CHSAANow

Category: Press Releases

  • Risk minimization highlights changes in hockey rules

    Valor Christian Regis Jesuit state hockey 2018
    (Dustin Price/DustinPricePhotography.com)

    INDIANAPOLIS — Rules changes related to minimizing risk of injury in high school ice hockey are among five revisions for the 2018-19 season.

    The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Ice Hockey Rules Committee recommended the changes at its April 23-24 meeting in Indianapolis, and all changes were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

    Two changes in Rule 3 dealing with equipment were approved to decrease risk of injury in the sport. In Rule 3-3-1, goalkeepers are now required to wear pants or socks under leg pads to cover exposed skin on the legs. In addition, a HECC/ASTM protective full facemask is required. While the full facemask has been required in the past, HECC/ASTM language was added for clarification. 

    “Goalkeepers have been observed wearing goalie pads without any covering on the back of their legs,” said Dan Schuster, NFHS director of educational services and liaison to the Ice Hockey Rules Committee. “This creates a dangerous situation with skate blades, sticks and pucks that could cause injury to these exposed areas.”

    Another risk-minimization change relates to the composition of the stick in Rule 3-1-1. Sticks must be free of any projections and all edges of the stick blade must be beveled. The committee’s intent was to prohibit any stick that could be dangerous to participants.

    The committee also revised the penalty given to a player who deliberately displaces a goal cage. To align with Rule 8-2-5 regarding deliberately displacing a helmet, a penalty shot will be awarded when a player deliberately displaces a goal cage during a breakaway with less than two minutes remaining in regulation or any time during overtime. If this violation occurs on an obvious and imminent goal, a goal is awarded the opposing team.

    Another change involves the “captain’s choice of players” for serving a penalty. Additional language was added to Rule 4-2-8 noting that the penalty shall not be charged to the player selected to serve the penalty. The committee agreed that the “captain’s choice of players” penalty should not be penalized personally; therefore, it will not count toward the player’s five penalty allotment, at which time the player receives a game misconduct penalty.

    The final change approved by the committee concerns icing the puck in Rule 9-5-3. The revised rule states that when an official errs in calling an “icing-the-puck” infraction, regardless of whether either team is shorthanded, the ensuing faceoff shall take place at the center ice faceoff spot.

    “This change eliminates an advantage that the attacking team has previously had with an errant whistle from an official,” Schuster said. “The center ice faceoff does not give an advantage to either team.”

    A complete listing of all rules changes is available on the NFHS website at www.nfhs.org. Click on “Activities & Sports” at the top of the home page and select “Ice Hockey.”

    More than 35,000 boys participate in ice hockey across the country in 1,610 high schools, and more than 9,500 girls participate in the sport in 622 schools, according to the 2017-18 NFHS Athletics Participation Survey.

  • Exception to backcourt violation approved in basketball rules

    Faith Christian Bayfield boys basketball
    (Ray Chen/ArrayPhoto.com)

    INDIANAPOLIS — An exception to the backcourt violation and a clarification regarding specifications of the ball comprise the changes approved for the 2018-19 high school basketball season.

    The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Basketball Rules Committee recommended the changes at its April 9-11 meeting in Indianapolis, and all changes were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

    Rule 9-9-1 states that “a player shall not be the first to touch the ball after it has been in team control in the frontcourt, if he/she or a teammate last touched or was touched by the ball in the frontcourt before it went to the backcourt.”

    An exception was approved to note that any player who was located in the backcourt may recover a ball that is deflected from the frontcourt by the defense.

    Theresia Wynns, NFHS director of sports and officials, said the committee approved the exception to ensure that a team is not unfairly disadvantaged on a deflected pass.

    The other change approved by the Basketball Rules Committee involved more clearly defining the cover of the ball in Rule 1-12-1c, which now states that the ball “shall have a deeply-pebbled granulated surface . . .”

    Wynns said the term “granulated surface” should provide manufacturers a better idea of what a deeply-pebbled cover should look like.

    In addition to the two rules changes approved by the committee, several points of emphasis were identified for the coming season, including concussion recognition, proper procedures for blood issues and coaches monitoring injury and research trends.  

