With a new two-year alignment in place for high school football in Kentucky for a new cycle, the Kentucky High School Athletic Association is looking to revise its rules to lock schools into their class based on its enrollment.
At last month’s meeting, the KHSAA board directed its staff to revise football competition rules to eliminate playing up in class for district purposes, effective in 2025, as well as resulting options to play down in a smaller district to balance class numbers.
In the past, teams could petition to play up in class for their district games if they could show a viable reason for the move, most commonly geographic and travel reasons. Non-district games can be scheduled with teams regardless of class.
Russellville played up from a 1A district to a 3A district over a decade ago because their 3A district opponents were much closer than 1A Fulton County, Fulton City, and Ballard Memorial.
Other schools, such as Mayfield, have requested to play up in class for competition reasons despite its enrollment placing them in a smaller class and district.
Teams can still play non-district teams in any class — large or small.
The class alignment typically runs in four-year cycles. However, the current alignment is a two-year deal through the 2024 season. If a school showed a dramatic shift in enrollment after two years, they could petition for a change in class. It’s not immediately known if that will still be allowed under the new rules.
When the expected combination of Hopkinsville High and Christian County High occurs, the new school will play in Class 6A and play Christian County’s schedule through the 2026 season.
