The following are the playoff formats and sites for Season D sports. State titles are slated to be awarded in girls tennis, boys and girls lacrosse, boys swimming and diving, boys and girls track and field, girls soccer, and baseball. Finally, boys volleyball will crown its first ever CHSAA state champion on June 26.

“We are excited to culminate all 31 CHSAA-sanctioned activities and athletics for the 2020-2021 competitive year with Season D championships,” said CHSAA Commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green.

 

Baseball

Class 1A

Districts Completed – June 12

Seeding Meeting – June 13

Regional Tournaments – June 19

Semifinals/Finals – June 23 – University High School, Greeley

Format: 12 teams to regionals; top two from each district and the remaining two by RPI. District champions will be seeded by RPI 1-5, with the top four serving as regional hosts. The fifth district champion will be seeded fifth. The remaining teams will be seeded by order of RPI, avoiding first-round district matchups.

 

Class 2A

Regular Season Ends – June 12

Seeding Meeting – June 13

Regional Tournaments – June 15

Quarterfinals/Semifinals – June 19 – Runyon Complex, Pueblo

Championship Game – June 26 – Runyon Complex, Pueblo

Format: 24 teams to regionals based on RPI. Single elimination

 

Class 3A

Regular Season Ends – June 12

Seeding Meeting – June 13

Regional Tournaments – June 14

3A Games 1-11 – June 18-19 – Site 1 – Frederick High School/Site 2 – Niwot High School

3A Games 12-15 – June 25-26 – Frederick High School

Format: 24 teams to regionals based on RPI with eight regional winners advancing to double elimination

 

Class 4A

Regular Season Ends – June 12

Seeding Meeting – June 13

Regional Tournaments – June 14

4A Games 1-6 – June 18 – Runyon Baseball Complex, Pueblo

4A Games 7-11 – June 19 – Rawlings Field, CSU-Pueblo

4A Games 12-15 – June 25-26 – Runyon Baseball Complex, Pueblo

Format: 24 teams to regionals based on RPI with eight regional winners advancing to double elimination

 

Class 5A

Regular Season Ends – June 12

Seeding Meeting – June 13

Regional Tournaments – June 14

Games 1-11 – June 18-19 – Site 1 Cherry Creek High School/Site 2 – Eaglecrest High School

Games 12-15 – June 24-25 – Keli MacGregor Field @ Coca-Cola All-Star Park, Lakewood

Format: 24 teams to regionals based on RPI with eight regional winners advancing to double elimination

 

Girls Golf

Regional Tournaments – June 7-11

State Tournament – June 21-22

3A – Elmwood Golf Course, Pueblo

4A – Common Ground Golf Course, Aurora

5A – City Park Golf Course, Denver

Format: 36 holes, stroke play, plus team championship

 

Boys Lacrosse

June 12 – Season completed

June 13 – State pairings/seedings announced

June 15 – 4A/5A First Round Games (higher seed hosts)

June 17 – 4A/5A Quarterfinal Games (higher seed hosts)

June 19 – 4A/5A Semifinal Games – Englewood High School Stadium

June 22 – 4A/5A Championship Games – Englewood High School Stadium

Format: 12-team bracket, single elimination

 

Girls Lacrosse

June 15 – Season Completed

June 17 – 4A/5A First Round Games (higher seed hosts)

June 19 – 4A/5A Quarterfinal Games (higher seed hosts)

June 21 – 4A/5A Semifinal Games – 4A at Shea Stadium, Highlands Ranch, 5A at Echo Park Stadium, Parker

June 23 – 4A/5A Championship Games – Legacy Stadium, Aurora

Format: 12-team bracket, single elimination

 

Girls Soccer

June 12 – Season Completed

June 13 – State pairings/seedings announced

June 15 – 5A First Round Games (higher seed hosts)

June 16 – 3A/4A First Round Games (higher seed hosts)

