KSHSAA Board to vote on Winter Sports delay on Tuesday

It is starting to look like the 2020-21 winter sports season in Kansas is facing a curveball.

In a press release from KSHSAA, it was revealed that the Executive Board unanimously supported the postponment of winter sports competition until mid-January. While teams will be able to continue to practice - which started this week for most Southwest Kansas schools - the proposal includes an extension of the practice moratorium, as well as not allowing fans for the first two weeks of competition.

The number of competitions would be reduced - to 13 for boys and girls basketball, 12 for wrestling, eight for bowling and six for swimming. The usual five-day practice hiatus will be extended, it will run from December 23 until January 3, while January 15th has been established as the tentative date games and matches may resume.

Two activities - debate and scholar's bowl - will be allowed to continue, but only virtually.

Fans won't be allowed to attend events until January 29th, and then it will only be a limited number of spectators. Those who are in the building but not in competition will be required to wear masks.

One big thing that could disappear if the Board of Directors passes the recommendations - no invitational tournaments will be allowed to take place. December and January are filled with tournament action, including the Tournament of Champions in Dodge City in January, and the Border Wars tournament in December in Syracuse - which had another challenge as the Colorado teams were forced to back out, as teams in that state are forced to wait to start practice until January 3rd. It also will likely eliminate league tournaments as well.

Some schools - like Dodge City - will have to go back to the drawing board with their schedules - they released their boys and girls basketball schedule earlier on Wednesday.

The proposal would be made official if passed by the KSHSAA Board of Directors in their next virtual gathering on Tuesday.