First, for those who may choose to read no further, there has never been a ban or prohibition on postgame handshakes or other types of good sporting behavior by the KHSAA, its Commissioner or its Board of Control. Nor has such a ban been proposed. There is no ban or prohibition on such activity today or contemplated for the future.

 

This message has been composed entirely by the Commissioner of the KHSAA. I do not want any room for misinterpretation or anyone else being accused of being involved. As the Commissioner, I take very seriously my role to ensure clear, concise and accurate communication regarding the expectations for our membership, participants, coaches, officials and all involved.

 

However, yesterday (10/8), at best a poorly worded and at worst, an incomplete, notice was sent from me to the member schools regarding postgame activity. Regardless of the number of people who had written pieces or segments, discussed the situation in meetings, or otherwise reviewed, it was my responsibility to ensure clarity. In haste to get the information out, the normal expected quality control steps were not executed to ensure such clarity. For that, I apologize to our member schools. The complete (and hopefully clarified) notice is at 10/08/13 ? Commissioner?s Directive on Postgame Activity | Kentucky High School Athletic Association

 

The KHSAA has a plethora of rules, regulations, policies, directives, recommendations and other standards by which contests and eligibility are determined. In an effort to create a different category, not a rule, not a policy, but more than a recommendation or suggestion, we chose to use the word directive, which has many meanings, one of which is to be a synonym for prescription (as in: recommendation from authority). In the end, that decision was the beginning of a series of opportunities for misunderstanding and misinterpretation. In addition, two very closely related parts of the original statement were not pieced together: the directive/prescription/suggestion, and the opportunity to continue if supervised; and therefore many people who read the first part, but didn’t read the second, drew an erroneous conclusion.

 

The intent and spirit of the directive/prescription/recommendation was two-fold and remains in place today. First, if schools desire to perform postgame rituals such as handshake lines, etc., they must be able to monitor the activity closely. If they do not have adequate personnel to properly monitor, then they shouldn’t allow the activity. The fact is that over the last several years, we have had more than two dozen situations occur where incidents of unsportsmanlike conduct have occurred during these postgame activities. Many of these lacked proper supervision, and determining the cause/effect/proper individuals to sanction would devolve into a “he said, she said” situation. If these postgame ceremonies are going to continue, then the schools must be able to monitor what is going on, as they will be held accountable for student and coach conduct going forward.

 

Secondly, there is a misconception in some circles that the officials are somehow responsible for monitoring what happens postgame. Nothing could be further from the truth. The duties of those independent contractors needs to end as soon as their rule book jurisdiction ends, and that jurisdiction ending should not be extended by their participation in these ceremonies, or an expectation that they monitor these activities.

 

But another factor was at work here and represents a lesson for even the most veteran of administrators. Almost as soon as the information was released, misinterpretations (particularly a lack of understanding of the intended use of the word directive) were made by key media outlets and veteran users of social media. Somehow, the word “ban” or “prohibition” was interpreted to be included. In the normal sprint to be the first to break news, some of these erroneous conclusions became “viral” through social media. These inaccurate conclusions spread very quickly through social media and I am certain we will never know the full penetration of this inaccurate information.

 

However, in the interest of clarity, I have chosen to issue this statement and have it distributed through as many channels as possible. The full text of the information regarding postgame activity is at 10/08/13 ? Commissioner?s Directive on Postgame Activity | Kentucky High School Athletic Association and has been revised for clarity from its original form to attempt to prevent any misunderstanding.

 

It is critical that all involved with interscholastic athletics continue to emphasize and teach sporting behavior, as is reiterated as part of our strategic plan that states, “Sportsmanship – following the rules of the game, respecting the judgment of referees and officials, treating opponents with respect, respect for one’s opponent and graciousness in winning or losing.” It is also just as paramount that we do all we can to provide a safe playing environment during the pregame, the contest itself and the postgame, and proper supervision is a key element.

 

I appreciate each of you taking the time to read this information, and appreciate the passion with which everyone, players, coaches, administrators, officials and all others involved approach their involvement with school-based athletics, the purest form of competition..

 

Julian Tackett, Commissioner, KHSAA

 

http://khsaa.org/100913-commissioner-issues-clarification-about-postgame-activity/

If that was the initial statement, would we still have the uproar and attention?

If that was the initial statement, would we still have the uproar and attention?

 

Perhaps not, but it begs the question of why the first release was so hasty if that's where they feel the problem was?

 

I read the entirety of the initial release - this one did nothing to change my understanding of the situation. They did not issue a hard and fast ban on it, but essentially washed their hands of the process, putting it on the member schools. It's a liability move, a way of them saying "Not our fault" if something happens.

Perhaps not, but it begs the question of why the first release was so hasty if that's where they feel the problem was?