June 18 – 5A Quarterfinal Games (higher seed hosts)

June 19 – 2A, 3A, 4A Quarterfinal Games (higher seed hosts)

June 23 – Semifinal Games

2A – Home Sites

3A – Stutler Bowl, Aurora

4A – Frederick High School

5A – Englewood High School Stadium

June 26 – Championship Games – Colorado Switchbacks Weidner Field, Colorado Springs

Format: 2A 8-team bracket, single elimination; 3A, 4A, 5A 16-team bracket, single elimination

 

Boys Swimming & Diving

June 19 – Season completed

June 24 – 5A State Meet – Veterans Memorial Aquatics Center, Thornton

June 25 – 4A State Meet – Veterans Memorial Aquatics Center, Thornton

Format: 30 qualifiers (plus ties) per event for timed finals. State qualifiers based on time from the regular season. Maximum of four entries per team for each event.

 

Girls Tennis

June 5 – Regionals Completed

June 11-12 – State Championships

3A – Memorial Park, Colorado Springs

4A – Pueblo City Courts, Pueblo

5A – Gates Tennis Center, Denver

Format: 16-player brackets, single elimination tournament. No third/fourth place match will be played.

 

Boys & Girls Track & Field

June 24, 25, 26 – Jefferson County Stadium, Lakewood

Format: In 1A, nine qualifiers in most events and 12 in the 800 meters, 1600 meters, 3200 meters, 4X800 relay, and 10 in each field event. In 2A, 3A, 4A and 5A, there will be 18 qualifiers in each event. All based on MaxPreps rankings.

State Meet Schedule

 

Boys Volleyball

June 12 – Season Completed

June 19 – Regionals Completed

June 21 – State Bracket announced

June 25-26 – State Championships – Rock Canyon High School, Highlands Ranch

Format: 8 teams advance to state from regionals, single elimination bracket

Luke DeWolfe, athletic director at Steamboat Springs High School, has been elected to serve as the next president of the CHSAA’s Board of Directors.

For the next two years, DeWolfe will lead the Board, which represents member schools, leagues, districts and associations with the collective goal of fostering the health and development of high school activities in Colorado. With his term set to cover the 2021-22 and 2022-23 school years, DeWolfe said he is ready to help guide the CHSAA and its membership towards a shared vision of the future.

“First and foremost, I’m just honored and humbled to have the opportunity to be a part of the organization in this role,” DeWolfe said. “I have such respect for the membership, the CHSAA staff and for our schools and families that to be able to step into this role is just an honor for me. It’s really about rebuilding and reinforcing trust and relationships, and fostering communication throughout the membership.

“It’s really important to have strong relationships between the CHSAA staff, the membership and the board, and to make sure we have a unified voice.”

DeWolfe added that his specific goals are to support CHSAA member schools, the CHSAA staff and the CHSAA Board as he takes over to help guide the Association into the post-pandemic era.

“I will continue to strive to find new and creative ways to meet the needs of an ever-changing and diverse membership,” DeWolfe said. “I will work hard to build bridges and strive to build communication and trust.”

DeWolfe has served as athletic director at Steamboat Springs since 2009 and was the Sailors’ head boys basketball coach for seven years. He still coaches junior varsity hoops and prior to his tenure at Steamboat Springs, he was a teacher and a coach at Highland High School dating back to 2001.

Finishing up his third year on the Board, DeWolfe has also been on the CHSAA handbook committee since its inception and is currently the chair of the ski committee. He has served as league president for the Western Slope League, has been a CHSAA Legislative Council member, and has been on the committees for boys lacrosse, basketball and football, as well as several seeding and appeals committees.

 

“As a valued and engaged Board member, Luke has been a vocal advisory member that has ensured that the mission, decisions and fiduciary responsibilities made on behalf of the Association and our stakeholders have been in the forefront of the duties and operations of the CHSAA staff,” CHSAA commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green said. “We are looking forward to working for and with him as he leads the Association, the Board and our staff through the recovery and reset after this unprecedented year where the pandemic has disrupted our traditional norms.

