CHSAANow

Category: Press Releases

  • 94th year of winter sports set to begin

    AURORA — The 94th year of Colorado High School Activities Association winter sports practice begins just as many of the fall sports are winding down and volleyball is gearing up for its state tournament and football is in the midst of its playoff run.

    Official practice starts Wednesday, Nov. 12 for basketball, wrestling, ice hockey and girls swimming and diving. Skiing gets started a bit later in the season. Teams may begin interscholastic scrimmages on Nov. 18, while the first contests begin Monday, Dec. 1.

    In May, 1921, a group of superintendents and principals met in Boulder and organized the Colorado High School Athletic Conference. The purpose of this organization was to better regulate and develop the interscholastic school athletic program.

    There were nine leagues by the time the first constitution was published, including the Northern, North Central, Western Slope, Suburban, Southeastern, Arkansas Valley, South Central and San Juan Basin leagues.

    The first champions crowned that school year were Colorado Springs in football, Greeley in basketball, and Fort Collins in track and field.

    In 1924, the Colorado High School Athletic Conference joined the National Federation of State High School Associations and has remained an active member of that organization ever since.

    Loveland’s R.W. Truscott was the Association’s first president and Eaton’s J.C. Casey its first secretary (commissioner). Truscott replaced Casey as secretary in December, 1926 and held that post until July, 1948 when Glenn T. Wilson became commissioner. Ray C. Ball took over the commissioner’s post in 1966 and remained in the office until August, 1986 when Ray Plutko assumed the duties. Bob Ottewill became the Association’s sixth commissioner in July, 1990, followed by Bill Reader who served as Commissioner from 2002 until 2010. Angelico assumed the reins on July 1, 2010.

    The CHSAA has had 58 presidents dating back to 1921. Its current president, Centauri High School Principal Curt Wilson, is in the first year of a two-year term as president.

    Last season’s champions can be found in our historical database.

  • Altitude, PlayOn! Sports and CHSAA announce broadcast agreement

    In an agreement announced today between Altitude Sports & Entertainment, PlayOn! Sports and the Colorado High School Activities Association, Altitude will produce and televise the CHSAA 4A and 5A State Football and Basketball Championships.

    The first broadcasts out of six will feature the CHSAA 4A and 5A State Football Championships live on Saturday November 29, 2014 from Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Additionally, Altitude will broadcast the CHSAA 4A & 5A State Girls and Boys Basketball Championships live on Saturday, March 14, 2015 from the Coors Events Center.

    CHSAA State Football Championships will feature Todd Romero at play-by-play duties with Blake Olson handling color commentary. Maya Starks will serve as sideline reporter.

    “Altitude is excited to further its commitment to high school sports in Colorado,” said Kim Carver, President and Chief Executive Officer. “We have broadcast 8 seasons of CHSAA regular season high school football since 2007 and are looking forward to expanding our coverage to include the Championship games. Colorado has some amazing student athletes and we can’t wait to showcase their talent.”

    “The CHSAA and PlayOn! Sports are pleased to again partner with Altitude Sports & Entertainment on the broadcasts of high school sports. Their commitment to prep athletics is reflective in their regular season schedule and this extension to the football and basketball playoffs is a natural progression in our relationship,” said CHSAA Commissioner Paul Angelico.

    The complete Altitude 2014-2015 CHSAA 4A & 5A Football and Basketball Championship schedule can found below. Please note that this schedule is subject to change and territory restrictions apply. A complete list of channel numbers can be found on at altitude.tv.

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    Event schedule
    Event Date Time Location Network
    4A Football Championship Sat, Nov 29, 2014 11:00 am Sports Authority Field at Mile High Altitude
    5A Football Championship Sat, Nov 29, 2014 2:30 pm Sports Authority Field at Mile High Altitude
    4A Girls Basketball Championship Sat, March 14, 2015 1:00 pm Coors Events Center Altitude
    5A Girls Basketball Championship Sat, March 14, 2015 3:00 pm Coors Events Center Altitude
    4A Boys Basketball Championship Sat, March 14, 2015 6:30 pm Coors Events Center ALT2
    5A Boys Basketball Championship Sat, March 14, 2015 8:30 pm Coors Events Center ALT2

  • CHSAA announces 2014 Hall of Fame class

    AURORA — The Colorado High School Activities Association Hall of Fame has announced its 26th Hall of Fame class, featuring a four-time state wrestling champion, a star-studded boys’ basketball team, a girls’ athletics pioneer coach, a long-time officials’ assignor, a veteran media broadcaster and a medical professional who has assisted high school athletes for nearly 50 years.

