-of-membership/
The registration form for the meeting is located at https://schools.khsaa.org/ge45-regional-meeting-registration/
The list of those registered thus far is at More
08/08/19 – Reminder about Schedules, Stats Collection Requirement and Renewed Penalties for Noncompliance
Entering the 2019-20 academic year, the Association will have an increased emphasis on the collection of statistical data in its team sports and the requirement of member schools to submit information in a timely manner. During the course of the 2018-19 season, enhancements were made to the Association’s statistical entry software at a significant cost, including the addition of volleyball, field hockey, baseball and softball.
As further enhancements are rolled out in the coming weeks and months, the requirement of member schools to submit their information will be more stringently enforced. As has been the case for several years, statistical entry is required of all member schools, and those failing to meet the requirement to enter stats have long been subject to penalties within the constraints of Bylaw 27. For 2019-20, these penalties will involve fines levied for failure to submit statistics, with the first application of these sanctions to occur during the latter weeks […]
08/07/19 – HYPE Student Leadership Conferences Registration Now Open
Registration is now open for the 2019 KHSAA HYPE Student Leadership Conferences.
DATES
Thursday, August 29 and Friday, August 30 (two separate individual one-day conferences)
LOCATION
Lexington Convention Center (430 W. Vine St., Lexington, next to Rupp Arena) – Bluegrass Ballroom
COST
There is no charge to attend. Schools are responsible for transportation and any meals.
REGISTER
To register (Click Here to Register).
LUNCH
Lunch will be “on your own”.
ATTENDEES
Each school may select up to 18 individuals to attend. Registration is first-come-first-served and the Lexington Conferences are traditionally at capacity. Those that have attended a conference previously are not eligible to attend.
SCHEDULE
8:15-8:40 a.m. – Registration
8:45-9:05 a.m. – Opening Session
9:15-10:05 a.m. – Breakout Session #1
10:15-11:05 a.m. – Breakout Session #2
11:15 a.m.-12:05 p.m. – Breakout Session #3
12:15-12:55 p.m. – Featured Speaker Harvey Alston “Be the […]
08/05/19 – Soccer Online Rules Clinic Now Available for Coaches and Officials
The mandatory Online KHSAA Rules Clinic for the sport of Soccer is available beginning today, August 5. The clinic is required of all officials as well as all coaches at the varsity, junior varsity and freshmen levels 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
- August 5 to September 2 (Officials) – the Soccer Clinic will be online only and may be viewed at no charge during this period.
- September 3 to September 22 (Officials) – the Soccer Clinic will be online only and may be viewed for the makeup fee ($30) during this period.
- September 23 to September 29 (Officials) – the […]
07/30/19- Advanced Athletic Director Training Institute
This is intended for all KHSAA member school Superintendents, Principals, and Athletic Directors and the links can be forwarded as needed.
ATHLETIC DIRECTOR INSTITUTE
The 2019 KHSAA Athletic Director Institute will be held at the KHSAA offices in Lexington on Tuesday, September 17. Designed for ADs of all experience levels, this meeting will begin with registration around 8:30, conclude before 3:00. A light lunch (sandwich box, etc.) will be provided by the KHSAA for those who register prior to September 12. There will be a short break following this meeting and then those who optionally choose to do so may choose to attend the expanded training being offered by the KHSADA that evening.
The KHSAA staff will conduct the first portion of the meeting which should afford our newer and veteran ADs an in-depth review of all 27 KHSAA Bylaws, a review of required forms and procedures and other vital segments to allow for continuous […]
07/30/19-Reminder about NCAA Recruiting Windows and KHSAA Bylaw 9
We have received several inquiries about upcoming “recruiting” events being held during the month of August. With various start dates for school in Kentucky, Bylaw 9 can impact the eligibility of students and in many cases, without their advance knowledge, if events are held at the “wrong” time of the month and their school happens to start very early compared to others.
Keep in mind that Bylaw 9 restricts basketball players (and does not apply to any sport other than basketball or football) who have BOTH been enrolled in the 9th grade and THEN subsequently has played for the school (freshman, junior varsity or varsity) in a contest. The complete text of the rule is located at https://khsaa.org/common_documents/handbook/bylaws/bylaw9.pdf.
There are two exemptions for both boys and girls that have been approved by the membership during the period beginning with the first day of school and October 14.
- The first is an exemption for […]
07/30/19- 2019 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 2019 Annual Meeting of the membership of the KHSAA is to be held on Wednesday, September 18 in the Bluegrass Ballroom on the third floor at the Lexington Center (High Street level, adjacent to the concourse of Rupp Arena). Final agenda is being published as it becomes 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/
ANNUAL MEETING DELEGATE DESIGNATION
The Annual Meeting has continuous improvement/leadership training opportunities throughout the morning as members work to carve out the best plan of action for the future and then the meeting […]
08/04/23- Title IX Revisit Schedule and Cover Letter
TO: Member School Superintendent, Principal, Athletic Director
FR: Julian Tackett, Commissioner
Darren Bilberry, Assistant Commissioner
RE: 2023-2024 Title IX Review
Under the direction of the Kentucky Department of Education, the KHSAA is continuing an ongoing effort to assess Title IX compliance among all KHSAA member schools.
Approximately forty-three member schools have been identified to participate in the ongoing Title IX Review during the 2023-2024 school year. This year your school is scheduled for a Title IX revisit. The complete listing of schools is on the KHSAA website, on the Title IX page.
Plans are for our audit team to visit your school to ascertain the progress made in attaining and maintaining gender equity for male and female student-athletes. The purpose of this memorandum is to assist you in preparing for this visit by KHSAA Audit Team members.
We will consult with you regarding the specific date for a visit. The visit […]
07/18/19 – Student-Athlete Participation Reaches Record Levels Once Again
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 18, 2019
Student-athlete participation in Kentucky High School Athletic Association sports and sport-activities reached record levels in 2018-19 as 106,931 rostered participants competed across the KHSAA’s 13 sports and six sport-activities – surpassing last year’s then-record total of 106,241. Thirty-two percent of all student-athletes competed in multiple sports during the 2018-19 academic year, helping total KHSAA participation rise by 7,288 rostered participants from where it was six years ago (an increase of 6.8% since the 2012-13 season). Participant counts are cumulative among all KHSAA rosters and continue an upward trend in participation across the board according to the data submitted to the National Federation of State High Schools (NFHS) in Indianapolis.