“His credentials, credibility and forward thinking transcends the myopic vision of ‘what best for me or mine.’ In this role, Luke will bring impactful discussions to the table to address increased communication and relationships while challenging archaic operations and advising leadership in successfully enhancing service to education-based and equitable participation for all Colorado students, members, school communities and programs.”

The following statement is from an email sent by CHSAA to member schools late yesterday:

… as the state restrictions are being lifted, the CHSAA is communicating directly with OCR (Office of Civil Rights) to receive a finalized statement on what can be done to provide an across-the-board increase in games, meets, events for all Season D participants. If given the green light to increase opportunities for students participating in Season D, in all spring sports cancelled in 2020, the Commissioner will seek that opportunity. We are discussing a 10% or 15% regular season increase. This would be a minimum of 1 or 2 regular season games, meets, matches, etc. The current calendar will not allow for a full season, extended play-off formats or increased qualifiers. I am at the place of “what can we do” to provide this opportunity for all SEASON D participants aligned with recent state and local health decisions to dial back statewide restrictions.

CHSAA administrators will communicate any changes once confirmed with OCR. We are very mindful of the schedules that may have been completed but state decisions to dial back some of the restrictions allows administrators to be conscious of what this addition would mean to our Season D student participants.

DENVER — With the 2020-21 high school football calendar being altered by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Denver Broncos and the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) have launched the Denver Broncos High School Virtual Combine, an online program designed to assist Colorado student athletes with aspirations of playing college football.

In partnership with GMTM, an athlete exposure platform, the all-virtual combine provides student athletes the opportunity to create a player profile, upload highlights and statistics and display individual skills and talents while building an online recruiting brand platform.

Participation in the program is free, and prospective athletes are able to connect with collegiate recruiters — Division I FBS through Division III — and participate in 11 pre-set combine tests to showcase their abilities through athletic, football and character challenges.

In addition, the combine features footage of Denver Broncos NFL Combine performances and video presentations from Broncos Director of Team Nutrition Bryan Snyder, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach Loren Landow and members of the football operations staff. The 11 pre-set combine tests include:

• Athletic highlight challenge
• Football highlight challenge
• 40-yard dash
• 3 cone drill
• 20-yard shuttle
• Broad jump
• Bench press or pushups
• Your position, your drill demonstration
• Character challenge – What does character mean to you?
• Character challenge – What does football mean to you?
• Nutrition challenge – How do you fuel your workouts?

High school students of all ages are eligible to participate, and submissions for combine-specific elements will remain open for an eight-week period.

For additional information on the Denver Broncos High School Virtual Combine, please visit https://gmtm.com/virtuals/46/denver-broncos-virtual-pro-day.

As part of its continuing service to students, coaches, administrators and schools across Colorado, the CHSAA will hold three student-based mental health seminars December 15-17 to reinforce the successful initiatives already introduced by the Association in the past three years when students’ mental health concerns were initially prioritized and participation had not been disrupted.

With the continued challenges facing the state during the pandemic, the CHSAA is utilizing its resources to offer a series of live webinars offered directly to students, conducted by JC Pohl, award winning author and producer of “Teen Truth’ and Caleb Campbell, West Point graduate and Former Kansas City Chief Linebacker, nationally known for his work around student mental health and resilience.

The CHSAA Webinars titled “Taking Care of You, when Your World has been Turned Upside Down” are about providing students with strategies for self-care and ownership in their social, physical and mental well-being during these unprecedented times. This opportunity will be offered statewide at no-charge to all students.

The seminars will focus on student-participants, embracing their feelings and creating internal coping skills to deal with the disruptions to their education, interscholastic activities participation and overall life due to the pandemic.