    The CHSAA Hall of Fame’s Class of 2014 includes four-time champion Jonathan Archuleta (Alamosa) and the legendary undefeated Manual High School Boys’ Team from 1966, along with Bernie Goss, a wrestling official and all-sports officials assignor from Grand Junction. Joining those three entries into the hall are girls’ athletics pioneer and Colorado Coaches of Girls Sports founder Helen McCall, former media maven Marcia Neville and Dr. Darwin Strickland, who for 50 years has been the physician for high school athletes in Adams County District 12.

    “The latest class of the CHSAA Hall of Fame is one that reaches all aspects of high school sports, from the medical side to the media side to a founding figure in girls’ athletics, to the officials who maintain fair and equitable competition. Rounding out this class are some special athletes, the reasons the CHSAA was founded. Winning four state wrestling championships is special and speaks for itself, but so does a team going through an entire season undefeated. Like the 25 previous classes, this class is special to who and what Colorado prep activities are,” CHSAA Commissioner Paul Angelico said in making the announcement.

    “As we look to our second quarter century of honoring those people who have make up high school athletics and activities, it is important to note the impact that each of these inductees, like those that came before them, had had in their respective areas of the state. The 26th class reflects the efforts, passion and love Colorado has for high school activities,” CHSAA Hall of Fame administrator Bert Borgmann said.

    The Class of 2014 will be inducted during a ceremony on Wednesday, January 28, 2014, at the Red Lion Hotel Denver Southeast (I 225 and Parker). Individual tickets may be purchased for $50 each by contacting the CHSAA. The festivities get underway at 6:30 p.m. Seating is limited.

    The selection of the one student participant to the CHSAA Hall of Fame puts the total number of participants in the hall at 57. There are now 60 coaches, 27 administrators, 16 officials and eight significant service contributors enshrined in the CHSAA Hall of Fame that began in 1989. There are also four teams in the hall. The Hall of Fame now features 172 inductees.

    Biographies of the newest additions to the hall:

    Jon Archuleta
    Jon Archuleta

    JON ARCHULETA (Alamosa High School): Colorado’s seventh four-time state wrestling champion, Archuleta graduated in 1995. He posted a record 125-4 during his high school career and was ranked number one in the nation at his weight during his senior year. He was a four-time district and regional champion for the mean moose.

    He was named Colorado’s 4A Outstanding Wrestler as a senior and Male Prep Athlete of the Year in 1995. He was a four-time national qualifier while at Cal State-Bakersfield and advanced to the NCAA’s round of 12 as a junior. A former high school coach, Archuleta now owns a plumbing business in Bakersfield.

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    Bernie Goss
    Bernie Goss

    BERNIE GOSS (Western Slope): For the last 50 years, Bernie Goss has been involved with the State Wrestling Championships as either an official, rule interpreter or officials’ liaison. His list of accomplishments as a wrestling official is lengthy and includes the NFHS Distinguished Wrestling Officials Award, induction in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, plus many more. That only tells part of the story, as Goss has been instrumental in official assigning across the Western Slope for nearly 20 years. In 1994, Goss was selected as High School Counselor of the Year by the Council on College/High School Relations.

    He was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2005, was given the 2008 Lloyd Gaskill Award by the Colorado High School Coaches Association and the 2013 Colorado Athletics Directors Association Community Service Award.

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    Manual boys basketball
    Manual boys basketball

    MANUAL THUNDERBOLTS (1966) BOYS’ BASKETBALL: Since the State Basketball Championships began in 1922, there have been few undefeated teams, but the 1966 Manual Thunderbirds are one of those teams. In fact, they became the first “big” school undefeated champions when they capped a 20-0 season in 1966.Three players were named to the All-Tournament Team – Carl Ashley, Don Edwards and Horace Kearney. One DPL historian considers this team to be the “best ever” from Denver.

    They were coached by one of DPS’ legendary coaches, Al Oviatt. The players on the team included Ashley, Lewis Brown, Edwards, Kearney, Issac Lee, Charles Maloy, Harold Minter, John Osborne, Orzo Riley and Tim Wedgeworth.

