TOPEKA, Kan. – The state volleyball and basketball formats will look different starting next school year, and the shot clock is officially in the postseason. Those items were approved during the KSHSAA Executive Board and Board of Director Meetings on Thursday.
VOLLEYBALL
The traditional two-day format for state volleyball will now be played across three days for classes 6A, 5A, 4 A, 3A, 2A and 1A DI. There will still be two days of competition for each classification, but of the three sites with two classifications, the teams there will alternate days of pool play, with the top two teams from each pool advancing to all play the semifinals, consolation and finals on Saturday. The 1A DII state volleyball format will remain the same.
“This decision is really centered around what is best for the student-athlete,” said KSHSAA Assistant Executive Director Sarah Smith. “The traditional two-day format put students in a situation where we were competing well into the night, sometimes at midnight. This allows for teams to be well rested before their most important match of the year.”
Thursday & Friday Schedule/Format
Even-numbered classifications (6A, 4A, 2A) will play on Thursday during even-numbered years; odd numbered classifications (5A, 3A, 1A Div I) will play on Thursday during odd-numbered years. Whoever does not play Thursday will play the same time schedule/format on Friday.
10:00 am: 4 vs 5; 3 vs 6
11:00 am: 1 vs 8; 2 vs 7
12:00 pm: 4 vs 8; 3 vs 7
1:00 pm: 1 vs 5; 2 vs 6
2:00 pm: 5 vs 8; 6 vs 7
3:00 pm: 1 vs 4; 2 vs 3
Saturday Schedule/Format
Even-numbered classifications (6A, 4A, 2A) will play bracket play in the morning during even-numbered years; odd numbered classifications (5A, 3A, 1A Div I) will bracket play in the morning during odd-numbered years. 1A Div II will keep their current schedule/format.
Even Numbered Classes (assuming this is an even-numbered year)
9:00 am: 1st Place Pool 1 vs 2nd Place Pool 2; 1st Place Pool 2 vs 2nd Place Pool 1
10:30 am: 3rd Place Match; Championship Match
Odd Numbered Classes (assuming this is an odd-numbered year)
1:00 pm: 1st Place Pool 1 vs 2nd Place Pool 2; 1st Place Pool 2 vs 2nd Place Pool 1
2:30 pm: 3rd Place Match; Championship Match
BASKETBALL
In June of 2024 the KSHSAA Executive Board approved the plan to move state basketball to four sites to align with the membership’s desire to combine championship venues as the association did with football and soccer this school year. On Thursday, the board approved the next step of the plan to move the quarterfinal round to a select group of neutral sites. While sites are not fully finalized, the general premise will be to place the higher seeds playing their opening round game closer to home so far as possible. There will be cases when the travel distance for the opponent is too great so a neutral site in the middle of the two schools will be selected. This could include multiple classes playing at the same site. There will be a total of four sites around the state for semifinals and finals. The quarterfinal sites and the semifinal and final sites have not been selected at this time. More information will be available soon.
Also approved Thursday was the next step for the shot clock. The KSHSAA Executive Board approved the following for mandatory adoption during the postseason:
Class 6A, 5A and 4A – 2025-26
Class 3A and 2A – 2026-27
Class 1A DI and Class 1ADII – 2027-28
The KSHSAA collected data throughout the year from those schools who chose to use the shot clock and sent a survey after the basketball season to every school asking for their opinion on the future of the shot clock. Results of the data from the season and the survey are linked here.
FOOTBALL
The KSHSAA Board of Directors made an adjustment to the classification limits for teams eligible to compete in 8-player and 6-player football. KSHSAA Handbook Rule 35 now reads: For 8-Player district football participation, assignments shall be limited to those schools with a maximum enrollment of 110 students in grades 9, 10 and 11. For 6-Player district football participation, assignments shall be limited to those schools with a maximum enrollment of 65 students in grades 9, 10 and 11. The change will go into effect for the next football districting cycle.
Meeting minutes reflecting these actions and others will be posted when completed: Meetings and Agendas