Participation numbers have also been impacted over the last eight years by the addition of six sport-activities (Archery, Bass Fishing, Bowling, Competitive Cheer, Dance and esports) and the sport of Field Hockey. KHSAA participation in 2018-19 was also boosted by […]
07/17/19- 2019-2020 Regional Athletic Administrators Meetings of Membership
This reminder is for all member school Superintendents, Principals and Athletic Directors within the KHSAA.
For the fall of 2019, the KHSAA will again conduct a series of eight regional meetings to help our athletic administrators meet the membership requirement of attending this type of meeting once per year.
Per the membership guidelines, attendance is required of each school but is no longer specific to the principal or principal certification. The Principal or the Designated Representative listed on the KHSAA website will count toward each requirement. Also, this workshop is on the list of those items that satisfy the requirements for the continuing improvement hours for each Athletic Director per Bylaw 25. There is no registration fee.
The content for the segments will include sessions on managing the coach and player data for your school, a review of the KHSAA Bylaws, an update on the operations and projects around the KHSAA and many required reports and […]
07/17/19- Heat and Humidity Reminders for Member Schools Representatives
With temperatures rising across the state and predictions for record temperatures in the coming days, now is a good time to remind all of our school administrators and coaches of the requirements of the Heat Index and Heat Illness prevention program. The complete program is detailed at https://khsaa.org/common_documents/handbook/policies/policies-heatilllnesspolicy.pdf
No game or plan for a game or practice for a game is worth short-cutting this required procedure that is now more than fifteen years old. Nothing about the program has changed with the exception of the inclusion of the ability to use the wet bulb globe to monitor conditions, but with the turnover in coaches (and administrators) perhaps a few heat index and illness reminders are helpful:
- Heat index requirements and restrictions apply (and have always applied) to outdoor and indoor sports. In many cases during the summer, indoor practice areas (including gymnasiums) are set to be electronically controlled in terms of temperature and coaches […]
07/16/19 – “Coaching Field Hockey” Course Added to NFHS Learning Center
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (July 16, 2019) — Field hockey coaches can now take advantage of a new coaching resource, “Coaching Field Hockey,” an online education course available through the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Learning Center at www.NFHSlearn.com.
Created in association with USA Field Hockey, the course is designed to help coaches teach the individual and team skills of field hockey.
“We’re pleased to offer this course for high school field hockey coaches,” said Dan Schuster, NFHS director of educational services. “This course is full of skills videos to teach coaches how to properly demonstrate the skills of field hockey.”
“The two new online courses, Coaching Field Hockey and Coaching Field Hockey: Goalkeeping, were created to help high school coaches and their athletes and teams to succeed,” said Craig Parnham, USA Field Hockey director of coach education and learning. “Both courses are intended to support development of the technical and tactical aspects […]
07/11/19 – Board Finalizes Golf Format; Addresses Tennis Championships and Future of Esports
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 11, 2019The Board of Control conducted its first organizational meeting of the 2019-20 academic year on Thursday in Covington, finalizing the format of the state golf tournament while also addressing the calendar for the state tennis championships and the future of esports.
After reviewing feedback following its earlier decision to change the team format to a four-person squad at the state tournament (which was a format of the tournament in past years), the Board of Control elected to revisit the issue at its July meeting. After significant discussion, the Board eventually settled on a final resolution to address its original concerns with the size of the field, match its boys and girls alignment, ensure all schools have an opportunity to participate in the championship regardless of squad size and complete the tournament during the mid-fall season while also addressing the team composition […]
2019-20 KHSAA Board of Control Members
Pete Galloway
President, 2019-2020
Director, 2018-2022
Sedalia
KDE Appointed Member
Retired Educator
Darrell Billings
President-Elect, 2019-2020
Director, 2016-2020
Clay City
KDE Appointed Member
Private Enterprise
Reed Adkins
Director, 2017-2020
Pikeville
Pike County Schools
Superintendent
Regions 15-16
Bonnie Barnes
Director, 2017-2021
Lexington
Guidance Counselor
Henry Clay High School
Regions 9-16
Debbie Beichler
Director, 2019-2023
Mt. Washington
KDE Appointed Member
Retired Educator
Kimberly Parker-Brown
Director, 2017-2021
Lexington
KDE Appointed Member
Faculty, Midway College
Donna Bumps
Director, 2016-2020
Bowling Green
Principal
Muhlenberg County High School
Regions 1-8
Michael Clines
Director, 2016-2020
Covington
Superintendent
Diocese of Covington
Regions 9-16
Mark Evans
Director, 2018-2022
Louisville
Athletic Director
Mercy Academy
Regions 1-8
Scott Hawkins
Director, 2017-2021
Versailles
Superintendent
Woodford County Schools
Regions 11-12
Greg Howard
Director, 2019-2023
[…]
2019-20 KHSAA Board of Control Meeting Dates
2019-2020 APPROVED BOARD OF CONTROL MEETING SCHEDULE
**Wednesday, July 10, Thursday, July 11 , Friday, July 12 – Board of Control, Covington
Wednesday, September 18 (KHSAA Annual Meeting)
Thursday, September 19 – Board of Control, Lexington
Tuesday, November 19- Board of Control, Lexington
Thursday, January 16 – Board of Control, Lexington
Wednesday, February 19 – Board of Control, Lexington
**Tuesday, May 5 and Wednesday, May 6 – Board of Control, Lexington
06/27/19 – New Definition for Damaged Bats Highlights High School Softball Rules Changes
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (June 27, 2019) —A new definition for a damaged bat is one of three high school softball rules changes for the 2020 season.
The three rules changes recommended by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Softball Rules Committee at its June 10-12 meeting in Indianapolis were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.
A damaged bat will now be defined as a bat that was once legal, but is broken, cracked, dented, rattles or has sharp edges that might deface the ball (Rules 1-5-1, 7-4-2, 2-4-3).
Previously, a damaged bat was considered an illegal bat, with the penalty being an out when the batter entered the batter’s box. Now, damaged bats are simply removed from the game without penalty.