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    Helen McCall
    Helen McCall

    HELEN MCCALL (Westminster): One of the most effective pioneers in girls’ sports, the late Helen McCall was instrumental in the formation of the Colorado Coaches’ of Girls Sports. She developed the concept for CCGS while on sabbatical from Westminster and attending the University of Denver. She held many positions in CCGS over the years and served on numerous CHSAA committees in the 1970s. As a coach, her teams enjoyed success on the floor, finishing second in the state basketball tournament in 1976 and third in 1978.

    McCall was awarded the coveted Dorothy Mauk Award by the Sportswomen of Colorado and was instrumental in creating the Rocky Mountain League for Women’s Athletics when she moved on to coach and teach at the University of Denver.

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    Marcia Neville
    Marcia Neville

    MARCIA NEVILLE (Denver): For 26 years, Marcia Neville was the face of high school sports in Colorado. There wasn’t an athlete, coach or school that didn’t know who Neville was and embraced her passion and enthusiasm for prep sports. She put coverage of high school sports on the same level as the colleges and professional sports teams. A friend to CHSAA, she was the host of many of the Association’s events, including serving as MC for nearly half of the CHSAA Hall of Fame induction banquets. Her list of Emmys is lengthy and she has been honored by the Association with its Distinguished Service Award.

    Since leaving the career she called the “best job in the state” in 2009, she has worked in production television with High Noon Entertainment and in non-profit with Women’s Bean Project. Currently, she’s in her third year with the University of Colorado at Denver’s Anschutz Medical Campus, working as a media relations and community engagement specialist in the university’s Office of Communications.

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    Dr. Darwin Strickland
    Dr. Darwin Strickland

    DR. DARWIN STRICKLAND (Northglenn): Dr. Darwin Strickland’s impact on the students in Adams School District 12 is immense. For the past 48-plus years, Strickland has provided free sports physicals for district students, averaging nearly 500 each year. He consults individually with each student and his/her parents. He has been on the sidelines of as many games as he can during that time. He continues to serve the students of the Five Star District and can be found attending to student athletes at any playoff game a district school is involved with.

    His list of honors is lengthy and all are related to his work with students. He remains active in his solo private practice, often ending his days seeing patients well after 10:00 p.m.

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    In addition to the induction of the Hall of Fame class, the Association will honor Dick Nelson (Denver Public Schools) and Ron Johns (Chatfield Swimming) with its Distinguished Service Award and Les Schwab Tires with its Colorado Tradition Award. The Colorado Tradition Award is special recognition that goes to an organization that has distinguished itself through its support and loyalty to CHSAA, its mission and students. The CHSAA Distinguished Service Award is presented to persons whose efforts are in support of, rather than the focus of, an activity.

    The six new members join past inductees. Browse the entire Hall of Fame in our database.

    Members of the CHSAA Hall of Fame Selection Committee include: Dick Katte (chair, Denver Christian); John Andrew (DPS); Ed Hartnett (Adams 12 SD); Dina Fuqua (Vanguard); Bob Marken (CHSCA), Mary Kay Mauro (NFHS Network/CET Productions), Leslie Moore (CHSAA HoF); Dale Oliver (Hi-Plains), Jodi Reinhard (Standley Lake); Denny Squibb (Fruita Monument); CHSAA staff liaison is Assistant Commissioner Bert Borgmann.

  • CHSAA fall championships begin with boys golf

    Boys golf
    (Matt Mathewes/MVPSportsPics.com)

    AURORA — The Colorado High School Activities Association state championships get started September 29-30, with the Boys’ State Golf Championships, held at three sites across the Front Range. All qualifier information has been posted to CHSAANow.com and can be accessed from that point. Tee times start at 8:30 a.m.

    The Class 3A tournament will be held at the Northeastern 18 Golf Course (formerly Sterling Country Club), while 4A will be held at Walking Stick Golf Course in Pueblo. The 5A State Tournament is slated for the Colorado Springs Country Club in Colorado Springs.

    The format is a 36-hole, two-day event with both individual and team champions crowned on Tuesday afternoon. Live scoring is available with a subscription to iWannamaker and can be accessed through CHSAANow.com.

  • High school sports participation increases for 25th consecutive year

    INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The number of participants in high school sports increased for the 25th consecutive year in 2013-14 with a record total of almost 7.8 million, according to the annual High School Athletics Participation Survey conducted by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS).

