KSHSAA says parents can attend games

After an uproar from parents challenging the Kansas State High School Activities Association’s total ban on fans at high school and junior high activities like basketball games, which began on Dec. 1, an appeal to the ban was considered during a special meeting on Tuesday, eventually allowing up to two parents to start attending games on Thursday.

Last week, the KSHSAA board originally considered a motion to delay the start of high school basketball season to mid-January. When brought up for discussion, the concept, which was pitched as a way for schools to help stop the spread of COVID-19 by banning mass gatherings at ballgames, a new direction of banning fans from games gained traction.

The board eventually approved a “fan ban” from Dec. 1 to Jan. 28, at which time local schools could decide what kind of restrictions could take place.

The timeline was meant to get schools through a feared post-Thanksgiving COVID spike, as well as Christmas and New Year’s gatherings.

Schools could then play basketball after the delay and have a post-season, instead of risking the possible cancellation of the season like what happened in March during state basketball.

But appeals were quickly filed with the board and several organized efforts were established to pressure KSHSAA board members (mostly made up of league representatives across the state) to reconsider the ban and allow at least a couple parents to attend their children’s games.

The appeals board met on Thursday and recommended two attendees per athlete.

On Tuesday, the full KSHSAA board again gathered virtually and considered various options, finally settling on a recommendation of allowing “up to two parents/guardians per participant(s) family as allowed by local board of education or health department restrictions” from Dec. 10 to Jan. 28. There was much discussion on whether the motion should say parents or family, but the approved motion was passed by a vote of 54 in favor and 24 opposed or abstained.

The Twin Valley League consistently voted against a ban on fans. Represented by Frankfort Principal Dean Dalinghaus, the league had originally come up with a plan of allowing just two family members to travel to away games while keeping home attendance less limited. Schools were allowed to be more restrictive if they wanted to, but could not be less restrictive than the baseline standards.

Dalinghaus voiced support for parents during the KSHSAA board meeting.

“We are very much in favor of trying to get at least two parents in per family,” said Dalinghaus, who also described some of the precautionary measures taken during the November segment of the junior high basketball season.

Mask use will continue to be enforced during games, and most schools also take temperatures during entrance to the venues.