“This rule defines damaged bats and distinguishes them from non-approved and altered bats,” said Sandy Searcy, NFHS director of sports and liaison to the NFHS Softball Rules Committee. “The committee […]
06/27/19 – Assisting Injured Athletes, Expansion of Exchange Zones Among Rules Changes in Track and Field/Cross Country
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (June 27, 2019) — The expansion of exchange zones in short relay events, which does not require tracks to be repainted/resurfaced, as well as assisting injured athletes, are among the rules changes for high school track and field and cross country.
Seven rules changes were recommended by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Track and Field and Cross Country Rules Committee at its June 10-12 meeting in Indianapolis, and all changes were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.
The first change amends notes in Rule 4 (Competitors and Competition) and Rule 8 (Cross Country) which reads, “A competitor who provides assistance to an injured or ill competitor should not be disqualified if neither the individual competitor providing the assistance nor his/her team gains an advantage as a result of providing the assistance.”
“Previous changes to the NFHS rules created the exception that allows a competitor to assist an […]
06/27/19 – Expanded Designated Hitter Role Coming to High School Baseball
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (June 27, 2019) — The role of the designated hitter in high school baseball has been expanded to give coaches an additional option for the 2020 season.
The revision to Rule 3-1-4 was the only change recommended by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Baseball Rules Committee at its June 2-4 meeting in Indianapolis. The change was subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.
“The game is in the best shape it has ever been in the history of high school baseball,” said Elliot Hopkins, NFHS director of sports and student services and liaison to the NFHS Baseball Rules Committee. “This has allowed coaches to coach, players to play and umpires to umpire. This change, which was organic and intuitive, expands the role of the designated hitter and meets the desires of the high school baseball community.”
There are now two scenarios in which a designated hitter may be […]
2018-19 25-Year Officiating Recognition
25-YEAR RECOGNITION
Officials currently licensed who have achieved 25 years of service to the member schools and students of the Kentucky High School Athletic Association are recognized for their contribution to the students of Kentucky. Officials who have completed 25 years of service as of the 2018-2019 school year were:
Baseball – James P. Bell, Derrick E. Berry, William R. Chapman, III, Dave Davis, Terrance C. George, Charles A. Henderson, Shawn Overbey, Marty Teasley, Lyle Travis.
Basketball – Scot Allison, John A. Burton, Terry A. Carter, Jim Clark, Curtis Dale Conn, Rick Creech, John K. Edelen, Byron Kelly Hall, Kenny Johnson, Eric Justice, Todd G. LaFollette, Ray Long, Jerry L. Martin, Sheryl Kay Mudd, Kevin L. O’Bryan, Shawn Overbey, John L. Pratt, Ronald Price, Cedric Robinson, Kenneth B. Robinson, II, James W. Sheridan, Joey Jack Shirley, Dennis Michael Smith, James Smoak, Tom Sparks, Steve Trosper, Patrick L. Vowels, […]
Officials Annual Award Winners
ANNUAL AWARDS BANQUET
The KHSAA Awards Banquet for Licensed Officials is held annually to recognize outstanding officials in all sports. The banquet is held at the KHSAA Office in Lexington and is a free celebration where the KHSAA recognizes officials from across all sports.
PAST OFFICIALS OF THE YEAR
Baseball
1993 Don Gilmore
1995 Bart Rison
1996 Mondo Angelucci
1997 David Brooks
1998 Bill Macht
1999 Andy Strain
2000 Bill Bradley
2001 Keith Morgan
2002 Don White
2003 Mark Bryant
2004 Tracy Arflin
2005 Bob Eads
2006 Roger Fulks
2007 Brent Bradley
2008 Bob Kouns
2009 Will Begley
2010 Steve Thomas
2011 Terry Flener
2012 Shaun Williams
2013 Brian Napier
2014 Harvey Baxter
2015 Tony Gray
2016 Paul Schardein
2017 Randy Ross
2018 Scott Moore
[…]
06/14/19 – State Softball Schedule Adjusted
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 14, 2019
After nearly continuous consultation with a variety of media outlets and weather professionals, the KHSAA has revised the schedule for the final rounds of the State Softball Tournament.
The semifinals will be played Saturday starting at noon, with the finals scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday evening.
“We have talked to administrators at all eight schools this week to make them aware of the forecast and predictions we were hearing for the Lexington area for Saturday night and Sunday, along with the options we were considering,” said KHSAA Commissioner Julian Tackett. “The consensus of all the media weather professionals is that to play the finals on Sunday would very likely lead to weather delays and cancellations. The predicted inclement weather and rain, once it begins, is scheduled to be considerable for the better part of the next four days.
“In the interest of the student participants and their families and […]
06/13/19 – Field Hockey Goalkeeping Course Added to NFHS Learning Center
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (June 13, 2019) — “Coaching Field Hockey: Goalkeeping,” an online education course produced in partnership with USA Field Hockey, has been added to the available courses on the NFHS Learning Center at www.NFHSlearn.com.
“Coaching Field Hockey: Goalkeeping” is a sport-specific course that demonstrates the skills, techniques and tactics of playing the goalkeeper position in field hockey. As the last line of defense, goalkeepers require unique and supportive teaching and training.
“We’re excited to offer this professional development opportunity for field hockey coaches and look forward to expanding coaches’ knowledge of the game,” said Dan Schuster, NFHS director of educational services.
“Teaching, developing, motivating and including goalkeepers in training is an important part of team development and a common challenge, especially for coaches who have never played the position,” said Craig Parnham, USA Field Hockey director of coach education and learning. “This course focuses on the basic techniques and includes simple exercises to […]
06/07/19 – KHSAA State Softball Postponed Till June 14
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 7, 2019
Due to this weekend’s long-range weather forecast in Lexington, the start of the 2019 KHSAA State Softball Tournament has been postponed to Friday, June 14. The quarterfinal games will be played in a continuous format on June 14 starting at 10 a.m. The order of games for the quarterfinals will remain the same and times for the other rounds will be finalized and assigned in the coming days.
“Though this was not an easy decision to make, it was one we reached after consulting with the University of Kentucky, our softball staff, and others in an effort to provide an optimal experience for the participants in the best interest of our member schools,” said KHSAA Commissioner Julian Tackett. “Postponing the games till next weekend will prevent our teams from having to wait out the weather on an hourly basis, while also incurring additional expenses through extended lodging and travel. […]
06/06/19 – First Logan Billings Scholarships Awarded
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 6, 2019
The KHSAA is proud to announce the recipients of the first Logan Billings Memorial Scholarships. Hazard’s Bailey Blair and Rowan County’s A.J. Hacker received the scholarships by virtue of their selection as Most Outstanding Player in the Baseball Semi-State games at Morehead State this past weekend. Each individual will receive a $500 scholarship payable to their enrolled institution of higher learning.