    Based on figures from the 51 NFHS member state high school associations, which includes the District of Columbia, sports participation for the 2013-14 school year reached an all-time high of 7,795,658 – an increase of 82,081 from the previous year. This one-year increase was the highest since 2009-10.

    Girls participation increased for the 25th consecutive year with an additional 44,941 participants from 2012-13 and set an all-time record of 3,267,664. Boys participation eclipsed 4.5 million for the first time (4,527,994), breaking the mark of 4,494,406 in 2010-11.

    The increase in boys participation was due in part to the first increase in football numbers in five years. An additional 6,607 boys participated in 11-player football in 2013-14, pushing this past year’s total to 1,093,234. In addition, another 1,715 girls participated in 11-player football last year, an increase of 184 from the previous year.

    “We are pleased with the increase in participation numbers in the sport of football for the 2013-14 school year,” said Bob Gardner, NFHS executive director. “With the precautions that are in place nationwide to address concussions in all high school sports, including football, we have maintained that the risk of injury is as low as it ever has been. Certainly, this rise in football numbers is a confirmation of those beliefs and indicates the strong continued interest nationwide in high school football.”

    Among the top 10 boys sports, baseball registered the largest gain with an additional 7,838 participants, followed by football and soccer (6,437). The top 10 boys sports remained unchanged from last year: football, outdoor track and field, basketball, baseball, soccer, wrestling, cross country, tennis, golf, and swimming and diving.

    Volleyball gained the most participants among girls sports (9,426) from the previous year, and its total of 429,634 was within 3,710 of basketball for the No. 2 position. Track and field, with an additional 5,946 participants from 2012-13, remained the No. 1 sport for girls, followed by basketball, volleyball, soccer, fast-pitch softball, cross country, tennis, swimming and diving, competitive spirit squads and lacrosse.

    “This past year’s report on sports participation in our nation’s high schools was another great statement about the importance of these education-based programs,” Gardner said. “We are encouraged that schools are continuing to respond to the funding challenges, and are particularly pleased to see that the increase this past year was evenly distributed between boys and girls.”

    In terms of combined participation, lacrosse continued to register sizeable increases as overall participation for boys and girls increased by 9,744 to 188,689. The sport ranks 10th for girls and 11th for boys.

    The top 10 states by participants remained in the same order as last year, with Texas and California topping the list with 805,299 and 783,008, respectively. The remainder of the top 10 was New York (389,475), Illinois (343,757), Ohio (325,448), Pennsylvania (317,318), Michigan (299,246), New Jersey (285,020), Florida (268,266) and Minnesota (232,909). Overall, 33 states reported higher figures from the previous year, up from 30 states that had increases the previous year.

    The participation survey has been compiled since 1971 by the NFHS through numbers it receives from its member associations. The complete 2013-14 High School Athletics Participation Survey is attached in PDF format and will be posted soon on the NFHS website at www.nfhs.org.

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    NFHS Participation Survey

    Download: PDF
    https://old.chsaanow.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/nfhs-participation-survey.pdf

  • Tom Robinson named CHSAA Associate Commissioner

    Tom Robinson
    Tom Robinson

    AURORA — Tom Robinson, Assistant Commissioner for the Colorado High School Activities Association for the past 13 years, has been named Associate Commissioner of the organization, CHSAA Commissioner Paul Angelico announced.

    “Tom has had a long and distinguished career as an educator, official and coach. His 43 years in education are marked with great accomplishments. Tom’s leadership in officiating has help the Association see better training and greater accountability for officials in all sports,” Angelico said. “He will maintain these duties, in addition to providing support to the Commissioner’s office.”

    “I’m totally surprised and humbled by all this. I will do my best to further assist Paul and this important organization in any way I can,” Robinson said.

    Robinson started at the CHSAA in 2001 after a 30-year teaching career at Regis Jesuit High School where he taught all levels of mathematics, including AP Calculus. He was a teacher at the school from 1969 until 2001 and served as the school’s director of diversity from 1995-2001.

    While teaching at Regis, Robinson was the varsity basketball Coach for 10 years (1983-93), varsity golf coach (1993-95), and was an assistant coach in football, basketball and track (1969-83).