    “The committee wanted to stress continued education in recognizing signs and symptoms of concussions for coaches, athletes, parents and officials,” Wynns said. “In addition, concern of overuse injuries due to sport specialization should be monitored, and recognition of blood on players and uniforms and the proper procedure for removal of blood and return to play are other areas for education.”

    Wynns noted that coaches have primary responsibility for making sure players are wearing legal uniforms and are legally equipped. She said emphasis will be given to rule enforcement in the areas of traveling, legal guarding position and establishing possession during loose-ball situations.  Lastly, the committee believes officials professionalism and use of proper terminology should be emphasized.

    “Overall, the committee believes the rules of the sport are in great shape.  These changes provide more clarification in areas where there has been inconsistency in interpretation and will help manufacturers in producing basketballs that meet NFHS specifications,” said Francine Martin, NFHS Basketball Rules Committee chair and assistant executive director of the Kansas State High School Activities Association. “The committee evaluated input from the NFHS basketball rules questionnaire, which is available for all coaches and officials to complete and provide input for future rules changes during the meeting. The points of emphasis are geared toward sports medicine issues and consistent interpretation of playing rules.” 

    A complete listing of all rules changes is available on the NFHS website at www.nfhs.org. Click on “Activities & Sports” at the top of the home page and select “Basketball.”

    Basketball ranks third in popularity for both boys and girls with 550,305 male participants and 430,368 female participants, according to the 2017-18 NFHS Athletics Participation Survey.

  • Legislative Council passes legislation addressing safety and statewide coaches education

    April 2018 Legislative Council
    (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

    AURORA – At its second of two Colorado High Activities Association Legislative Council Meeting Thursday, April 26, the CHSAA’s legislative body made several significant and positive changes to its bylaws.

    The CHSAA Legislative Council is the body that determines the rules for the student participants in the state of Colorado and its 70 members represent all the individual athletic conferences, along with representatives from the Colorado Association of School Boards, Colorado Athletic Directors Association and Colorado Association of Secondary School Administrators.

    The agenda included consideration of six constitutional proposals, 11 administrative proposals and five sports/activities proposals, along with four administrative committee reports, two activities committee reports and seven sport committee reports.

    “The core values of the Colorado High School Activities Association embody safety, competitive equity and educational outreach,” said Commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green. “We are so proud of the work accomplished by our Board of Directors, Handbook Committee and Legislative Council to not only meet but exceed those expectations.”

    “Our organization is more than playoffs and state championships. Our ultimate responsibility is to ensure participation in CHSAA activities provids an educationally-rich environment, diverse levels of resources and strong role models that will assist our student participants as they navigate their futures. Approximately 4% of high school students move on to compete at the collegiate level so the relevancy of our message and support must be intentional to be most impactful,” Blanford-Green noted.

    Among the most significant actions last week was the passage of the first Sports Medicine Advisory Committee Report which established the venue-specific emergency action plans to aid schools, first responders and emergency personnel should a medical issue arise at a practice or activities contest.

    “To emphasize one of the Association’s core values – safety and risk minimization – is the primary focus for the Sports Medicine Committee and the committee’s recommendations for the Venue-specific Emergency Action Plans is one way that schools can establish the focus on safety of students and those attending the games,” said Assistant Commissioner Jenn Roberts-Uhlig, the SMAC liaison. “This is a smart way for schools to take action as an initial step and in concert with the safety rules laid out in the individual sports rules book.”

    Another bylaw protecting football player safety was also passed and will prohibit live hitting/tackling on kicking plays during scrimmages.

    The Legislative Council also approved a First-Year Coaches Education Scenario-based training course to help bring consistent behavioral and common-sense focus to those who are coaching the state’s young participants. It will stress the importance of positive modeling and will be based in real-life experiences.

    “The CHSAA Coaching Education Committee recognized a need for a standardized baseline in regard to coaching educational activities and how that differs from coaching competition-based activities,” said Assistant Commissioner Ernie Derrera, staff liaison to the coaching committee.

    The course will be developed with input from CHSAA, Colorado Athletic Directors Association and the Colorado High School Coaches Association.

