High school athletes and coaches across Kentucky are getting some well-earned time off as the Kentucky High School Athletic Association’s annual “Dead Period” begins Thursday.
The mandatory shutdown runs from June 25 through July 9 and applies to every KHSAA-sanctioned sport across the Commonwealth. During those two weeks, coaches and athletes are prohibited from participating in school-related athletic activities.
Under KHSAA Bylaw 24, student-athletes may not receive coaching or training from school personnel, and schools cannot use athletic facilities, equipment, uniforms, transportation, or school funds to support athletic activities during the dead period. Coaches are also prohibited from communicating with athletes through text messages, phone calls, emails, or social media regarding athletic activities.
The Dead Period also applies to middle school sports.
The annual break was established in 1997 as high school athletics evolved into nearly year-round commitments. The KHSAA adopted the rule to ensure athletes, coaches, and their families had a designated period for vacations, recovery, and time away from organized sports while helping reduce physical and mental burnout. The current dates of June 25 to July 9 were adopted in 2000.
While organized school activities are prohibited, athletes may still work out on their own or participate in individual training, provided those workouts are not organized, supervised or directed by school personnel.
Kentucky is not alone in requiring a mandatory summer break from school athletics. Similar “dead period” rules exist in several states. Tennessee observes an annual two-week dead period during the summer, while Michigan requires member schools to observe a seven-day dead period, typically around the Fourth of July holiday.
The KHSAA reminds schools that violations of the dead period can result in penalties for both the school and people involved, making compliance an important part of maintaining fair competition statewide.
Organized team practices and summer activities may resume on Friday, July 10, as schools begin preparing for the start of fall sports seasons.
