Category: High School Sports

Parents may attend high school winter sports events

Two parents or guardians per athlete may attend high school winter sports, according to a new decision Tuesday by the Kansas State High School Athletic Association board of directors.

In a special virtual meeting, the board voted 54-24 to allow two parents per participant, overturning a previous decision of no spectators.

From Thursday, Dec. 10, through Jan. 28, interscholastic activities will allow up to two parents or guardians per participant and per participant’s family to attend, as allowed by the local board of education or health department restrictions.

According to KSHSAA, included in participants are players, coaches, student managers, cheer squads, dance teams, pep bands and student journalists.

Each school is expected to have universal face coverings and social distancing guidelines, according to KSHSAA.

The rule stated that all participants must wear a face covering while at the event and for the duration of the event. There is an exception for athletes during the time they are competing and for officials during active play.

Each school board in Kansas may set its own rules on whether and how to play winter sports, and each county health department also may set guidelines on winter sports.

In Wyandotte County, after first strongly recommending against any indoor winter sports, the guidelines were rescinded and new guidelines issued in mid-November with recommendations for cohorts and recommendations for remote learning for athletes.

All athletes, participants and spectators are mandated to wear masks in Wyandotte County, including during the game, according to the health order. Social distancing is in effect. Wyandotte County also has a 50 percent capacity limit on sports event venues.

The Unified Government Health Department winter sports guidelines for Wyandotte County are at https://alpha.wycokck.org/files/assets/public/health/documents/covid/11132020-sportsrecommendations.pdf and https://alpha.wycokck.org/files/assets/public/health/documents/covid/11132020-localhealthofficersportsorderrescinded.pdf.

On Nov. 10, the Kansas City, Kansas, school board decided to let winter sports be played, on a delayed schedule with games starting Jan. 18. See https://wyandotteonline.com/kck-school-board-approves-winter-sports/.

New rules adopted for Kansas schools’ winter sports

The Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) board on Tuesday approved a plan to begin winter sports and activities Dec. 1 and continue through Dec. 22.

After Dec. 22, there will be a winter moratorium, in which there will be no practices and no competition, beginning Dec. 23, according to an announcement.

The winter moratorium is usually Dec. 23 to Dec. 27, but the board has extended the moratorium through Jan. 3.

Practice can begin on Jan. 4 and competition may resume on Jan. 8, according to the KSHSAA. The new rules will apply to high schools and middle schools, according to the announcement.

Masks will be required of everyone, except for athletes while they are competing, and officials who are actively officiating.

Spectators will not be allowed at high school and middle school contests through Jan. 28, according to the announcement.

There also are limits placed on the number of events allowed for each individual sport. For example, basketball is capped at 20 games, not including the postseason.

Each school district may decide on its own winter sports rules, schedule and participation.

The Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools board on Nov. 10 voted to start practices Jan. 4, with games beginning Jan. 18. (See https://wyandotteonline.com/kck-school-board-approves-winter-sports/)

Winter sports in Kansas schools could be delayed

The Kansas State High School Activities Association Executive Board today unanimously supported delaying the start of winter games until mid-January.

The proposal will go to the full KSHSAA Board of Directors for consideration, according to a news release. That board will meet at 1 p.m. Nov. 24 in a virtual meeting.

The KSHSAA Executive Board reviewed data including elevated positivity rates of COVID-19, the effect of other illnesses on top of COVID-19 on the overburdened health care system, and moving activities indoors, according to the announcement.

Under the proposal, high school competitions for all winter activities would be delayed until Friday, Jan. 15; winter activity practice could continue where appropriate through Dec. 22; and a winter moratorium would be extended from Dec. 23 to Jan. 3, with practices resuming Jan. 4.

Also, the proposal supports no fans for competition from Jan. 15 to 28; limited fans from Jan. 29 through the rest of the winter competitions; and mandatory masking except for athletes in competition and officials during live action. There would be no invitational tournaments.

The proposal also has competition maximum limits on the number of games or events per team.

There also were proposed restrictions for middle school, including no competition in December, and also none from Jan. 1 through Jan 14; no events with more than three schools; intramural play only strongly encouraged; and limit of two fans per player starting Jan. 15.

The Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools board on Nov. 10 voted to start practices Jan. 4, with games beginning Jan. 18. (See https://wyandotteonline.com/kck-school-board-approves-winter-sports/)