 

I read the entirety of the initial release - this one did nothing to change my understanding of the situation. They did not issue a hard and fast ban on it, but essentially washed their hands of the process, putting it on the member schools. It's a liability move, a way of them saying "Not our fault" if something happens.

 

Its really no different than what we see on the major news networks.

 

We need the Daily Show to do a parody on this one.

If that was the initial statement, would we still have the uproar and attention?

 

No -- which makes yesterday's release all the more odd (to me).

This whole issue is being blown way out of proportion!

Anyone who actually READ the entire statement didn't overreact, I promise you that.

Seems there needs to be lesson in 'trial balloons' before issuing a formal policy change. At least get something like this vetted before formally releasing it.

Anyone who actually READ the entire statement didn't overreact, I promise you that.

 

I said the same to a friend earlier. However, he made a valid point. The release needed to be extremely clear and simple from the get-go. Way too wordy before it got to the new edict. That' 100% fair as a complaint against Mr Tackett.

 

I read the entire thing so I got that it was optional and wasn't "banned" as has been reported. However, many do not read much past the initial paragraph. Mr Tackett should know that and have his messaged crafted that way.

After reading the initial statement issued yesterday just a little bit ago...unless it was changed between now and then...no where did I see where it stated post game handshakes were "banned". It basically said if you do it and something happens, it's not the responsibility of the KHSAA, but the responsibility of those involved, including students, coaches and schools. Now, the wording may prompt some schools/superintendents/districts to issue a statement banning post game handshakes in events they are involved in (and I have already heard some have), but the KHSAA isn't saying you can't do it. I don't get the big uproar personally.

After reading the initial statement issued yesterday just a little bit ago...unless it was changed between now and then...no where did I see where it stated post game handshakes were "banned". It basically said if you do it and something happens, it's not the responsibility of the KHSAA, but the responsibility of those involved, including students, coaches and schools. Now, the wording may prompt some schools/superintendents/districts to issue a statement banning post game handshakes in events they are involved in (and I have already heard some have), but the KHSAA isn't saying you can't do it. I don't get the big uproar personally.

 

http://bluegrasspreps.com/ky-football-high/real-problem-handshake-263103.html

Ok, what is the motive here? A statement was released that most people took to mean the handshake should not take place and if it does it on the school. Heck, even some referees seem to have taken it that way. All the major news outlets seem to have taken it that way as well, but we get a revision that has the first part underlined scolding us for not reading the whole thing, like it was our fault for not understanding what apparently most people didn't get either. So, now what do we think is going to happen? Most schools will stop performing the handshake, that is what will happen. Wasn't that the goal the whole time? If not, then why issue the first directive to begin with?

At least we now know who has the fastest 40 time in the state of KY. It is Julian Tackett back-pedaling.

First, I understand why the KHSAA is doing what they are doing. There has long been a question on who has post-game jurisdiction -- the schools, the refs, or the KHSAA. The KHSAA wanted to make it clear that it is up to the schools to police what goes on after the game, and in most cases, the schools do this. If the KHSAA tells schools to police what happens after the game and that they aren't liable, they are hoping to not be included on the defendant line of a lawsuit when a player gets injured in a fight or when the ACLU sues for a postgame prayer. That part I understand.

 

But don't put out a poorly worded statement that 'directs' schools to no longer have postgame handshakes and when the firestorm comes down, blame social media and regular media for jumping to conclusions over your poorly worded statement.

 

In my world, when my superior issues me a directive, I do it. There aren't any exceptions, unless I want to be sanctioned later. A directive is an instruction or guideline that indicates how to perform an action or reach a goal. When the KHSAA issues a 'directive', I'm thinking he wants you to do it.

 

But don't call out media members on Twitter because they aren't reporting the message the way you intended.

 

Don't tell a state lawmaker that your definition of 'directive' means 'prescription', because people called you out on your statement

 

-- "directive" meaning "prescription" as in fixing problem. If they don't have people to supervise, prescription is don't do it. -- Julian Tackett in a tweet to Rep. Jeff Hoover.

 

 

I think the hastily worded "directive" was put into place in order to precede the district and region soccer tournaments that begin next week.

 

Again, I understand why this was done. But to use a sports analogy, it was poorly executed. And now that people have come out questioning it, the finger-pointing has begun.

 

Just step up and say "This is what should have been said and here is why." And don't give us the "If you had bothered to read the whole thing" disclaimer when you change the link to the updated statement.

 

In essence, I wasn't wrong. The KHSAA did ban postgame handshakes. But they said the schools can opt to have them. So in my eyes, it's the schools that choose to have postgame handshakes because the KHSAA has said not to have them.

As a former FIFA Soccer referee we were in charge from the opening warmups to the final handshake ,and penalties issued during that time would be upheld by the KHSAA . We were not to turn our backs on the teams until they left the area of the field . Parking lots included .