Spring football has been eliminated in Kentucky at the high school and middle school levels for 2020. The decision was announced Friday morning by the KHSAA.
Effective immediately, no protective equipment may be issued to players at any time and for any purpose prior to the last academic day of the school year. This includes helmets, shoulder pads and any other player equipment, as well as all practice equipment such as dummies, pads and other drill gear.
In addition, there is also no allowance for team meetings, instruction, classroom work or any other activity where any football-specific instruction is involved through at least April 12.
In the interim, future allowances for the remainder of the school year will be discussed and further updated to the membership and to middle schools.
In part, the statement from KHSAA reads:
Certainly, person to person contact sports, particularly with equipment of varying cleanliness and sanitization, cannot be allowed during this nationwide period of concern over COVID19 (coronavirus). To allow such efforts would be to act as oblivious to the current efforts to contain this virus.
This ban cannot simply be “temporary” for spring practice. To do so would create a tremendous potential competitive imbalance on future seasons due to the varying scheduled dates of spring practice, and potentially allow some schools to participate and some not to practice.
We wish you all safety, comfort, and health while we all work together on these concerns.
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The Owensboro Health coronavirus hotline is available 24/7 by calling 877-888-6647. Call the hotline before seeking in-person care. More information from OH can be found here.
For the latest information and data on COVID-19 in Kentucky visit kycovid19.ky.gov or dial the Kentucky state hotline at 800-722-5725.
For the latest health guidelines and resources from the CDC, visit their website here.