    Another change included a revision of the transfer rule, which will create greater accountability for students transferring schools after their initial enrollment (all hardship and other exceptions remain in place). CHSAA continues to support and maintain a focus on “schools of choice,” and this bylaw does not impact the students’ right to choose their schools.

    The Legislative Council voted for a change in the way schools will be classified to include more factors than simply enrollment, as well.

    All the new bylaw changes and adopted committee reports can be found at www.CHSAANow.com.

  • Clarity provided to out-of-bounds calls in wrestling

    Dahlton McGhee Fowler wrestling generic
    (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

    INDIANAPOLIS — New definitions for inbounds and out of bounds highlight high school wrestling rules changes for the 2018-19 season.

    Beginning next year, a wrestler will be inbounds if two supporting points of either wrestler are inside or on the boundary line. This could be two supporting points of one wrestler or one supporting point of each wrestler that is inside or on the boundary line.

    Changes related to out-of-bounds and inbounds calls, along with rules dealing with uniforms and sportsmanship, were among the rules revisions recommended by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Wrestling Rules Committee at its April 2-4 meeting in Indianapolis. All rules changes were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

    The revised definitions for out of bounds and inbounds eliminate subjectivity with the out-of-bounds call without increasing the out-of-bounds area. The removal of “majority of weight” from the definition will allow officials to focus on inbounds and out of bounds rather than having to make a judgment on where the majority of the wrestler’s weight is being supported.

    “The majority of rules changes for the 2018-19 high school wrestling season deal with revised definitions of escape, reversal, out of bounds and takedown,” said Elliot Hopkins, NFHS director of sports and student services and liaison to the Wrestling Rules Committee. “These changes were needed to reinforce our new position with increasing scoring opportunities by addressing the supporting point issue, but not creating additional risk to the sport. We have defined what the usual supporting points are while down on the mat and how near-fall points or a fall shall be earned.”

    Several articles in Rule 5 are affected by the elimination of subjectivity in the out-of-bounds call. Rule 5-10 now provides language stipulating that any combination of two supporting points allows an official to make an inbounds call. Similarly, Rules 5-15-1 and 5-15-3 introduce the same clarity while Rule 5-15-2 alters language from “knees” to “knee(s),” making it consistent with Rule 5-15-2a(4) and its use of “hand(s).”

    The revision to the definition of an out-of-bounds call is clearly stated in Rule 5-18, which outlines that it occurs when there are no longer two total supporting points inside or on the boundary line (two supporting points of one wrestler or one supporting point of each wrestler). Rules 5-22, 5-25-1 and 5-25-3 will have similar language to establish inbounds and out-of-bounds calls for reversals and takedowns.

    Revisions to Rule 5-24-3 will assist officials with making a stalling call. The new criteria establish that stalling in the neutral position also takes place when a wrestler is backing off the mat and out of bounds, as well as when the wrestler is pushing or pulling out of bounds.

    In addition to the numerous changes related to inbounds and out-of-bounds calls, Hopkins noted sportsmanship issues, a new illegal hold and uniform promotional references as other rules changes made by the committee. Among those are the following:

    • Rule 4-1-2: New language will state that no additional manufacturer’s logo, trademark or promotional references shall be allowed on the wrestling uniforms.
    • Rule 7-1-5y (NEW): The Nelson-Cradle is a new illegal hold/maneuver that is a combination made up of a Half-Nelson on one side with a locked cradle from around the neck with the far side knee. The back of the knee acts as the other arm (arm pit) to complete the Full-Nelson pressure on the neck and throat.
    • Rule 7-4-2: New language states that repeatedly dropping to one knee, as well as one hand, to break locked hands is considered unsportsmanlike conduct.

    Wrestling ranks seventh in popularity among boys at the high school level with 244,804 participants, according to the 2016-17 NFHS Athletics Participation Survey. In addition, 14,587 girls participate in the sport throughout the nation.

    “Overall, the sport is stable,” Hopkins said. “We are excited to have the influx of young women wrestlers who want to challenge themselves and represent their local high schools.”

    A complete listing of all rules changes is available on the NFHS website at www.nfhs.org. Click on “Activities & Sports” at the top of the home page, and select “Wrestling.”