Logan Billings, the son of KHSAA Board of Control member Darrell Billings and his wife Jennifer, died unexpectedly in July, 2018. Following his untimely death, the family approved an initiative from the Association to establish a scholarship in Logan’s name, funded by private donations earmarked for that cause.
“Darrell, Jennifer, Logan and the entire Billings’ family have given a lifetime of service to the folks in Eastern Kentucky and the rest of the state. Long before Darrell was a member of our Board of Control, he and his […]
Ferguson tabbed Midway University/KHSAA Female Student-Athlete of the Year for 2018-19
(Special notice courtesy of Midway University. Photo courtesy of Midway University. Photo of KHSAA Commissioner Julian Tackett, the 2019 winner Maci Ferguson of Russell High School, and Dr. John P. Marsden, President of Midway University)
The third annual Midway University/KHSAA Female Student-Athlete of the Year program concluded when the award winners from the past year were invited to campus for a ceremony to announce the overall winner for 2018-19. It was announced at the ceremony that Maci Ferguson (tennis) of Russell High School was named the overall winner for 2018-19.
A 2018 graduate of Russell High School, Ferguson left a lasting impact in her time as a standout for the Red Devils. A two-time Doubles State Champion and a four-time All-State Tennis Team Selection, Ferguson helped lead the Red Devils to five consecutive Region Championships. She also […]
06/04/19 – Whitaker Bank/KHSAA Baseball and KHSAA Softball State Tournaments Set For Lexington
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 4, 2019
The 2019 Whitaker Bank/KHSAA Baseball and 2019 KHSAA Softball State Tournaments will be held this week in Lexington, with the state baseball tournament returning to Whitaker Bank Ballpark while the state softball tournament heads to the University of Kentucky’s John Cropp Stadium for the first time.
Tickets for each event are available for purchase online with links available on the homepage at KHSAA.org. Re-entry is not permitted at either event, however, as is customary with all KHSAA General Admission events, the stands will not be cleared following the conclusion of any single game (with the exception of the reserved seating areas behind the plate) and fans are free to stay within the stadium confines.
The Whitaker Bank/KHSAA State Baseball Tournament (June 5-8) begins Wednesday evening when Beechwood takes on Breckinridge County at 5:30 p.m., followed by Tates Creek versus Pleasure Ridge Park at 8:30 p.m. Quarterfinal action resumes Thursday […]
05/29/19 – Triple Threat, Academic All-State Honorees Finalized for 2018-19
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 29, 2019
The Kentucky High School Athletic Association today announced final counts for its “Triple Threat Award” and “Academic All-State” recognition programs for the 2018-19 academic year. In its second year of existence, the Triple Threat Award was presented to a total of 1,878 student-athletes for 2018-19, while 151 KHSAA member schools recognized a total of 10,046 students as First Team Academic All-State and 5,772 students as Academic All-State Honorable Mention.
“We are very pleased with the participation level of our membership with the Triple Threat and Academic All-State programs,” said KHSAA Commissioner Julian Tackett. “Both of those processes have been automated to help our membership and make the recognition more readily available to our great student-athletes.”
Created by the Commissioner’s office in May of 2018 as a way to continue the national emphasis and the KHSAA’s own efforts to de-emphasize sports specialization in the athletic culture, the Triple Threat Award […]
Academic All State Honoree Listing Announced
Initiated in 1985, the KHSAA annually awards to students in the state of Kentucky “Academic All-State” recognition in conjunction with a corporate partner. The awards, in the form of certificates, are presented to students who have maintained a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.25 on a four-point scale. Those students are awarded “Honorable Mention” recognition. Students maintaining a 3.75 cumulative average on a four-point scale are designated “First Team.” The awards are based on cumulative grade point averages from the time of enrollment in ninth grade, are given only to varsity participants, and only to participants who are enrolled in grades nine through twelve.
For 2018-19, 151 KHSAA member schools recognized a total of 10,046 students as First Team and 5,772 as Honorable Mention. The count of schools and awards are based solely on the participation of the member schools and the certificates are a function of the member school login site provided by the Association. For 2017-18 and for reference, the KHSAA reported a […]
Triple Threat-2018-2019 Summary
In an effort to continue the national emphasis and the KHSAA’s own efforts to de-emphasize sports specialization in the athletic culture, the Commissioner’s office launched the “Triple Threat Award” program in May of 2018 to recognize those students who participate in high school athletics year round.
The award, which is given to student-athletes who participate in a KHSAA sport or sport-activity on the varsity level during each season of the academic year (fall/winter/spring), was presented to a total of 1,878 student-athletes for 2018-19. A closer look at the breakdown of honorees for the 2018-19 academic year revealed that:
- 269 of the 280 member schools have at least one honoree, up from 266 in the program’s first year;
- Eleven schools feature at least 16 honorees;
- Villa Madonna has the most of the member school honorees with 23, followed by Prestonsburg with 22, Belfry, Johnson Central and Metcalfe County with 18 each, Pikeville and […]
Triple Threat-2017-2018 Summary
In an effort to continue the national emphasis and the KHSAA’s own efforts to de-emphasize sports specialization in the athletic culture, the Commissioner’s office launched the “Triple Threat Award” program in May of 2018 to recognize those students who participate in high school athletics year round.
The award, which is given to student-athletes who participate in a KHSAA sport or sport-activity on the varsity level during each season of the academic year (fall/winter/spring), was presented to a total of 1,814 student-athletes for 2017-18. A closer look at the breakdown of honorees for the 2017-18 academic year revealed that:
- 266 of the 280 member schools have at least one honoree;
- Three schools (Holy Cross-Lou., Oneida Baptist, and Pikeville) each have 22 award recipients, followed by Villa Madonna with 21, and McCracken County and Scott with 19 each;
- By class, 465 seniors, 511 juniors, 458 sophomores, 318 freshmen, 43 eighth graders and 19 seventh […]
05/29/19 – State Tennis, Track and Field Championships Begin Thursday
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 29, 2019
The 2019 Top Seed Tennis Club/KHSAA State Tennis Championships and the 2019 KHSAA Track and Field State Meet will be contested this weekend in Lexington, with both events culminating on the campus of the University of Kentucky. Advance tickets to each event are available for purchase online at https://gofan.co/app/school/KHSAA.