    From 1975-2000, he was a collegiate football official for the Western Athletic and Mountain West conferences, and currently serves as replay official in the CFO West, which serves the Big 12, Mountain West and Southland conferences. He worked the Bluebonnet, Fiesta, Rose, Cotton, Gator, Independence and Citrus Bowls. Prior to that he was a high school football official from 1969 to 1975.

    A 1969 graduate of Colorado State University, Robinson ran track and played both basketball and football, while earning his degree in mathematics. He earned his master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Denver in 1982.

    He is a member of the National Federation of State High School Associations’ Football Rules and Basketball Rules Committees. He has also served as a board member for the National Association of Sports Officials and Regis Jesuit High School.

    He and his wife, Cleo Parker Robinson, have shared 44 years of marriage.

  • Restart procedure altered in boys lacrosse

    Valor Christian Steamboat Springs boys lacrosse
    (Mark Adams)

    INDIANAPOLIS, IN — Restarts by the defensive team no longer will be required to take place outside the goal area in high school boys lacrosse, so long as any player is not within 5 yards of the ball carrier.

    This revision in Rule 4-22 was one of 11 changes recommended by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Boys Lacrosse Rules Committee at its July 21-23 meeting in Indianapolis. The committee’s recommendations were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

    On a violation by the offensive team where the defensive team is to be awarded the ball, the defensive team no longer has to restart play outside the goal area. With this revision, the defensive team could now restart play from the goal area or in the crease.

    “This change will allow the defense to restart play more quickly and will keep the game moving,” said Kent Summers, director of performing arts and sports and liaison to the rules committee. “It also addresses risk minimization by maintaining the requirement for all players to be at least 5 yards from the ball carrier on the restart.”

    Other changes concerned with minimizing the risk of injury include Rules 1-7-3 and 2-1-3. In Rule 1-7-3 concerning the crosse, any strings or leathers will be limited to a hanging length of 2 inches. In addition, any additional strings or laces (e.g., shooting strings, V channels) must be located within 4 inches of the top of the crosse. No more than one side-wall string on each side is allowed.

    “This revision will allow the ball to become dislodged more easily, thus reducing the risk of slashes and cross-checks used to dislodge the ball,” Summers said. “This rules change will create more active play and improve passing.”

    With a revision in Rule 2-1-3, a game no longer can be continued if a team has fewer than seven on-field players because of lack of available players, injuries, penalties, etc. The result of the game shall be determined by the state association or appropriate sponsoring authority.

    Another change approved by the Boys Lacrosse Rules Committee involved the duties and authority of the Chief Bench Official (CBO). Rule 2-7-2 now states that the CBO “shall supervise and have complete jurisdiction over the timekeeper, penalty timekeepers, scorers, coaches, substitutes and any other persons within the bench areas, the special substitution area and the penalty box.”

    This rule also will now include the procedure for the CBO to call violations and apply appropriate penalties, as well as how to inform the on-field officials when violations occur.

    Following are other changes approved by the NFHS Boys Lacrosse Rules Committee (rule references are from the 2014 NFHS Boys Lacrosse Rules Book).

    • Rule 1-6-2: Added the following procedure to check to make sure the ball can easily roll out of the head of the crosse – “ . . . With the ball in the crosse, horizontal to the ground at the deepest point of the pocket, tip the crosse forward 90 degrees to ensure that the ball rolls out of the top end of the head.”
    • Rule 2-10-1: Balls on the bench side are needed only at the table and not along the sideline.
    • Rule 3-1-2: More clearly defined when the running clock begins in those games where the score differential reaches 12 goals or more.
    • Rule 5-5: A player using a crosse found to be illegal for not meeting any required specification other than a deep pocket will receive a three-minute non-releasable penalty (except hanging string length and end caps as in Rule 1-7-3). Also, any crosse ruled illegal and resulting in a three-minute penalty will remain in the table area for the remainder of the game.
    • Rule 6-4: Added “with his feet no wider than shoulder-width apart” to the section on illegal offensive screening.
    • Rule 6-5-2e: The 30-second penalty has been erased in situations when a goal is scored by the opponent.
    • Rule 6-5-2w: “Take a dive or feigning a slash to the head or body in order to deceive the official and draw a penalty” was added to the examples of illegal procedure.

    A total of 101,687 boys participated in lacrosse during the 2012-13 season according to the NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey.

