Most Kentucky high school sports remain in limbo, but golf gets go-ahead
While affirming it still plans to have sports this fall, the Kentucky High School Athletic Association on Friday held off making a decision about when most of its seasons can start and kept in place current restrictions on practices due to the coronavirus pandemic through at least Aug. 2.
The KHSAA’s Board of Control decided to shelve the normal start date of practice for most teams (which was to begin next Wednesday) while allowing them to continue to do the voluntary workouts that have been allowed since June 15. Board members spent Friday morning in a work session discussing alternatives and recommendations provided by Commissioner Julian Tackett and his staff.
“We’re playing this fall. We’re going to participate in athletics and activities this fall,” Tackett said during the morning session speaking to the will of the organization. “We don’t know what it’s going to look like, but we’re going to.”
Of the KHSAA’s eight fall activities — football, soccer, volleyball, golf, cross country, field hockey, cheer and dance — only golf will be allowed to proceed on its normal 2020 schedule because it is on a list of approved “low touch” sports that have been able to have competitions this summer despite the pandemic. Golf is scheduled to begin play July 31.
“An important distinction in the original governor youth sports order: there is no ending date. …” Tackett said referring to guidance from Gov. Andy Beshear that allowed baseball, softball, golf and other “low touch” sports to begin play last month but still prohibits games for others, including football, soccer and basketball. “So, basically, until we see what’s going on with this (pandemic), develop alternative plans, etc., those restrictions remain in place. It’s not our decision.”
The board’s meeting was the first of the 2020-21 academic year and was held in person and via Zoom at a Covington hotel and streamed for the public on YouTube. Many members wore masks during the more than five hours of deliberations and Tackett emphasized the importance of following and the KHSAA promoting mask wearing during the meeting. Gov. Andy Beshear ordered that masks be worn in most situations beginning at 5 p.m. Friday. There are exceptions for athletes actively involved in physical activities.
“If our state wants high school sports, you’re going to have to do the CDC recommendations on masking, on distancing, on hand-washing. That’s it,” Tackett said. “You’re making a choice. Regardless of your motivation, whether it’s political or otherwise, you’re openly saying, ‘I don’t want us to get back to normal as fast as we could,’ when you defy it. ... Regardless of our personal feelings, this is what may get high school sports back.”
Officially, the KHSAA on Friday voted to extend its “Segment 3” guidance on what’s allowed for high school teams during the pandemic through Aug. 2. That guidance prohibits game-like or scrimmage conditions and keeps team activities limited to being conducted in groups of 10 socially distanced players. Over the last few weeks, coaches have been able to gather as many as 50 players at a time on campus, but they must keep them spread out in groups of 10 per coach.
The KHSAA’s decision Friday means that coaches cannot hold normal tryouts until at least Aug. 3 and that all activities through Aug. 2 remain voluntary conditioning, weight and skills training. Football teams cannot put on helmets or pads as they would normally do during this time of year. Additionally, students are limited to six hours of practice per week.
“As soon as we are able to add, whether it’s limited contact or regular contact activities, that’ll be the start (of official practice/tryouts),” Tackett said. “We’re targeting Aug. 3.”
As to when football, soccer, volleyball and other seasons might start, the KHSAA also aims to make that determination at a special meeting sometime before Aug. 2 (tentatively set for July 28), provided that more data and input from the state Department of Public Health, the Department of Education and Beshear’s office indicate such sports can move forward. Football was set to begin Aug. 21 with other sports scheduled for earlier that week.
Tackett reminded the board that all of its decisions can be revisited based on the status of the pandemic in the state and nation.
“If our health numbers change to negative, the development of that will be a little different,” Tackett said.
Statements made by Tackett on Friday and earlier this week in front of other groups indicate the KHSAA intends to move forward with competitions even if there might be a coronavirus case on a particular team or at a school. During the past few weeks of voluntary workouts, some schools have had to shut them down due to such circumstances. Moving forward, individual games might have to be canceled due to COVID occurrences, Tackett said.
“There may be a district soccer game on the seeded district deadline that the day before some team has to quarantine because their opponent was there and they found out they were exposed,” Tackett posed as a hypothesis. “We might not be able to fix everything. And I think that’s a very real possibility.”
But the inclination is for the rest of the competitions to continue. Teams that can’t play a game due to COVID would not suffer normal forfeit sanctions and the game would be considered a no contest equaling a win and a loss for standings calculations, according to board approved measures Friday.
Other items addressed by the board:
Was informed that the National Federation of High School Associations is offering member schools up to two Pixxelot cameras for use to provide live streaming of their games via its network. The cameras (mentioned as an up to $5,000 value per), could be installed by the schools themselves or by the NFHS for a $2,500 fee. Schools could then sell subscriptions to the NFHS Network as a fundraiser. A webinar for interested schools will be offered sometime next week.
Tackett reported the KHSAA got about $55,000 in ticket donations from people who did not request refunds for the boys’ and girls’ state basketball tournaments. In addition, Rupp Arena made about $75,000 in concessions on its fees for what it would have charged for hosting those tournaments. That money, in addition to the KHSAA receiving federal Paycheck Protection Program funds, have eased some of the KHSAA’s financial concerns for day-to-day operations. “Financially, we’re OK right now. We’re not in danger of having to shut down next week,” Tackett said.
Waived its usual requirements to determine athlete eligibility due to the COVID situation. Districts will be allowed to use their own criteria for athlete eligibility for the 2020-21 season because some students might have fallen behind their normal progress due to COVID, but could still get on track to graduate.
Kept in place its rules prohibiting in-season participation on outside or all-star teams except in specific cases .
Kept its transfer rules in place making no special accommodations due to COVID.
Denied a request from Harlan County High School to switch regions in cross country and track and field.
This story was originally published July 10, 2020 at 2:08 PM.