The State Tennis Championships (May 30-June 1) begin Thursday morning at 8 a.m. with girls’ matches at Top Seed Tennis Club and the boys’ competition at the UK Boone/Downing Tennis Complex. All remaining tennis matches will move to the UK Boone/Downing Tennis Complex after the first day, with Friday’s competition starting at 8 a.m. Saturday’s action opens with the boys’ and girls’ singles and doubles semifinals at 9 a.m. Championship matches for boys’ and girls’ doubles are slated for 12 p.m., with the finals for boys’ and girls’ singles set for 2 p.m.
Team champions will be determined through […]
05/15/19 – Several Equipment Changes Highlight High School Basketball Rules Changes
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (May 15, 2019) — Five of the seven rules changes in high school basketball concern player equipment, including new uniform provisions that will be required in the 2024-25 season.
All seven rules revisions recommended by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Basketball Rules Committee at its April 23-25 meeting in Indianapolis were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.
Effective with the 2024-25 season, the number on the jersey can no longer be the same color as the jersey itself. Currently, the number can be the same color as the jersey if it is bordered by a contrasting color. Despite the contrasting-color border, the committee said the number is still difficult to see in many cases. The other two options in Rule 3-4-3e regarding the color of the number remain in effect.
A five-year implementation date was approved to allow schools time to budget for purchasing new uniforms.
Four […]
05/14/19 – Top Seed Tennis Club To Sponsor State Tennis Championships
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 14, 2019
The Kentucky High School Athletic Association has added a new corporate partner, with Top Seed Tennis Club signing on to become the title sponsor of the State Tennis Championships. Located at 777 E. Brannon Road in Nicholasville, Top Seed Tennis Club (https://www.topseedtennis.net/) opened in 2018 and features 21 hard courts surfaced with DecoTurf® (12 indoor and nine outdoor).
“We are beyond thrilled and proud to place the Top Seed Tennis Club name and brand alongside the KHSAA State Tennis Championships,” said general manager Jon Sanders. “Top Seed Tennis Club is a facility built for tournaments like this and for the growth of the game of tennis and development of young players. We are looking forward to a fantastic tournament and the development of all players involved.”
“We are […]
05/09/19 – Kentucky Proud Park to Host Final Semi-State Games
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 9, 2019
Following yesterday’s Board of Control meeting, the KHSAA has reached an agreement with the University of Kentucky to hold the final two unscheduled Semi-State Baseball games at Kentucky Proud Park on June 1st. The doubleheader will feature Region 9 vs 10 and Region 11 vs 12, with the game times to be determined.
Semi-State 1 & 2 (Regions 2 vs. 1 and 4 vs. 3) – Western Kentucky University
Semi-State 3 & 4 (Regions 6 vs. 5 and 8 vs. 7) – University of Louisville *
Semi-State 5 & 6 (Regions 10 vs. 9 and 12 vs. 11) – University of Kentucky
Semi-State 7 & 8 (Regions 14 vs. 13 and 16 vs. 15) – Morehead State University
*-in the event UofL is selected to host NCAA Baseball, the site would be the newly renovated Eastern High School.
The 2019 KHSAA/Whitaker Bank State Baseball Tournament […]
05/09/19 – Bass Fishing Championship Begins Friday at Kentucky Dam Marina
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 9, 2019
The seventh-annual KHSAA State Bass Fishing Championship begins Friday morning at the Kentucky Dam Marina when 90 teams compete for the 2019 state title. The 90 boats competing at this year’s state championship marks an increase in participation for the second consecutive year, as the qualifying field was previously expanded from its original 64 boats to 80 in 2018, and is reflective of continued growth in the sport-activity of Bass Fishing.
The two-day KHSAA State Bass Fishing Championship (May 10-11), with Calvert City serving as official host city, begins each morning with the boat launch from Kentucky Dam Marina at 7 a.m. The teams will launch in three flights, with a staggered return to the dock for weigh-ins. The launch order will then be reversed for the second day of the competition.
Teams will start returning to the marina at 3 p.m. each day, with the weigh-ins scheduled to […]
05/08/19 – Board Approves BA/FP Semi-State Sites, Adopts Spectator Conduct Policy
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 8, 2019
The Board of Control conducted its final meeting of the 2018-19 academic year on Tuesday and Wednesday at the KHSAA Offices, approving sites for the upcoming baseball and softball semi-state games while also addressing a number of policy revisions.
Acting on a prior directive from the Board of Control, KHSAA staff has worked throughout the year to secure neutral venues for the baseball and softball semi-state rounds – with a preference given to collegiate sites if possible. The semi-state games will take place Saturday, June 1st, with the Board approving the following sites:
SOFTBALL
Semi-State 1 & 2 (Regions 2 vs. 1 and 4 vs. 3) – Western Kentucky University
Semi-State 3 & 4 (Regions 6 vs. 5 and 8 vs. 7) – University of Louisville
Semi-State 5 (Region 10 vs. 9) – Northern Kentucky University
Semi-State 6 & 7 (Regions 12 vs. 11 and 14 […]
2019-2020 Approved KHSAA J-1/F-1 Exchange Agencies
Case BL-7-2- What are the approved J-1 VISA programs for Foreign Exchange Students?
Students holding a J-1 VISA issued by the U.S. Department of State and placed in KHSAA member schools through a CSIET approved agency may be declared eligible by the Association. For more information, contact the CSIET website by going to http://www.csiet.org/. An agency may be removed from the listing at any time for noncompliance with the basic rules regarding random placement of students and other Federal provisions.
At this time, this list contains the following approved J-1 Inbound Programs agencies:
AFICE*
AFS-USA*
American Councils
ACES
AIFS Foundation
Amicus International Student Exchange
Aspect Foundation
ASSE and World Heritage International
ASSIST
ATAD
Ayusa International
Borderless Friends Forever
CASE
Children of All Nations
CETUSA
CIEE
Cultural Homestay International
Educational Merit Foundation
ERDT/SHARE!*
Education […]
05/02/19 – Bass Fishing Qualifiers for State 2019
The preliminary field for the 2019 KHSAA State Fishing Championships is now set. This year’s event will feature 90 boats, all of which qualified based on their performance in one of four regional competitions.
