Kansas lawmakers are considering banning both high school athletics practices and games on Wednesday evenings and Sundays across the state, saying those school-sponsored events interrupt times reserved for family and church activities.
According to the Kansas Reflector, the amendment was added to a previous bill as a “floor amendment” by Senator Chase Blasi, but later removed. Blasi seeks to expand the Kansas State High School Activities Association's no-sports days, which currently only ban athletics on Christmas Day and July Fourth at both private and public schools.
“This is going to assure we focus on what really keeps communities strong — that is family and faith,” Blasi said. “Not any religion was considered. This was just a response to constituents.”
Blasi’s amendment calls for no sports scheduling on Wednesday evenings from six to midnight, all day Sunday, a seven-day window around Christmas and a four-day window around Easter from Sept. 1 to April 30.
While the amendment was initially added during Senate debate, House negotiators later tabled the amendment to the Bill.
With one lawmaker citing concerns that Blasi only considered the Christian calendar. “My constituents would like me to be as inclusive as possible,” she said.
Other lawmakers approved of Blasi’s amendment, saying, ““As we move away from that, we do so at our peril. It’s time we moved back to some of those traditions that served us well.” And “It’s a sad day that we have to legislate this. Years ago, it wasn’t even an issue. It was a standard and acceptable, but here we are.”
Kansas lawmakers bundled several other bills in this week’s legislative session regarding homeschooled students athletics participation and exchange student policies. The amendment for expanding the no-sports days, may be considered again.