“It has been nine months since the pandemic initially shut down schools, activities, and the traditional norms our students have known that have shaped their world. The on-going uncertainty of when things are going to return normal produces anxiety in us all but more so for our kids where disruptions have left them questioning their place and identity during the pandemic,” CHSAA Commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green said.

“We, as educational leaders, need to provide our students with coping strategies and resilience in navigating their current world that has been turned upside down by decisions out of their control as a result of the negative impacts of COVID-19,” Commissioner Blanford-Green said. “We are excited to offer this webinar series that complements our current mental health initiatives.”

Registration information will be forwarded to schools on Saturday to get students enrolled in these statewide self-care student-driven outreaches.

To ensure any student who wants to attend will be able to, three webinars will be offered: One on Tuesday (3:30-4:30 p.m.), another Wednesday (6:30-7:30 p.m.), and one on Thursday (3:30-4:30 p.m.). Each webinar is free.

[divider]

Webinar Speaker Bios

JC Pohl is an award-winning producer, nationally recognized speaker, and certified counselor who has reached over 10 million people with his efforts to build school culture and empower student voice. He has produced groundbreaking programs such as TEEN TRUTH and RISING UP, and award-winning content for companies such as Warner Brothers, ESPN, and Disney. He is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and can be reached on Facebook and LinkedIn or directly at www.jcpohl.com.

Caleb Campbell is a West Point graduate, former Army Officer and ex-NFL Linebacker. After a college football career at West Point full of accolades and awards, Caleb made history when he was selected by the Detroit Lions in the 2008 NFL Draft. Despite living out his childhood dream and having a life that many would envy, a day never went by where Caleb felt he’d found his place in this world. Having lived through rejection, depression, self medication, and thoughts of suicide, Caleb understands the pressures that today’s students are facing. He is a leading mental health advocate for teens and student athletes around the world, and has been serving as TEEN TRUTH’s #1 mental health speaker since 2018. To learn more or to watch his speaker reel visit teentruth.net/calebcampbell

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment announced late Wednesday night that while state football championships are still permitted to be held in Pueblo, no spectators will be allowed.

The games will continue to be held at CSU Pueblo from Dec. 3-5, and will not be moved to other sites, due to variances approved by CDPHE.

The full release from the CDPHE:

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment tonight announced greater restrictions to the approval for the state’s high school football championship games. These additional restrictions come as Pueblo County continues to have widespread transmission of COVID-19. Experts at the Colorado School of Public Health estimate that 1 in 29 people in Pueblo and surrounding areas are contagious with the virus. Much of the county is restricted by stringent capacity limits, as dictated in Level Red of the state’s dial.

New modifications to Pueblo County’s approval, which was originally approved on November 4, will disallow spectators. Attendance will now be limited solely to football teams, athletic staff, cheerleaders, band members, broadcast staff, and other essential personnel.

“We appreciate the ongoing partnership with the Colorado High School Activities Association as we navigate these tough times,” said Jill Hunsaker Ryan, Executive Director, CDPHE. “Early in the season, our organizations both agreed that additional safety measures like these might need to be taken, and now unfortunately we are there. These decisions aren’t made lightly, but they’re necessary.”

“Our administrators always advocate for the full high school experience and although disappointing, we support these tough decisions,” said CHSAA Commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green. “Season A football for 218 schools that competed this fall and approval of the culminating championships in these unprecedented and tumultuous times, would not have been possible without the support of CDPHE, state and county officials.”

CDPHE will continue to monitor the situation over the week. If conditions worsen, CDPHE may need to revisit the modified variance.

All championship games will be broadcast on the NFHS Network.

CDPHE executive director Jill Hunsaker Ryan sent the following letter on Wednesday to the Pueblo County Commissioners, and the county health department:

Dear Commissioners and Director Evetts:

Thank you for your continued partnership and diligence in managing the COVID-19 pandemic. In light of widespread transmission taking place in Pueblo County and throughout the state, I find it necessary to modify your November 4, 2020 variance approval to Public Health Order 20-36 Safer at Home (PHO 20-28). The Nov. 4 variance as granted was to host state football championship games at the Neta and Eddie DeRose ThunderBowl on the CSU Pueblo campus, from December 4-5, with modified capacity limits for fans in the stands.

