KSHSAA Approves 6-man FB Title, if condition is met

The Kansas State High School Activities Association made four decisions at its most recent meeting, and one of them would give 6-man football a KSHSAA-sanctioned state champion.

But that comes with a condition, one that leaves the classification with questions going into the next two-year cycle classification period, which will be announced later this fall.

The Board of Directors approved the addition of the 6-Man division, provided that at least 24 schools are in the category. Only 15 schools are participating in 6-Man this season.

The move came after an additional move to further stabilize the 3A, 2A and 1A football classes. The number of participating schools in 3A and 2A will now be capped at 40 teams, with the remaining 11-man schools playing in the 1A classification.

The football classifications and district alignments will be announced by KSHSAA on October 6.

The maximum enrollment for 6-man schools will be 55 players, with the maximum for 8-man schools will remain at 100 for grades 9, 10 and 11.

The measure carried unanimously.

Three other agenda items - two of which were late additions to the agenda - were also approved by the board. The measure affecting girls soccer practice, and a measure proposed by the Greater Wichita League to add adaptive activities as one of the activities allowed to practice together for schools who employ the same coach or share facilities and equipment.

The fourth deals with Rule 18-1-4, and setting it aside for the 2021-22 school year in cases where a student returns to the member school they last attended or would be eligible at the prior member school but has made a bona fide move and attends their new school as of September 1. That measure was approved by a 62-5 margin.