here is the verbiage of HRC 155 below:

 

 

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION directing the Legislative Research Commission to establish a task force to study issues related to middle school interscholastic athletics in public schools.

WHEREAS, the Kentucky Board of Education has the management and control of the common schools and all programs operated in these schools, including interscholastic athletics, the Kentucky School for the Deaf, the Kentucky School for the Blind, and community education programs and services; and

WHEREAS, the Kentucky Board of Education has designated the Kentucky High School Athletics Association (KHSAA) to mange interscholastic athletics; and

WHEREAS, the KHSAA manages the day-to-day operation of interscholastic athletics at the high school level; and

WHEREAS, the KHSAA has adopted bylaws to establish a standard for best practices at the high school level related to the health and safety of athletes; training and certification requirements for coaches; basic rules of play; length of seasons; playoff guidelines; and district, regional, and state tournament guidelines for all high school interscholastic athletics; and

WHEREAS, the oversight of middle school interscholastic athletics is primarily left to the administrators and staff at each individual middle school, and thus varies across the state; and

WHEREAS, a few non-profit organizations, such as the Kentucky Middle School Football Association, Inc. and the Kentucky State Wrestling Association, Inc., have been formed to provide a common set of rules, establish a playoff system, and otherwise strive to improve those respective middle school sports; and

WHEREAS, a study of middle school interscholastic athletics to determine whether "best practice" guidelines specific to middle school interscholastic athletics regarding health and safety of athletes, training and certification requirements for coaches, basic rules of play, and the length of seasons should be established for specific sports through such non-profit organizations to improve middle school athletics;

NOW, THEREFORE,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, the Senate concurring therein:

Section 1. The Legislative Research Commission is directed to establish a task force to study the current oversight of interscholastic athletics at the middle school level and assess possible options for the creation of "best practice" guidelines specific to middle school interscholastic athletics and support to non-profit organizations to improve middle school athletics. Areas of investigation shall include, but not be limited to, a review of the following:

(a) Existing policies and practices at the school or district level that govern middle school interscholastic athletics;

(b) Existing policies and practices related to the health and safety of student athletes;

© Existing training and certification requirements for coaches and opportunities for coaches to participate in training and certification courses;

(d) Individual and team sports offered at the middle school level;

(e) The length of regular seasons of each sport;

(f) The opportunity for participation in regular season and post-season play in each sport;

(g) Existing and optional athletic and liability coverage for middle school interscholastic athletes and coaches; and

(h) Options for the creation of "best practice" guidelines specific to each middle school sport and support to non-profit organizations to improve middle schools athletics.

Section 2. (1) The task force of the Legislative Research Commission shall be appointed by August 1, 2012, and shall be composed of the following members with final membership of the task force being subject to the consideration and approval of the Legislative Research Commission:

(a) The chair of the Senate Education Committee;

(b) The chair of the House Education Committee;

© The chair of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee;

(d) The chair of the House Health and Welfare Committee;

(e) The commissioner of education or designee;

(f) The commissioner of the Kentucky High School Athletics Association or designee;

(g) A representative of Kentucky middle school principals and a representative of Kentucky high school principals, to be recommended by the Kentucky Association of School Administrators;

(h) A representative of athletic trainers, to be recommended by the Kentucky Athletic Trainers Society;

(h) A representative of Kentucky school superintendents, to be recommended by the Kentucky Association of School Superintendents;

(i) A representative of the Kentucky Middle School Football Association, to be selected by its governing board;

(j) A representative of the Kentucky Middle School State Wrestling Association, to be selected by its governing board;

(k) A parent representative, to be selected by the Kentucky Parent-Teachers' Association; and

(l) Additional members as needed, as determined by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(2) The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall each appoint one co-chair of the task force from among the members of the task force.

Section 3. The task force shall report its findings to the Legislative Research Commission, the Interim Joint Committee on Education, and the Interim Joint Committee on Health and Welfare no later than December 7, 2012, and shall make recommendations to improve interscholastic athletics at the middle school level.

Section 4. The Legislative Research Commission shall have the authority to alternatively assign the issues identified herein to an interim joint committee or subcommittee thereof and to designate a study completion date.

If MS football coaches would have followed basic, common sense with heat rules and concussions, this wouldn't be a discussion.

 

This is GREAT for safety of kids, and I am glad something is being done.

 

 

It is going to be bad for any school smaller than 3 "A".

Why not encourage the high schoolers to come out? Are you comparing the physical rigors of playing a triple header in bball to 9 hole at PC Country Club? You completely missed my point.

High schoolers were and two played. Both ended up playing in state tourney and one played in college.

 

Playing 12 quarters in a day is a mistake of school, coach and parents.

 

Walking 18 at courses like Eagle Creek, some of the courses in EKY or Hickory Sticks is tough.

If MS football coaches would have followed basic, common sense with heat rules and concussions, this wouldn't be a discussion.

 

This is GREAT for safety of kids, and I am glad something is being done.

 

 

It is going to be bad for any school smaller than 3 "A".

 

I agree with the bolded statement. The issue that has come to light in working with this is that nothing is written in stone so to speak. So yes, school systems could do what they want and set their own safety rules. In the beginning phases of this it actually has been great to see that a good majority of the school systems have at least followed the KHSAA Guidelines as far as health and safety standards go. Their are those exceptions, and that is what is trying to be addressed and have a more formal state guidelines to follow.