All state championship anglers must pre-register online at HighSchoolFishing.org by May 7th. This will help confirm your participation and allow for boat captain changes if different from regional events. Only those teams who have qualified for the state championship will be able to register. The 2019 KHSAA State Bass Fishing Championship will be held May 10-11 at Kentucky Dam Marina.
“Upon review of the regional championship results and following consultation with our partners at Fishing League Worldwide (FLW), I feel comfortable that we can utilize three flights of thirty boats each and not impact the competition experience or our efforts to minimize risk,” said KHSAA Commissioner Julian Tackett. “Assistant Commissioner Mike Barren and the rest of our staff involved with […]
05/02/19 – Leachman Buick GMC Extends Title Sponsorship of State Golf Championships
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 2, 2019
The Kentucky High School Athletic Association and longtime corporate partner Leachman Buick GMC have reached an agreement on a contract extension which will see the latter’s sponsorship of the state golf championships reach 21-consecutive years when the new contract expires in June of 2025.
“We at Leachman Buick GMC are extremely excited to extend our sponsorship commitment for the Boys and Girls State Golf Championships for an additional five years. The opportunity to be a part of our young student-athletes’ endeavors is something we do not take lightly and we always hope that the State Championship is a memory that positively affects each participant for life,” said David Jaggers, Leachman GMC Buick Executive Manager/Partner. “This extension will guarantee our sponsorship of this great event for 21-consecutive years and we hope that this event continues to grow and improve each and every year. We would like to thank Bowling Green […]
04/29/19- Getting Smart but Acting Foolishly: There is a Solution (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.
We communicate on smartphones, drive smart cars, make purchases using smart cards and even drink smart water. But, really, how smart are we?
Between college admission and internet privacy scandals, sexual misconduct investigations, stolen trade secrets and the growing concern about how we communicate and connect with each other, technology seems to be outpacing our capacity to understand the most responsible way to use it.
In other words, how are tomorrow’s leaders being groomed to make decisions that provide the perspective, balance, and strength of character that today’s advanced world needs?
The answer is by participating in high school sports like the ones offered by the high schools in Kentucky.
Most researchers agree that leaders are made, not […]
04/28/19 – Official of the Year Winners Announced
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 28, 2019
The KHSAA honored the top officials for 2019 during the Association’s 26th Annual Officials Recognition Banquet today at the Association’s headquarters. The ceremony recognized the finalists for each sport or sport-activity in which the KHSAA licenses officials, as well as the Larry G. Boucher Jr. Supervisor of the Year.
Finalists in each sport were selected through a combination of service to their association and excellence in officiating. One official in each sport was named “Outstanding Official of the Year” for his/her sport in appreciation of their dedication and service to schools and student-athletes across the state. The Association also presented the annual Larry G. Boucher Jr. Supervisor of the Year Award during the ceremony.
Outstanding Official Nominees (winners listed first)
BASEBALL – Terry Carter (Madisonville), Robert Bauer (Cave City), Carl Johnson (Metropolis, Ill.)
BASKETBALL – Jeremy Grantham (Boaz), Kristi Eller (Louisville), Nathan […]
04/25/19 – Additional Time Given to Evaluate Head, Neck Injuries in High School Wrestling
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (April 25, 2019) — In an ongoing effort to minimize the risk of injury in high school wrestling, additional time will be given to evaluate head and neck injuries when an appropriate health-care professional is present at a match.
In addition to the 1½ minutes of injury time allotted for each wrestler, an appropriate health-care professional will have a maximum of five minutes to evaluate injuries to the head and neck involving the cervical column and/or nervous systems. At that point, the wrestler would have to continue or default the match.
This revision in injury time in Rule 8-2-4 is one of 17 rules changes recommended by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Wrestling Rules Committee at its April 3-5 meeting in Indianapolis. All recommendations were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.
A second injury to the head and neck involving cervical column and/or central nervous system in […]
04/24/19 – KHSAA State Archery Championships Head to Bowling Green Tuesday
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 24, 2019
The KHSAA State Archery Championships will be contested in a new venue in 2019, with the event moving to Ephram White Park in Bowling Green. The state championship gets underway Tuesday, April 30th with the first of six flights slated for 9:30 a.m. (CT). Advance tickets to the event are available for purchase at https://gofan.co/app/school/KHSAA.
The last flight of the day is set for 2:30 p.m., with awards presentations to begin immediately afterward. Team trophies will be presented to the top four boys’ and top four girls’ teams, with medallions presented to the top five individuals for each gender.
At last year’s state championship, Bullitt Central posted a team score of 2,030 to capture the boys’ team title and hold off state runner-up Madison Central (2,023). Henderson County’s Dalton Hinkle defeated Anderson County’s Henry Thompson in a tiebreaker to claim the individual state championship, after both players posted […]
Ball Adoptions for 2019-2020 and Beyond
Reminder to school administrators about the primary points of the KHSAA and its ball adoption agreements.
In an effort to offset the services and events provided by the KHSAA and eliminate passing on a great deal of additional cost to the membership, the association has long entered into official ball adoption agreements. The provisions of these agreements are similar and official ball numbers are listed in the table below.
There is no change in the balls adopted for 2019-2020 and beyond when compared to 2018-2019.
The following provisions are in place in each of the listed sports:
- A brand specific requirement is in place. For example, the Select Sport soccer ball is required for all use in postseason play (all levels). However, the ball does NOT have to be the Royale model. Specific models are the choice of the member school, however, the administrators should be mindful that dealer price points will likely be in place […]
04/22/19 – Six Rules Changes Approved in High School Swimming, Diving
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (April 22, 2019) — Effective with the 2019-20 high school season, a legal finish now requires the competitor to contact either the touchpad or the finish end coinciding with the individual stroke of the race. With this change, swimmers can legally complete a race by touching the finish end (end wall), regardless of whether the touchpad is activated.
This rules revision, which affects the finish of all strokes used in swimming, was one of two swimming and four diving changes recommended by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Swimming and Diving Rules Committee at its March 24-26 meeting in Indianapolis. All recommendations were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.
