As high school sports governing bodies continue to develop ways to combat the coronavirus pandemic, Kentucky's KHSAA announced an alternate way to begin basketball games beginning this season. Say goodbye to the jump ball (for now) as a coin toss will determine who opens with possession.
The rule mirrors football, where a pregame coin toss determines which team kicks off to the other to begin the game.
A coin toss will also be used to begin the first overtime period, with an alternating possession arrow being used to determine who opens with possession in subsequent overtime periods.
Additional
COVID-related protocols put in place for the upcoming basketball season include restricting the number of players in uniform to 15 per team, an additional row of seating being recommended in the bench area for social distancing and no pre-game or post-game handshakes.
Fans in Kentucky this year won't see scenes like this one between Covington Catholic and St. Henry in last year's Ninth Region semifinals.
Photo by Wayne Litmer
