The first step toward the return of high school sports in Kentucky will be taken Monday, when small team meetings will be allowed for the first time. Three sets of dates were approved in the start of a gradual return, while the annual dead period has been eliminated for 2020.
The decisions were made Thursday during a live conference call by the Kentucky High School Athletic Association’s Board of Control, who voted to end the current dead period that was enacted March 13 due to the coronavirus.
Complete detailed guidance is expected to be released as early as Friday, but the outline is as follows:
June 1-14
Coaches can begin meeting with players on campus again, with restrictions. A maximum of 10 people may be allowed at meetings during this time, and all distancing guidelines must be followed. Permission must also be obtained from the school district and the health department.
During this time, no practices or conditioning of any type may take place. It is only for staff to reconnect with players. The time can also be used to set up any necessary safety precautions, acquire personal protective equipment, and develop a schedule for the next phases.
“Let’s get these kids back with their coaches sooner rather than later,” KHSAA Commissioner Julian Tacket said during discussion about the proposed timelines. “Our high school coaches in many cases know more about what’s going on in a kid’s home life than anybody in the building.”
June 15-28
Depending on the sport, practices and activities can resume — all in accordance with the guidelines issued last week by the state.
“Low-touch” sports, which for the fall means golf and cross country, can resume practices without competition. Practices are still limited to groups of 10 players or less, with no more than one adult coach per group. Multiple groups may practice but must adhere to the social distancing guidelines.
“High-touch” sports, which for the fall means football, soccer and volleyball, may only resume physical fitness workouts, exercises and skills training in the groups of 10 players or less. No full practices or competitions are permitted.
June 29 and beyond
“Low-touch” sports may resume competition with up to 50 spectators. “High-touch” sports may resume practices without competition. Groups should be subdivided so with 10 players or less and no more than one coach per group.
There is not a timetable for “high-touch” sports to resume full practice or competition at this point. Tackett said KHSAA and the state will continue to monitor the situation in Kentucky and surrounding states before further decisions are made.
Dead period
The annual two-week dead period for 2020 — set for June 25-July 9 — has been eliminated with a 13-5 vote by the board. The decision was largely based on sports already having been in a dead period for more than two months because of COVID-19.
“I don’t think it’s feasible to start, stop, and start again when so half the battle is psychological,” Tackett said.
Voluntary participation
The dead period was the most discussed topic of the meeting, with one chief concern being whether or not athletes would feel pressured to participate in their respective workouts and practices despite everything being voluntary during this time.
However, the majority agreed it would be up to the school administrators such as superintendents and athletic directors to ensure coaches got the message across that there would be no penalties for missing these voluntary activities.
Other decisions
Though the actions are statewide, not every program has to start at the earliest date possible. KHSAA is leaving it up to each district to decide when to open and to what extent, and they will also be in charge of ensuring that all guidelines are followed properly.
Ohio, Tennessee, Missouri and Indiana have all announced various plans to gradually resume sporting activities. The effects in those states are likely to impact the decisions made in Kentucky in the coming weeks.