Rule 8-1-7 now will require swimmers to contact the finish end in the manner prescribed by the individual strokes. Descriptions of the backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and freestyle finishes in Rule 8-2 state that a legal finish requires contact with […]
04/22/19 – Whitaker Bank/KHSAA Baseball and KHSAA Softball State Tournament Draws Set for Tuesday
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 22, 2019
The draws for the 2019 Whitaker Bank/KHSAA State Baseball and KHSAA State Softball Tournaments will take place Tuesday, April 23 at 12 p.m. The draw will be conducted at the KHSAA offices and can be viewed live online at KHSAA.tv.
The Whitaker Bank/KHSAA State Baseball Tournament will be held June 5-8 at Whitaker Bank Ballpark, home of the Lexington Legends, for the ninth-straight year. The tournament begins with quarterfinal action June 5-6, followed by the semifinals on Friday, June 7 and the championship game on Saturday, June 8.
The State Softball Tournament will take place June 7-9 at the University of Kentucky’s John Cropp Stadium, as the event transitions to a single-elimination format in 2019. The tournament begins with quarterfinal action on Friday, June 7th, followed by the semifinals on Saturday, June 8th and the championship game on Sunday, June 9th.
The Draw Show will be streamed live […]
Hall of Famer Mary Custard-Austin: “If you tell me ‘no,’ I’m going after it even harder”
BY MIKE FIELDS (April 19, 2019)
Mary Custard-Austin was an incredible athlete at Harrison County High School — a 2,000-point scorer in basketball and a five-time state champion in track – who readily admits she was “blessed with natural talent” that allowed her “to go out and do things that other people struggled to do.
“I was humbled I had that gift,” she added.
But talent alone is like a Ferrari without fuel: it won’t get you where you want to go.
Custard-Austin’s accomplishments were also the result of a remarkable work ethic that her mom helped instill in her: “She kept telling me, ‘There’s always someone out there bigger and badder, so you can’t take a break.’”
When Custard-Austin is inducted into the Dawahares/KHSAA Hall of Fame on April 27 in Lexington, she’ll acknowledge that it not only took natural talent and hard work to achieve success in sports and in life, but also […]
04/18/19 – Spring Sports Championship Media Credentials
The KHSAA’s online media credentialing system for the Spring Sports Championships (Archery, Bass Fishing, Tennis, Track & Field, Baseball and Softball) is now live, and can be accessed by going to credentials.khsaa.org.
Credentials to each KHSAA state championship event are issued by the KHSAA to working members of the media that regularly cover high school athletics. Credentials must be requested prior to the established deadline for each sport through the online credentialing system (credentials.khsaa.org).
Credentials should be requested by the sports editor/director for all members of his/her organization needing to attend an event. Credentials for freelance photographers and stringers must be requested by the sports editor/director at the outlet the freelancer will be representing. Media outlets are responsible for the actions of all individuals representing their organization, including compliance with KHSAA policies and procedures. No credentials will be issued outside of the online credentialing system. The KHSAA reserves the right to limit the […]
04/16/19 – Official of the Year Candidates Announced
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 16, 2019
The KHSAA will honor the top officials for 2019 on April 28th at the Association’s 26th Annual Officials Recognition Banquet. The ceremony, conducted at the KHSAA Offices, honors the finalists for each sport in which the KHSAA licenses officials. Doors will open at 1:30 p.m. with the program scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.
Finalists in each sport were selected through a combination of service to their association and excellence in officiating. One official in each sport will be named “Outstanding Official of the Year” for his/her sport in appreciation of their dedication and service to schools and student-athletes across the state. The Association will also present the annual Larry G. Boucher Jr. Supervisor of the Year Award during the ceremony.
Outstanding Official Nominees
BASEBALL – Robert Bauer (Cave City), Terry Carter (Madisonville), Carl Johnson (Metropolis, Ill.)
BASKETBALL – Kristi Eller (Louisville), […]
Eric Shelton says KHSAA Hall of Fame honor was a team effort
BY MIKE FIELDS (April 2, 2019)
When Eric Shelton looks back on his high school days at Bryan Station, he doesn’t focus on football, or the touchdowns he scored, the headlines he earned, the victories he celebrated, the awards he received.
“What I remember most was just living life without a care in the world, and appreciating my friends and my fellowship with them,” he said by phone from his home in Charlotte, N.C.
When Shelton is inducted into the Dawahares/KHSAA Hall of Fame later this month, he will credit those friends for helping him earn this honor.
“I really wouldn’t be here, I don’t even know how far I would’ve made it out of high school, if it wasn’t for my teammates, my friends,” he said. “Granted, I had God-given ability to run fast, to be strong and to jump high, but we had a great team, including great players and great coaches. They […]
04/01/19 – KHSAA.org Now Features Enhanced Stat Offerings for Baseball, Softball
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 1, 2019
New for the 2019 season, box scores, cumulative team season statistics and state leaders for baseball and softball will be available at KHSAA.org. For the past two seasons, limited statistical information was available at KHSAA.org (only state leaders were offered in 2018) through an outsourced arrangement with a third-party vendor. Internalizing the stat entry process brings the statistical coverage for baseball and softball on par with soccer, football, basketball and field hockey on the KHSAA’s website and the KHSAA/Riherds.com Scoreboard.
Member schools are solely responsible for submitting statistical information. Failure to do so subjects the school to penalties from the Commissioner’s office, including fines and other actions, within the constraints of Bylaw 27. If a school or individual is omitted from the stat leaders report, or information is not current, that means the team in question did not enter its statistics prior to that morning’s […]
04/01/19 – List of Items for Annual Required Financial Aid Report
It is once again that time of year for ALL KHSAA member schools to complete the required annual financial aid report in compliance with Bylaw 11. This report is required of ALL KHSAA member schools. 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 request for report completion.
The link to enter the required report will open for completion on April 15. Gathering this information before the link is sent on April 15 should allow you to quickly complete the report in 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 2018-2019 Financial Aid Report:
[…]Kelly Coleman still the ‘King’ of Kentucky high school basketball
BY MIKE FIELDS (March 22, 2019)
WAYLAND – They came from all over the state, finding their way from Ashland, Bowling Green, Frankfort, Lexington, Louisville, Monticello, Paintsville and Pikeville, winding their way through the mountains of eastern Kentucky on the first full day of spring, so they could be here to welcome Kelly Coleman home from the hospital and to make sure he knew he will forever reign as the king of Kentucky high school basketball.