  • CHSAA begins 94th year of sports as official practice starts in golf

    AURORA — The Colorado High School Activities Association and its 346 member schools open the 94th school year with Boys’ Golf official practice on August 4.

    All other sports start officially on August 11. Student athletes in Cross Country, Field Hockey, Boys’ Golf, Football, Girls’ Gymnastics, Boys’ Soccer, Softball, Boys’ Tennis, Volleyball and Spirit anxiously await that starting date.

    “The start of the new school year, which includes the beginning of the fall sports season, is one of the most exciting times in a student’s life. Certainly the start of fall practice is a bit more special because it starts the entire school year. The community-based feeling that high school sports bring to high schools remind each of us of our own roots. Schools have always been the hub of activities for neighborhoods and communities and that status remains unchallenged year in and year out,” CHSAA Commissioner Paul Angelico said.

    Teams may start scrimmages on August 7 for Boys’ Golf, August 11 for Softball and August 16 for all other sports, except football which starts scrimmage August 21. August 21 also marks the first day of competition for all fall sports except Boys’ Golf (August 7), Boys’ Tennis (August 14) and Girls’ Softball (August 15).

    A major change in CHSAA bylaws allows for football (and all sports) to utilize what has commonly been known as “Zero Week” as a regular competition week. This allows for more flexibility in scheduling, especially in football.

    In May, 1921, a group of superintendents and principals met in Boulder and organized the Colorado High School Athletic Conference. The purpose of this organization was to better regulate and develop the interscholastic school athletic program.

    There were nine leagues by the time the first constitution was published, including the Northern, North Central, Western Slope, Suburban, Southeastern, Arkansas Valley, South Central and San Juan Basin leagues.

    The first champions crowned that school year were Colorado Springs in football, Greeley in basketball, and Fort Collins in track and field.

    In 1924, the Colorado High School Athletic Conference joined the National Federation of State High School Associations and has remained an active member of that organization ever since.

    Loveland’s R.W. Truscott was the Association’s first president and Eaton’s J.C. Casey its first secretary (commissioner). Truscott replaced Casey as secretary in December, 1926 and held that post until July, 1948 when Glenn T. Wilson became commissioner. Ray C. Ball took over the commissioner’s post in 1966 and remained in the office until August, 1986 when Ray Plutko assumed the duties. Bob Ottewill became the Association’s sixth commissioner in July, 1990, followed by Bill Reader who served as Commissioner from 2002 until 2010. Angelico assumed the position on July 1, 2010

    The CHSAA has had 58 presidents dating back to 1921. Its current president, Centauri Schools Superintendent Curt Wilson, is in the first year of a two-year term as president.

    The Association enters the year with few changes on staff. Paul Angelico, in his 25th year at CHSAA, is Commissioner. Assistant Commissioners Bert Borgmann and Tom Robinson are in their 27th and 14th years on the staff, respectively. Meanwhile, Bethany Brookens and Harry Waterman are in their seventh years with the Association. Bud Ozzello enters is in his fifth year on the staff, while Jenn Roberts-Uhlig is in her third year, and Ryan Casey is in his second year with CHSAA as Director of Digital Media.

    Donna Coonts serves as administrative assistant to Commissioner Angelico, while Whitney Webermeier (Borgmann), Rocky Railey (Brookens), Theresa Muniz (Waterman), Audra Cathy (Ozzello), Jane Boudreau (Roberts-Uhlig) and Monica Tillman (Robinson) assist the other administrators. Bookkeeper Kenzie Hewson and mail room coordinator Sharon Garcia round out the Association staff.

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    CHSAA Administrative Staff and Major Assignments

    Paul Angelico, Commissioner (Classification and League Organization Committee, Board of Directors, Legislative Council, Budget, Hardship Waivers, Handbook, Personnel)

    Bert Borgmann, Assistant Commissioner (Baseball, Basketball, Gymnastics, Hall of Fame, Media Relations, Cooperative Programs, Legislative Relations, Programs, State Records/Championship Results, Trophies & Awards, Foreign Waivers)

    Tom Robinson, Assistant Commissioner (Golf, Officials, Officials’ Fees Committee, Sportsmanship, Sportsmanship Seminars, Officials’ Organizations)

    Bethany Brookens, Assistant Commissioner (Field Hockey, Tennis, Music, Skiing, Swimming, Volleyball, Title IX, Equity, New Schools, Participation Survey)

