With the approach of the beginning of the fall sports season, except for golf which is already underway, Kentucky High School Athletic Association Commissioner Julian Tackett reiterates his view that the 2020-2021 high school sports season will be unlike any we have ever seen.
Tackett issued a statement Tuesday morning on the KHSAA website. In that statement, Tackett noted that “some think we should just stay inside our homes for months at a time. Others seemingly refuse to acknowledge that the virus exists.”
“These topics have been discussed repeatedly and one thing seems clear: There is no one-size-fits-all answer that will satisfy school administrators, teachers, coaches, parents, and students.”
In his statement, Tackett further expressed his belief in the importance of high school sports to the state’s young athletes. Tackett added “we know the importance of getting our student-athletes back on the courts and playing fields as soon as it is safe to do so. We must safely exhaust every effort and alternative possible to prevent a repeat of the sacrifices made by spring 2020 participants and those in some 2020 state basketball events.”
Tackett referenced information from the National Federation of State High School Associations which points out that:
– Students who compete in extracurricular activities have better educational outcomes.These activities are a valuable part of the high school experience, enhancing students’ school engagement and sense of belonging.
– Extracurricular programs promote positive development and provide opportunities to learn life skills and values not typically taught in the classroom.
– Active students have much healthier behavior leading to better physical and mental health.
Tackett did point that the return to interscholastic athletic competition must be done safely. He stated “as the United States has battled the current global health pandemic this year, it has become evident that much remains unknown about COVID-19, including how the disease affects children and those around them. And we must realize that not every student and parent will want to take part and may choose to not take part this year.
“Our membership is eager to return to competition and help our student-athletes establish some sense of normalcy in their lives. This is a critical time in the lives and development of our student-athletes, whether this is the last time they suit up for their team or if they are hoping to go on to play in college or beyond. From talking with my colleagues, we all understand the significance of providing structure in a time when so much is uncertain. It is also vital that we continue to play our role in the process of helping prepare students, not for the next level of sports, but the next level of life. With that said, we also cannot underestimate the seriousness of this pandemic.”
As for what happens if that KHSAA were to step away from sports this fall, the Commissioner said “we know that many club sports programs have resumed activity very early and that point has proven that in some circles, halting school sports certainly won’t halt sports. It is not known whether all of these clubs have consistently implemented best practices for dealing with COVID-19 restrictions. But we can say with certainty that the best practices and safety considerations will be implemented by our local schools through their interscholastic programs. We feel tremendously equipped to strike the balance between not playing at all and playing without wise regard for current events.”
“The positive relationships built between our student-athletes and their school coaches and school personnel, as well as the strong community values surrounding education-based athletics, are paramount to the high school experience,” added Tackett. “And we are much more confident in the abilities to manage the efforts of our students with athletics under the supervision of our trained coaches as opposed to those in other leagues and levels. Sports participation has a strong likelihood of positive outcomes when led by our school representatives.”
Tackett closed out his statement “it’s likely that the 2020-21 season will look different than any other, and we have to keep that in mind as we chart the best course for getting our student-athletes back to play. We will continue to push for the citizens of our state to come together and drive down our data points to where everyone is more comfortable going forward throughout the school year in partnership with our schools.”
(Statement on KHSAA.org)
