LEXINGTON - More KHSAA student-athletes and coaches were able to see the conclusion of their teams’ contests during the 2011-2012 school year.

A total of 481 student-athletes and coaches were disqualified from contests in the sports of baseball, basketball, football, soccer, softball, volleyball and wrestling last year, down from 545 during the 2010-2011 school year. The information was released during the KHSAA Board of Control Meeting on Monday in Lexington.

Before the 2011-2012 school year the KHSAA Board of Control approved measures stiffening the disqualification to two contests for student-athletes and three for coaches.

“I don’t think there’s any question the stiffer penalties had something to do with the fewer number of disqualifications we have seen,” said KHSAA Commissioner Julian Tackett. “Especially in sports such as football, where three games can mean nearly a third of the season, more coaches and student-athletes are stopping to think before they act. If they are doing that, it means the penalties are doing exactly what they are designed to do. Everyone, student-athletes and coaches, must do everything they can to promote good sportsmanship. Boorish behavior and poor sportsmanship have no place and simply will not be tolerated.”

Board confirms policy on cross gender participation: The KHSAA Board of Control approved a written policy that reaffirms the Association’s historic policy regarding opposite sex sports male and female student-athletes.

Males may not participate as part of a female only team for any reason. Females may only participate on male teams in specific situations.

The complete text of the policy is available on page 28-29 of the Policies and Procedures section of the 2012 KHSAA Handbook. http://khsaa.org/httpdocs/handbook/policies.pdf