As of November 22, 2020 at 5 p.m., Pueblo County entered COVID-19 Dial Level Red based on the county’s incidence rate and hospitalizations. This modified variance will allow the games to proceed, but with greater restrictions. Attendance at the 2020 Colorado High School Football championship will now be limited solely to football teams, athletic staff, cheerleaders, band members, broadcast staff, and other essential personnel as determined by CHSAA. CDPHE will continue to monitor the situation over the week. If conditions change, we may need to revisit the modified variance.

This decision is not made lightly. The culmination of playing in a championship game is an experience that young people may have only once in a lifetime. At the same time, we want to discourage travel to Pueblo County from around the state, which will necessitate lodging and other amenities. According to the Colorado School of Public Health, 1 in 29 residents of the south central area of Colorado, including Pueblo, are infected with the virus.

Thank you for your continuing efforts to ensure that Pueblo county residents are safe and healthy. Please let me know if I may be of assistance or answer any questions.

Sincerely,

Jill Hunsaker Ryan, MPH
Executive Director

During a meeting on Wednesday night, the CHSAA Board of Directors voted to approve variances from the Governor’s COVID Response Team which will provide member schools with the local option to play field hockey, football and sideline spirit during the fall (Season A) season.

Schools will continue to have the option to play these sports in Season C, as previously upheld by the Board, if they elect not to play during Season A. The seasons will be treated equitably. Schools may not play in both seasons. This will allow local schools and districts to make the determination.

“I want to thank my colleagues on the Board,” Troy Baker, the president of the Board of Directors, and the athletic director at Buena Vista High School. “The CHSAA Board is charged to make the best decision for all kids in our state. We are a diverse state and many of our schools are faced with unique challenges that can elevate the complexity in making a decision that supports all schools and students.

“We are in a pandemic,” Baker said. “It’s not normal times. We’re all trying to find a way to navigate through it, with the hope of trying to find some normalcy in our lives. There isn’t a guide of how to do this.”

The Board met on Wednesday night to discuss the playing variances approved by the COVID-19 Response Team from the office of Gov. Jared Polis. The vote was 12-3 in favor of moving forward with those seasons.

According to the Governor’s public announcement, the CHSAA Board of Directors has empowered its member schools and school districts to determine if their teams are able to proceed with a fall (Season A) schedule in field hockey, football and sideline spirit safely under the guidelines set by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

“I would like to thank the CHSAA Board of Directors and the CHSAA staff for their commitment to reconsidering the options once the variances were provided to the CHSAA office. I would also like to thank our membership, who has been in this whirlwind as we sought a resolution,” said CHSAA Commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green. “We look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with the Governor’s office to obtain variances for wrestling, swimming and other sports in Seasons B, C and D.”

A major factor in the Board’s decision was the approval of the variances, and the COVID Response Team’s approval that these sports could move forward in a safe manner, with all the recommended guidelines.

Specifically, these variances allow for 50 players, per sideline, to be on the field during a football game. In field hockey, the variance allows for 25 players per sideline, per game. Previously, these guidelines were 25 players, total.

Spirit roster size is based upon CHSAA classification maximums.

There are other restrictions that must be followed, per the variance:

• All participants, including athletes, coaches, match officials, staff, and others, must wear masks while not actively playing, even outdoors. They must also be six feet apart from non-household members on the sidelines, or while not in active play. They may not go into the spectator area.
• Spirit participants must perform off the field of play, and must be at least 25 feet away from participants and spectators at all times.

These sports have been conditionally approved. If a community falls out of compliance and enters Level 3 in the Safer at Home Public Health Order 20-35, the Colorado Department of Health has said the approval will be re-evaluated and may be rescinded.