    Harry Waterman, Assistant Commissioner (Football, Wrestling, Lacrosse, Student Council, NFHS Section 6, Coaching Registration, Playoff Sites, Tournament Playoff & Finance, CADA Liaison)

    Bud Ozzello, Assistant Commissioner (Softball, Soccer, Speech, Ice Hockey, Sanctioned Events, Office Manager)

    Jenn Roberts-Uhlig, Assistant Commissioner (Cross Country, Spirit, Track & Field, Corporate Relations, Recognition Programs, Academic Team/All-State, Sports Medicine, Junior High/Middle Schools, New Athletic Directors Meeting, T-Shirts/Merchandise)

    Ryan Casey, Director of Digital Media (CHSAANow.com; Technology Advancement, CHSAA.org)

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    CHSAA Board of Directors (Leagues Represented) [term expires]:

    CHSAA President (Serving second of two-year term): Curt Wilson, Superintendent (Centauri Schools( [2015]

    District 1 (San Juan Basin, Western Slope, Southwestern): Paul Cain, District Athletic Director (Grand Junction Schools) [2018]

    District 2 (Centennial, Northern, Frontier, Tri-Valley): Mike Schmidt, Principal (Platte Canyon School District) [2016]

    District 3 (High Plains, Lower Platte, Mile High, North Central, Patriot, Union Pacific, YWKC): Kathleen Leiding, Athletic Director (Lyons High School) [2015]

    District 4 (Jefferson County, East Metro, Colorado 7): Jim Thyfault, District Athletic Director (Jefferson County Schools) [2017]

    District 5 (Denver, Metropolitan, Confluence): Loren Larrabee, Athletic Director (Lutheran High School) [2018]

    District 6 (Continental, Front Range, 5280): Ed Hartnett, Director of District Activities/Athletics (Adams Five Star School District) [2016]

    District 7 (CS Metro 4A, CS Metro 5A, Pikes Peak, Tri-Peaks, West Central): Sandi Weece, Athletic Director (South Park High School) [2015]

    District 8 (Black Forest, Fisher’s Peak, Intermountain, Southern Peaks): Joe Garcia, Athletic Director (Antonito High School) [2018]

    District 9 (Arkansas Valley, Santa Fe, South Central, Southeastern): Richard Macias, District Athletic Director (Pueblo City Schools 60) [2017]

    Colorado Association of School Boards: Jim Engelker (Platte Valley Re-3) [2016]

    Colorado Association of School Executives: Jim Lucas, Assistant Principal (Pine Creek High School) [2015]

    Colorado Association of School Executives: Rick Mondt, Superintendent (Briggsdale Schools) [2017]

    Colorado Department of Education: Wendy Dunaway, Colorado Department of Education [2015]

    Colorado State Assembly: Jim Wilson, Salida (State Representative, Salida) [2017]

  • Prohibition of jewelry lifted in track and field

    INDIANAPOLIS — Effective with the 2015 high school track and field season, the prohibition of jewelry will be eliminated. This was one of several rules changes recommended by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Track and Field Rules Committee at its June 16-18 meeting in Indianapolis. The committee’s recommendations were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

    Becky Oakes, NFHS director of sports and liaison to the Track and Field Rules Committee, said the committee determined that prohibiting jewelry in high school track and field and cross country is not necessary.

    “The wearing of jewelry ordinarily presents little risk of injury to either the competitor or opponents,” Oakes said. “Elimination of the rule allows officials to focus on meet administration directly related to actual competition. Coaches continue to have the obligation to see that competitors are properly equipped.”

    In other changes, language regarding the time limit to initiate a trial in the throwing and jumping events was revised. Previously, competitors in these events had to initiate a trial and carry it to completion within one minute. Beginning next year, participants must only initiate the trial within the one-minute time limit. Completion of the event will be allowed beyond the prescribed time.

    Another change was made in field events involving implements. In events such as the shot put, discus, javelin and pole vault, an additional trial will be allowed when an implement breaks – and thus becomes illegal – during competition due to no fault of the competitor.

    The revised note in Rules 6-2-17 and 7-2-17 reads as follows: “If a legal implement breaks during an attempt in accordance with the rules, no penalty shall be counted against the competitor and a replacement trial shall be awarded. If the implement breaks upon completion of the trial, a replacement attempt shall not be awarded and the results of the trial shall be recorded, provided it was made in accordance with the rules.”

