Masks for those attending sporting events and attendance restrictions are a virtual certainty for high school sports in Kentucky this fall. With the start of the school year moving closer, Kentucky High School Athletic Association Commissioner Julian Tackett gave an update on the direction of high school athletics in the state Tuesday afternoon. The update came in a special Kentucky superintendent’s webcast on COVID-19.
Tackett began his presentation noting that states that delayed fall sports to the spring are seeing several problems with their decision. One of which involved students transferring across state lines to enable them to compete in athletics this fall.
As for how things will take place during events this fall, Tackett says the KHSAA Board is working to gave a set of guidelines for what has to be done for competition to take place. He noted that the guidelines would likely follow the guidelines from the Kentucky Department of Education. He specifically mention cleaning and spacing guidelines. Tackett stated they hope to have a document ready for August 24th.
Tackett did say that he expected some kind of attendance restrictions this fall. He noted that what the number would be has not been determined and that local districts may have some input on that final decision. He recommended that districts be looking at what kind of attendance they could operate with this fall in terms of social distancing.
As for masks for those attending contests this fall, Tackett said masks this fall “are a given, without question.” He noted that fans will be expected to wear a mask or a “face covering of some type.”
As for concessions as sporting events this year, Tackett recommended that if a district wants to have concessions, they look at the restaurant guidelines that the state has enacted.
