Kansas high school sports could return as early as June 1, per new KSHSAA decision
Since March 12, Kansas high school sports have taken a backseat — like everything else — to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now, they could return June 1.
At the Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) board of directors meeting Friday, an addendum was made to the summer regulations: The normal start date has been pushed back from the Saturday before Memorial Day. But at least there is a start date.
Here are the key points:
- School employed coaches may begin summer programs no earlier than June 1 if permitted by each community’s health authorities and school district administration
- All group gathering restrictions and social-distancing expectations must be met
- Activities must be kept to a three-hour limit per athlete, per day in the first week (five days of conditioning)
- That limit is bumped to five hours in the second week
- Organized competition is allowed in the third week
- One-week team camps can begin after the 10-day acclimatization period and take place through Aug. 15
- Traditional practices and guidelines begin Aug. 17
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Although the addendum passed by a 48-22 vote, some were concerned it could give schools in certain communities — for instance, those not hit as severely by the pandemic — an unfair advantage by allowing them to start earlier and gain more practice time than others. A map of the outbreak across Kansas affirms that cases had yet to be reported in 23 counties as of midday Tuesday.
In other counties, such as Sedgwick (Wichita), Ford (Dodge City), and Wyandotte (Kansas City), more than 400 cases have been found, leaving the return of high school sports practices up to the county commissioners offices and current local regulations.
Pete Meitzner, a Sedgwick County Commissioner representing District 1, said he did not foresee the June 1 start date conflicting with Kansas Governor Laura Kelly’s phased rollout of reopening the state.
“I’m supportive of it unless there are some flaws that I’m not aware of,” Meitzner said. “I haven’t seen the report, but in theory, I’m very supportive of kids getting back to sports programs.”
Other county commissioners may have differing interpretations. KSHSAA executive director Bill Faflick said he and his staff went into the board of directors meeting knowing the results would not please everyone in the state, but believing decisions had to be made.
“This was not a ‘one size fits all’ kind of solution,” Faflick said. “I think it’s the right decision because it is the best for the majority of Kansas kids.”
Football coaches across the Wichita area said they are eager to get back to work on June 1. But Derby’s Brandon Clark said doing so at his school will depend on the Derby administration’s and Derby Board of Education’s decisions. Likewise, Northwest’s Steve Martin said he is waiting to hear direction from from USD 259. And Bishop Carroll’s Dusty Trail said he will wait until he receives official word from Sedgwick County and the Wichita Catholic diocesan administration before moving forward with practices.
According to Kelly’s phasing plan, groups of 30 are not allowed even in phase two, which is set to begin no earlier than May 18. It isn’t until phase three, scheduled to begin no sooner than June 1, that groups may reach 90 people.
Faflick said every-summer KSHSAA stipulations that hold back competition, including the typical 10-day acclimatization period and limitations on the number of football-specific drills permitted during the first two weeks of workouts each summer, also remain in place.
“When you can start, you start,” Faflick said. “It’s kind of like, ‘Are you not going to teach Algebra 2 because someone else can’t start at the same time?’ No, it’s good for the kids to have that content, to have those experiences and to have that growth and learning. In a similar way, we would like to see that (resumption of state-sanctioned sports activities) as soon as possible for every Kansas kid.”
This story was originally published May 5, 2020 at 1:17 PM.