    In the discus throw, it no longer will be a foul if a competitor is out of control when exiting the back half of the circle. Also, in the discus, shot put and javelin, the requirement for the judge to call “mark” was eliminated.

    Another change involves the high jump and pole vault events. A new article in Rule 7-2 will state that “a crossbar displaced by a force disassociated with the competitor after he/she is legally and clearly over the crossbar shall not be a fault and is considered a successful attempt.”

    In Rule 8 involving special events, the committee approved the 1,500-meter run as an alternate for the 1,600-meter run in the decathlon and pentathlon. Oakes said when using the IAAF standard scoring, the 1,500-meter run is the standard distance. In addition, the indoor weight throw was approved for the listing of special events.

    The final change involves Rule 1-4 on indoor track. Since many indoor meets are held in college facilities, the committee approved the 60-meter high hurdles and dash as alternates for the 55-meter high hurdles and dash. Oakes said this option eliminates special marking of the facilities for the hurdles and dash.

    Track and field is the second-most popular sport for boys with 580,672 participants in 16,001 schools and is the No. 1 sport for girls with 472,939 participants in 15,962 schools during the 2012-13 season, according to the NFHS Athletics Participation Survey.

  • Rule changes approved in baseball, softball

    Rocky Mountain Regis Jesuit baseball
    (Jack Eberhard/JacksActionShots.com)

    INDIANAPOLIS — Beginning with the 2015 high school baseball season, teams will be allowed to use video monitoring or replay equipment for coaching purposes during games.

    This revision to Rule 3-3-1 was one of five changes recommended by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Baseball Rules Committee at its June 8-10 meeting in Indianapolis. The committee’s recommendations were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

    Previously, video equipment was permitted but it could not be used during games for coaching purposes.

    “With advancements in technology, it was extremely difficult for officials to determine if teams were using video replay during games,” said Elliot Hopkins, NFHS director of sports and educational services and liaison to the Baseball Rules Committee. “The committee determined it was the right time to permit teams to use these technological aids if they so choose.”

    In softball, two rules changes were recommended by the NFHS Softball Rules Committee at its June 16-18 meeting in Indianapolis and subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

    Rules 1-6-1 and 1-7-1 were revised to state that the batting helmet and the catcher’s helmet shall have a non-glare surface (not mirror-like).

    Theresia Wynns, NFHS director of sports and officials education and liaison to the Softball Rules Committee, said the committee instituted these changes because helmets that are mirror-like in nature are distracting and could be dangerous for other players.

    In other baseball rules changes, the committee expanded the definition of interference in Rule 2-21 to include follow-through interference and backswing interference.

    Rule 2-21-4 will state that “follow-through interference is when the ball hits the catcher after the batter has swung at a pitch and hinders action at home plate or the catcher’s attempt to play on a runner,” and Rule 2-21-5 will state that “backswing interference is when a batter contacts the catcher or his equipment prior to the time of the pitch.”

    Hopkins said that follow-through interference and backswing interference are separate and distinct acts that previously were not addressed in Rule 2-21. The rule previously covered offensive, umpire and spectator interference.

    The rules committee approved a change in Rule 1-5-1 regarding the batting helmet to be consistent with the rule for helmets used by defensive players. As is the case with head protection worn by field players, the batting helmet now must have a non-glare surface (cannot be mirror-like in nature) and meet the NOCSAE standard at the time of manufacture.

    The definition of a foul ball in Rule 2-16-1 was expanded to be consistent with language elsewhere in the rules book. Specifically, Rule 2-16-1f will now state that a foul is a batted ball “that hits the batter in the batter’s box.” Article “g” will state that a foul is a batted ball “that hits the ground or home plate and then hits the batter or the bat which is held by the batter while he is in the batter’s box.”

    The final change approved by the Baseball Rules Committee involves the following additional language to Courtesy Runner Rule No. 1: “In the event that the offensive team bats around, the pitcher and/or catcher who had a courtesy runner inserted on their behalf may bat in their normal position in the batting order.”

    Baseball is the fourth-most popular sport for boys at the high school level with 474,791 participants in 15,632 schools during the 2012-13 season, according to the NFHS Athletics Participation Survey. Fast-pitch softball is the fifth-most popular sport for girls at the high school level with 362,488 participants in 15,067 schools during the 2012-13 season.