According to Title IX guidelines, it is not officially "offered" unless you field a team. Does not matter if you intend to field a team or previously fielded a team. If they don't play, it wasn't offered.

 

Sorry, maybe I am still off my game because of the knot on my head but that doesn't make sense! Meaning if a sport is offered to the Female student body but they decide they don't want to play, how is it not be officially offered?

 

If the school offered AP classes and no one took them, it doesn't mean that the school didn't offer AP Classes to the student body! Indeed I am confused! :confused:

High schoolers were and two played. Both ended up playing in state tourney and one played in college.

 

Playing 12 quarters in a day is a mistake of school, coach and parents.

 

Walking 18 at courses like Eagle Creek, some of the courses in EKY or Hickory Sticks is tough.

 

Exactly why there should be limits. Unfortunatley MS athletes are abused in this type of overuse. In golf, varsity matches are normally 9 holes. When I was a teen, I walked every course I played. Don't ever remember being as physically taxed as when I played a basketball game. I really have a hard time comparing the two.

Exactly why there should be limits. Unfortunatley MS athletes are abused in this type of overuse. In golf, varsity matches are normally 9 holes. When I was a teen, I walked every course I played. Don't ever remember being as physically taxed as when I played a basketball game. I really have a hard time comparing the two.

But when they say middle school athletes are not going to be allowed to be moved up that includes all sports and programs like golf, etc.

 

A good number of programs have moved away from 9-hole matches to 18-hole tournaments. Schools are playing 12-14 18 hole events and handful of 9-hole matches.

 

Are we such a nanny state that the failure of govt oversight by AD/Principal/School district/Board means we need even MORE govt oversight.

 

Not to mention where are the parents in protecting their child?

Exactly why there should be limits. Unfortunatley MS athletes are abused in this type of overuse. In golf, varsity matches are normally 9 holes. When I was a teen, I walked every course I played. Don't ever remember being as physically taxed as when I played a basketball game. I really have a hard time comparing the two.

I can tell you a 6-7 hour round in 95 degree weather is exrremely taxing.

But when they say middle school athletes are not going to be allowed to be moved up that includes all sports and programs like golf, etc.

 

A good number of programs have moved away from 9-hole matches to 18-hole tournaments. Schools are playing 12-14 18 hole events and handful of 9-hole matches.

 

Are we such a nanny state that the failure of govt oversight by AD/Principal/School district/Board means we need even MORE govt oversight.

 

Not to mention where are the parents in protecting their child?

 

Perhaps I missed it, but where in the verbiage did it say anything about middle school kids playing high school sports?

I can tell you a 6-7 hour round in 95 degree weather is exrremely taxing.

 

Come on! Here's the thing. I can still walk 18 in the heat at any course. I can't go full court for probably a half much less a whole game. Then put a 13 year old out there in a physical sport (basketball) against an 18 year old? How does that translate in golf? The more mature player can carry more drinks in her bag? I'm not buyin what you're sellin. No way. There's a reason that many states don't allow the MSers to play up. Shame we have to explain safety and welfare of the kids to adults.

Just to be clear, the Kentucky Middle School Football Association worked closely with Rep. Damron to craft HCR 155 in an effort to continue its effort to improve middle school athletics through non-profit organizations such as itself. The Association has grown to over 150 member middle schools last year and want to continue the work to improve middle school athletics, including training for coaches and basic rules such as age limitations and rules of play that all middle school programs can adhere during the season. The Association is very appreciative of Rep. Damron and the other representatives who co-sponsored the legislation, as well as Senator Seum, to create a task force to educate everyone and avoid the continue mis-understanding of middle school athletics. The Association has been able to grow and develop because of many dedicated individuals who have worked tirelessly for the love of the game and to provide opportunities to Kentucky middle school players. Other states are envious of what the Association has been able to accomplish. Hopefully the task force will learn about the varied opportunities available in middle school sports and find recommendations to improve what has been developed and avoid undue regulation.

 

KYMSFA

If Middle School girls will not be allowed to play on the high school basketball team that is very bad news in the 56th district for sure.

 

Fielding a "freshman" team will cease to exist in some schools.

If Middle School girls will not be allowed to play on the high school basketball team that is very bad news in the 56th district for sure.

 

Fielding a "freshman" team will cease to exist in some schools.

 

Where are you getting that their is any indication of that?

Come on! Here's the thing. I can still walk 18 in the heat at any course. I

can't go full court for probably a half much less a whole game. Then put a 13 year old out there in a physical sport (basketball) against an 18 year old? How does that translate in golf? The more mature player can carry more drinks in her bag? I'm not buyin what you're sellin. No way. There's a reason that many states don't allow the MSers to play up. Shame we have to explain safety and welfare of the kids to adults.

Not sure what you want when i agreed with you that playing 12 quarters is wrong.

 

If you want basketball labeled as a contact sport and follows the guidelines of soccer, football and I believe wrestling, than fine.

 

But to prevent middle schoolers to play at high school level across the board in all sports is wrong.

Where are you getting that their is any indication of that?

 

 

Because of what I posted.

 

It is not in the verbiage, it is is the thoughts of some at KHSAA and the KDE.