Kentucky High Schools Adding Flag Football, Pickleball

LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY (May 22, 2026) – The Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA) Board of Control directed the Commissioner and staff to create a plan and regulations for a pickleball championship in the fall season of 2027-28 and to implement girls’ flag football in the spring of the 2027-28 school year.

By a vote of 11-6, the Commissioner’s office is to present an implementation timeline and draft regulatory changes at the July and follow-up board meetings in September for the initial championship offering in pickleball in the fall of the 2027-28 school year. Having a pickleball championship received an affirmative vote from more than one-third of the KHSAA membership.

By unanimous vote, the Board decided not to add Stunt as a sponsored championship until the next membership survey, due to the lack of significant interest from schools seeking to enter a championship.

By a 15-2 vote, the Board voted to add Girls’ Flag Football to the docket in the spring of 2027-2028. The majority vote favored the spring season over the fall season when the data was collected.