Requested variances for the remaining fall sports — gymnastics, boys soccer, spirit, girls volleyball, and unified bowling — remain under consideration by the COVID Response Team.

Specifics about each season will be communicated to CHSAA member schools in a timely manner. The CHSAA staff will be working closely with our administrators and school districts to assist with implementing Season A changes in an expedited manner.

CHSAA commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green is meeting with the Governor’s office on Friday to gather information about potential variances the state would allow for all sports.

On Tuesday afternoon, following multiple conversations with the Governor’s office, it was made clear to Blanford-Green that the variances she has sought from the COVID-19 Response Team since June in order to play certain sports would not be given. This information was conveyed to the Board of Directors prior to their meeting, and vote, on Tuesday evening.

It is apparent that the COVID-19 Response Team has now changed their position. The Governor made a public statement on Thursday, and then gave the Commissioner a verbal reassurance on that same day, that the variances we have been asking for would be expedited.

Blanford-Green is meeting with the Governor’s office to get details in writing about the variances that his office will allow.

Additionally, major concerns of the Board of Directors were that many schools are still trying to safely return to in-person learning, and still remain unable to physically access their buildings. Certain districts do not have the financial resources to be able to safely begin fall sports. The Governor’s office has indicated that it may be able to provide resources to schools to help facilitate their activities programs. Blanford-Green is also seeking to further clarify this possibility.

In light of this new information, the Board of Directors and CHSAA staff are working collaboratively to survey administrators from the entire membership to gather their input.

For its exemplary record of leadership, service, and activities that serve to improve the school and community, the Durango High School student council has been recognized as a 2020 National Gold Council of Excellence by National Association of Student Councils (NatStuCo).

“Receiving a National Gold Council of Excellence Award reflects the highest dedication on the part of the school to providing a strong, well-rounded student council program,” said Nara Lee, National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) Director of Student Leadership. “NatStuCo applauds the work of the National Gold Councils of Excellence and challenges them to continue their leadership and service to their schools and communities.”

The 2020 Gold Council of Excellence was earned by 261 high schools nationwide and 16 high schools in Colorado. More importantly, Durango was also 1 of 13 schools in the country to be recognized for a Decade of Excellence award. This honor is bestowed on councils who have received a NatStuCo Council of Excellence award for at least 10 years.

“It’s a huge honor receiving this award and means so much more hitting 10 years of recognition,” said Miles Bronson, Durango’s co-student body president.

Added Kaylan Wait, Durango’s DHS co-student body president: “This award helps recognize all of the countless hours spent by student council members in their efforts to promote the welcoming environment of our school, and we are incredibly proud to be a recipient!”

Wait also thanked the StuCo parents and Durango community for their ongoing and continual support of DHS Student Council.

“We would also like to thank our parents and community members for their constant support and encouragement of our program,” Wait said.

Durango student body secretary treasurer Laura Clark expressed how this award has helped her grow as a leader.

“I can’t express the extent to which this program has influenced my growth and success in high school,” Clark said. “By following the guidelines for recognition of this award, our student council class and myself personally have become better leaders and hopefully impacted many lives throughout our school and larger community. Leaving DHS, I could not be more proud to say that I am an alum of both Durango High School and the student council program.”

Finally, Durango student body vice president Lilah Hwang offered thoughts on how receiving this award motivates her.

“Receiving this award makes me all the more proud to be a part of this council and family,” Hwang said. “To be able to show the community and other councils around the state all of our hard work is not only an amazing accomplishment but a motivation to continue to strive to be better than the year before.”

To meet the requirements for the National Council of Excellence Award, a student council must meet a variety of criteria. In addition to basic requirements such as a written constitution, regular meetings, a democratic election process, the councils have demonstrated successful sponsorship and participation in activities such as leadership development and service to the school and community.

Councils awarded the gold level of the award have successfully demonstrated the highest levels of leadership.

