Kentucky High Schools Ban Postgame Handshakes

Officials stop the tradition hoping to end fights between teams

  • Share
  • Read Later

Kentucky’s athletic sanctioning body ordered high schools to put an end to postgame handshakes at sporting events after more than two dozen fights have broken out after games in the past three years, according to Associated Press.

The Tuesday ruling, posted on the Kentucky High School Athletic Association website, said it was “disappointing” that such action was necessary, as the handshaking tradition teaches players—and high school kids especially—good sportsmanship.

Schools that choose to conduct handshakes must carefully supervise the postgame ritual and report any incidents to the KHSAA. Teams were instructed to leave the facilities immediately after a game at the risk of being penalized.

[Associated Press]