KHSAA Football

Austin story at 5p

In kentucky...for now.

Unlike other states that have decided to scrap fall sports...the khsaa voted today to have a shortened season...but it's pushing football back three weeks...and even that could change depending on coronavirus.

Fs img txt bullets:no high school football this fall khsaa.jpg aug.

24- helmet only practice sep.

11 ... right now, teams have only been allowed to condition.

Beginning august 24th..they'll be allowed to practice without pads.

The regular season will begin september 11.

Depending on how teams schedule...they can play eight or nine games.

They normally play 10 in the regular season.

Playoffs will begin november 13th and 14th...with state championships on december 11th and 12th.

On game day...teams will only be allowed to have 60 players on the field.

Some bigger teams sometimes have 80 on their gameday roster.

No decision has been made yet on whether or not fans will be able to go to games.

Abc 36's austin miller spoke to coaches...who say they like the decision.

L3: coronavirus outbreak david buchanan mercer county head coach l3: coronavirus outbreak nathan mcpeek frederick douglass head coach l3: coronavirus outbreak white khsaa approves football start date regular season begins september 11 ### nathan mcpeek trt 02 "today was a good day was a good day for these kids" tuesday's decision was one coaches and players around the state have been hoping for and expecting.

David buchanan- trt 11 "probably a month or so ago we accepted that it may not be the length that we want, but we just have never really mentally gone there.

We've just all felt like we're going to play."

That's mercer county head coach david buchanan..

Who's also the vice president for the kentucky football coaches' association.

He says the khsaa worked with the coaches' association in getting feedback.

While there may be some concern from coaches..

Buchanan says they have to accept and adjust.

Buchanan trt 06 "the bottom line is we're getting to play football.

We need to be thankful for that and go make it work.

Making it work includes navigating a way to have players ready september 11th..

With only three weeks of helmet- only practice.

Mcpeek trt 07 "i think we have enough time to get ready.

You know other states, like west virginia, i know i got a couple of buddies.

They only get two weeks."

Buchanan trt 11 "if you want to be a kentucky high school football coach.

I sort of think job requirement number 1 is you've got to be able to adjust and adapt a little bit so.

I really think we'll handle that and our c1 3 with it."

With 45 days until the season officially begins..

Coaches also have to adjust their season schedules..

But as frederick douglass head coach nathan mcpeek notes..

The season could still be cancelled if cases remain high..

And people don't wear masks.

Mcpeek trt 12 "we'll do everything we can to keep these kids safe.

Obviously, it's not 100 percent, but we'll do everything that we possibly can.

We're not going to make excuses this year.

Everybody is going to have to do a little bit more this year if we're going to have football."

In lexington..

Austin miller..

Abc 36.

### football wasn't the only sport discussed today.

There are also new rules and schedules for other fall sports.

Sports director bryan kennedy will you tell about those later