PIERRE – During the SDHSAA Board of Directors meeting Thursday, it was announced that Northern State University in Aberdeen will host the first sanctioned softball state tournament on June 1-3, 2023.
Titles for all three classifications will be determined at the NSU complex. A total of 55 schools have signed up for the first season of sanctioned softball. Executive Director Dan Swartos said that how this tournament works will be closely studied, and there is the possibility that future state tournaments could be at three different sites.
Each classification will have eight schools in the state tournament.
Also, board members are taking back to schools new instruments to keep student-athletes safe during hot outdoor practices.
All of the SDHSAA’s 181 member schools are receiving Kestrel 5400 Wet Bulb Globe Temperature Heat Stress Trackers. 135 of the trackers were received through a grant from the National Federation of State High School Associations. The other 46 came through a $14,000 grant from South Dakota High School Activities Foundation.
Also, the board announced that one of its main goals this coming school year is to improve sportsmanship.
Swartos said that the yearlong study will include a concentrated look at behavior by players, coaches and fans with the goal of bringing a formula of consequences for poor sportsmanship.
Another goal is to recruit officials. Swartos said that the board will consider placing curriculum in high schools so that students could officiate lower-level games.
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