A look at the Kentucky High School Athletic Association’s (KHSAA) decision on fall sports:
FOOTBALL
Under the plan it was decided the football season will kickoff on Sept. 11.
Practice will begin in phases starting Aug. 24. Helmet only, followed by pads. First week is limited to seven hours and 30 minutes.
All scrimmage games are on hold, pending a decision by the KHSAA.
Teams may dress only 60 players for each game.
Football playoffs and championships will be moved back. Playoffs begin Nov. 6-7.
Championships will be played at Kroger Field on Dec. 11-12.
All games scheduled for the weeks of Aug. 21, 28 and Sept. 4 will not be played, but can be rescheduled during a team’s bye week.
Teams will have a maximum of nine games.
SOCCER, VOLLEYBALL, CROSS COUNTRY
Under the plan, soccer, volleyball and cross country can begin limited practice on Aug. 24.
Games and meets can begin on Sept. 7.
Soccer’s postseason will be adjusted in order to create more of the regular season, with post-season play now set for Oct. 12.
Soccer roster maximum is 24; volleyball roster is 15; and cross country roster maximum is 10.
COMPETITIVE CHEER, DANCE
Cheer and dance can begin on Aug. 24. KHSAA strongly urges schools to hold those competitions outdoors.
THE MEETING
A number of options were presented during the meeting.
Voting breakdown was 17 in favor of the proposed
recommendations, none opposed and one abstention, coming from Jefferson County
public schools, one of the hardest hit areas of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Each decision made is subject to change as pandemic conditions change. KHSAA
officials are scheduled to hold another meeting before the scheduled practice
date of Aug. 24.
During the July meeting, officials had set Aug. 3 at its target date to begin practice.
Football was to previously set to begin on Aug. 21; soccer on Aug. 10; volleyball and cross country on Aug. 17.
Only golf which began last week will follow its normal schedule.
During July, a number of teams had seen COVID cases among players and coaches, forcing those schools to halt contact.