For more information on the Durango HS Student Leadership program, contact DHS Leadership advisor Dale Garland (dgarland@durangoschools.org) or the Durango High School Athletics/Activities office.

INDIANAPOLIS — The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) has partnered with USA Field Hockey in a collaborative effort to sustain and grow the number of high school field hockey participants.

The NFHS and USA Field Hockey aim to accomplish their collective goal through improved promotion and development of field hockey, and by recruiting, supporting and retaining players, coaches and umpires. These methods to grow the sport will coincide with additional education for parents on the added benefits of student engagement and multi-sport participation. There will also be an emphasis on increased diversity and inclusion to make field hockey available and accessible across the country.

“The NFHS is extremely excited about partnering with USA Field Hockey to grow participation in this great game. During these very challenging times, we hope that schools promote as much good news like this as possible,” said NFHS Executive Director Karissa Niehoff. “There’s so much to gain for students and adults alike by engaging in activities such as field hockey. As a former player at the high school and collegiate levels, and as a high school coach, I can say with confidence that field hockey offers participants the opportunity to learn a sport that is uniquely elegant, exciting and team-oriented. The field hockey community at large welcomes everyone and focuses on the positive experience for all young people who participate.”

The partnership between the NFHS and USA Field Hockey includes plans to establish an advocacy group that drives opportunities to support, sustain and grow high school field hockey and increase and improve stakeholder engagement. In addition to recruitment, education and professional development for coaches and umpires, the partnership will feature developmental tools and resources for players, parents and administrators in schools and clubs.

The two groups also plan to distribute information that will better assist in the development and strengthening of grass-roots programs, and manage the transition of student-athletes between youth, middle school, high school, collegiate and lifetime engagement in sport. As part of that goal, the partnership will utilize the USA Field Hockey American Development Model (ADM).

Other areas to be addressed as part of the partnership include:

• Establishment of an annual Summit targeted toward high school coaches, umpires, administrators and student leaders.
• Development of a Junior Coaching and Umpiring Certification Program to equip student leaders for personal development and lifetime engagement in sport, providing tools to enable young leaders to contribute positively to grass-roots growth in their communities.
• Awards and recognition for adult and student leaders.
• Continued participation in NFHS Rules/Liaisons meetings.
• Development of school/conference ‘starter’ tool kits, ideally supported by grants for schools in need.
• Aligned communication around partnership and shared programs and events.

“Sport at the high school level is so important to the athletic and personal development of young people,” said Simon Hoskins, USA Field Hockey executive director. “The Olympic sport of field hockey is a key component of many high school programs and we look forward to working in partnership with the NFHS to offer more students the wonderful values that our sport provides including leadership, teamwork, self-confidence, composure, work ethic, respect, healthfulness, humility and more.”

Field hockey experienced a five-year high of 61,036 combined participants in 2018-19, according to the NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey. Of those, 60,824 were girls competing in nearly 1,800 schools.

“Field hockey presents an important opportunity for high schools to attract many girls to sport, leveling the playing field in terms of gender equity during the important fall season,” Niehoff said. “Being part of a team, exercising regularly and practicing important time management skills from the start of school can establish a sense of belonging and good habits that can be sustained throughout the year. Currently, almost half of the states do not offer any team field sports for girls in the fall. States in which both field hockey and soccer are offered during the fall season report increased female athletic participation and are closer to achieving gender equity.”

“High school sports play an important foundational role in the fabric of sport in America,” said Sally Goggin, USA Field Hockey’s national development director. “This partnership is important and timely, and we strive to be an example of teamwork and of the Olympic ideals in action. I feel fortunate to have picked up a stick as a freshman in high school, continued to play in college, and am passionate about helping others discover and excel in the game as players, coaches, umpires and fans.”

More information on the partnership, as well as how to support, sustain and grow high school field hockey in local communities, will be made available in the coming weeks.