PIERRE – Softball and esports are step closer to being sanctioned sports by the South Dakota High School Activities Association. At the SDHSAA Board of Directors meeting Tuesday in Pierre, the board approved the formation of steering committees for both.
Meetings would be held this summer to develop outlines for a handbook, seasons and formats to be voted on by the board in November. If approved, those sports would begin in the fall of 2022.
South Dakota is the only state in the country whose high school governing body does not sanction softball.
The modified state track and field meet schedule was approved. The event will be held at three sites in the Black Hills on May 28 and 29. Most running events will not have preliminary races. These changes are made due to COVID-19 concerns.
In nine-man football in 2021, the first round of the playoffs will have the top 16 teams seeded in a bracket, similar to the first round of the 11B playoffs. In the past, nine-man has taken the top three teams from each region and the next four best teams.
In Class AA golf, there will now be a 75th percentile system. Six members must average scores within that range for the entire season to qualify for regionals. For girls, the working average is 104. For boys, it is 97.
Class A golf will now have 50 percent of region qualifiers for state instead of 60 percent. Players will be limited to 10 to 12.
In tennis, substitutions are now allowed in singles and tie-breakers are now at seven points.
AA volleyball teams can now play three matches against A or B teams without a deduction in seed points.
And SDHSAA Assistant Executive Director Dr. John Krogstrand announced his resignation, effective at the end of the school year. Krogstrand has been in his position for nine years.
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