“King” Kelly Coleman is 80 now and fighting health issues, but his blue eyes are still clear and piercing; he still has the bearing of a man who demands respect, and his accomplishments from six decades ago still amaze.
That’s why more than 40 people, including three of Coleman’s fellow Mr. Basketball winners, a Miss Basketball, an Olympian, and a collection of distinguished coaches, gathered at the Wayland Historical Community Center (and its Mountain Sports Hall of Fame) on […]
03/19/19- Reminder about 2018-2019 Title IX and Participation List Submission
With spring sports in full swing and most schools getting ready to take some form of spring break, it is time to remind each of you that the annual reports for Title IX and the Participation List are due on April 30.
- 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.
- Information Technology Director Rob Catron (rcatron@khsaa.org), as well as almost any of our support staff, can help you with electronic issues including login and report preparation using the online system. The online system is currently available for entry.
Roster and Team Requirements
03/19/19- Golf Realignment and Format Status
September, 2018 – Board begins discussions surrounding golf realignment and tournament qualification.
- Realignment was viewed as long overdue and the Board and staff have spent a great deal of time discussing the state golf tournament and the best way to qualify teams and individuals.
- The membership through its Principals and Designated Representatives had expressed a desire through various meetings to have the boys and girls in golf in the same region.
- For several years, golf had twelve regions for boys and eleven for girls.
- In addition, the Kentucky Golf House had worked with staff and participants to emphasis pace of play at the state tournament in a variety of ways. The staff and Board of Control were aware of this concern, but primarily to the extent that the rounds of golf could be completed each day and not require stayovers to finish incomplete rounds.
November, 2018 – Board further discusses issues surrounding golf […]
03/18/19 – NFHS Part 2 Exam Online for Baseball and Softball Officials
NFHS Part 2 Tests for licensed officials in the sports of Baseball and Softball are now available online. The Part 2 exams, required for postseason eligibility, will be open until Monday, April 1 at 11:59 p.m. (ET).
The tests will automatically close at that exact time. Login at https://officials.khsaa.org/authorize/ to take the test. A minimum score of 80 on the exam is required to be considered for assignment to officiate postseason play.
First-year officials are not required to take the exam, however, if any first-year official has completed licensing requirements, the test may be taken.
Any official determined to have been involved in the improper administration of the exam, including taking it for another official or having it taken by another official, will have the score disregarded for the year and be subject to other penalties in compliance with the jurisdiction of the office through the Federal Court Decree.
Please keep in mind that there […]
Surefire: Scherr-fired Ryle rolls to Girls’ Sweet Sixteen title
BY MIKE FIELDS (March 17, 2019)
Orange and black – not green — were the winning colors on St. Patrick’s Day as the Ryle Lady Raiders rolled to the championship of the 58th KHSAA Girls’ Sweet Sixteen before 5,607 fans in Rupp Arena.
Ryle, whose school colors are orange and black, dominated Southwestern 63-48 in Sunday afternoon’s finals to become only the second Northern Kentucky girls’ team to win a state title. (Covington Holy Cross cut down the nets in 2015.)
Maddie Scherr, one of the top juniors in the nation, was named the tournament’s MVP after exemplifying what it means to be an all-around player.
The 5-foot-11 point guard totaled 52 points, 31 rebounds, 11 assists, 10 steals and 9 rebounds in helping Ryle sweep past Murray, Clark County, Owensboro Catholic and Southwestern.
“Maddie is so unselfish,” Lady Raiders Coach Katie Haitz said. “She’s just unbelievable . . . her ball-handling, knowing the […]
Boyd County’s loss can’t dim the shine on Savannah Wheeler’s career
BY MIKE FIELDS (March 14, 2019)
Savannah Wheeler has what her parents call “Savannah moments.”
Like when she was a third-grader and tagged along with older sister Taylor to a basketball camp at Transylvania. Savannah liked that she got to play in a game, but what she really, really liked was the camp’s soft-serve ice cream.
“The next year when they went back to camp the ice-cream machine was broken. Savannah didn’t want to go back to Transy again,” her dad Dave said with a laugh.
Or like when she was a sixth-grader and dressed out for Boyd County’s varsity, and Coach Pete Fraley looked down the bench to put her into a game one night. Savannah was nowhere to be found. “She got hungry and went to the concession stand to get a candy bar,” her dad explained.
“That’s Savannah,” her mom Tracy added. “She just kinda does her thing; she’s just a special […]
Robin Harmon & Irene Moore would’ve loved to play in Rupp Arena
BY MIKE FIELDS (March 13, 2019)
Robin Harmon-Newsome was a high-scoring basketball star who led Sheldon Clark to four consecutive appearances in the KHSAA Girls’ Sweet Sixteen from 1975-78.
Irene Moore Strong was a 5-foot-3, 108-pound dynamo who sparked Breathitt County to the state tournament as a junior and senior. After she led the Bobcats to a runner-up finish in 1978, she was named Miss Basketball.
Harmon and Moore, who will be inducted into the Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame this summer, remember those good ol’ days with appreciation and nostalgia.
Playing in the Sweet Sixteen in EKU’s Alumni Coliseum was a big thrill.
But what if, instead, they had gotten to play in Rupp Arena, where the girls’ state tournament will be held for the first time this week?
“Oh, wow! That would’ve been a dream come true,” Harmon said. “I’m sure I always dreamed of it, but I never got to […]
Hall of Famer Kandi Brown-Parker recalls her sweetest Sweet Sixteen
BY MIKE FIELDS (March 12, 2019)
There have been a lot of sweet moments in the history of the KHSAA Girls’ Sweet Sixteen, but the sweetest of all may have been the one shared by a coach and his daughter in the glow of a championship almost 20 years ago.
During a timeout in the closing seconds of West Carter’s 58-50 victory over Shelby County in the 2000 state finals, Lady Comets Coach John “Hop” Brown wrapped his arms around his daughter Kandi, who had just hit a clinching free throw in front of 6,500 fans in EKU’s McBrayer Arena.
“I can still remember so vividly that embrace he and I had,” Kandi Brown-Parker said this week. “That was probably my favorite moment ever with him. That hug was just awesome.”
Brown-Parker will be remembering that moment when she is inducted into the Dawahares/KHSAA Hall of Fame on April 27 in Lexington.
She said she […]
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