KHSAA upholds start dates for fall sports, games can begin week of Sept. 7

A much anticipated KHSAA Board of Controls meeting via Zoom on Thursday morning reached a viewership on YouTube of over 9,000. The meeting was to discuss three options for the start of fall sports, especially with the recommendation of Governor Andy Beshear to delay the start of school to Sept. 28. Many area schools, including Marshall County, are sticking with next week’s start of school dates.

Board Chair Darrell Billings said at the onset, “We take what we do very seriously.”

Commissioner Julian Tackett spoke of concerns not only of a global pandemic but the mental health crisis on the students.

“There are people, that regardless of what we do today, are going to find fault”, Tackett said. “It’s about kids, not politics.”

Tackett said today’s decision will not be final until it goes through Kentucky’s Dept. of Education, Dept. of Health and the Governor.

Option 1 was approved at the Board of Controls meeting on July 28 which allows full practices to begin on Aug. 24 and competitions the week of Sept. 7.

A discussion was held for Option 2 which delays the start of all fall sports to Sept. 28 to align with the Governor’s recommendation on the start of school. The vote for Option 2 failed 15-3.

Option 3 to start low-touch sports Sept. 7 and push back football, volleyball and soccer to a Sept. 28 start date also failed by a vote of 13-5.

The board voted 16-2 to move forward with Option 1 which was previously approved on July 28.

Post-season play decisions will be discussed in the September Board of Controls meeting.

Tackett said as long as the mask mandate is in place, masks will be required for those attending games along with attendance restrictions. More to come on attendance restrictions at a later date.

Cheer Regionals will be set for the weekends of Jan. 16 and Jan. 23. Dance Regionals will be set for the weekend of Feb. 13.

Also approved as recommended by the KMA Sports Medicine Committee – only a medical doctor or doctor of osteopathic can reinstate a player after a positive COVID-19 test.

To view the entire meeting CLICK HERE.