  • NFHS responds to Rice Commission Report on College Basketball

    George Washington Rock Canyon boys basketball
    (Steve Oathout)

    In response to the Rice Commission Report on College Basketball, NFHS Executive Director Bob Gardner offers the following comments on some of the suggestions from the Commission, particularly those that would impact the 51 NFHS member state associations and the high school basketball community.

    NFHS executive director Bob Gardner comments on Rice Commission Report on College Basketball

    First, the NFHS commends the NCAA and the Rice Commission for its thoughtful examination of the status of NCAA Division I men’s basketball and its recommendations to provide meaningful changes. Overall, we believe the Rice Commission offered some suggestions that will improve the collegiate model.

    The specialness of college basketball is not just that it is “amateur,” but also that it is “education-based.” We agree with the Rice Commission that both attributes are important to the game’s future. Preserving and promoting the education-based aspect of the game calls for the high school and college levels to support one another.

    As the NCAA considers implementation of these proposals, however, we have concerns in some areas and urge that thought be given to the high school landscape. As an example, we are concerned that “certified agents” meeting with high school student-athletes could be disruptive to high school teams. Although we understand the need to have all college prospects obtain information regarding their potential, the high school community should be involved in determining when and where this would be promoted.

    Another concern from the Commission’s report is the June evaluation period for “scholastic” events. We would like to see what roles our member state associations and high school coaches would play in that evaluation period. Further, we still believe that limiting recruiting to the high school season would be the most effective tool in eliminating the unsavory outside influencers.

    We support the requirements of education as a part of non-scholastic events and that participation in such events require students making appropriate academic progress towards initial college eligibility.

    We look forward to working with the NCAA to bring about important change.

  • Statement on scheduled activities being played this week

    Several media members have asked if CHSAA will weigh in on the playing of co-curricular events because of planned teacher actions that may lead to cancelled school days this week.

    Commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green said: “The decision to proceed or cancel co-curricular activities events this week will be the decision of the individual school districts. Our understanding is that most school districts are planning to continue with their scheduled co-curricular activities.”

    For specific schools and/or school district information, please contact those schools or school districts for their plans.

  • NFHS announces partnership with PlayVS to begin eSports in high schools nationwide

    (Michael Arsers/Flickr)

    INDIANAPOLIS — The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and the NFHS Network have entered into a partnership with PlayVS to begin the rollout of eSports competition in high schools throughout the nation. 

    PlayVS, an online gaming provider, will work directly with the NFHS and the NFHS Network to introduce esports to high schools and state associations beginning this fall, with an initial rollout in at least 15 states. After regular-season competition between schools on the PlayVS online platform, state championship games will be played before a live spectator audience and streamed on the NFHS Network. 

    “PlayVS’ philosophy on high school-based sports and focus on participation perfectly aligns with the NFHS and its member state associations,” said Mark Koski, CEO of the NFHS Network. “We looked at many potential eSports partners, and PlayVS was the clear choice thanks, in part, to its overall education-based concept, mission and vision.

    “As schools look to provide participation opportunities for high school students, esports is a great option on two fronts,” Koski said. “First, eSports may involve students who haven’t been involved in a sport or activity in the past. Second, the costs to implement eSports are minimal compared to starting a traditional sport, which can be extensive with equipment and facilities.”

    Koski noted that with 72 percent of teens playing video games regularly, eSports is a great way to engage additional students with after-school activities. Nearly 200 colleges in the United States and Canada are actively recruiting and offer scholarships for eSports. Additionally, companies within the eSports industry are looking to hire those with experience across multiple aspects of gaming.

    “We believe the NFHS, NFHS Network and PlayVS make a great team to help jump-start esports activities in high schools across the country,” said Bob Gardner, NFHS executive director. “With the rollout of this partnership, we anticipate that there will be tremendous initial and growing interest in eSports from students, and we are excited to broadcast these events on the NFHS Network.”

    PlayVS will operate all eSports competitions for NFHS member state associations in a turnkey fashion. 

    “We’re excited to partner with the NFHS and NFHS Network to introduce eSports in high schools nationwide,” said Delane Parnell, CEO and founder of PlayVS. “This partnership combined with our technology and publisher relationships will help us create the first scalable competition for high school students. eSports is about more than just playing games – it can be used to help students grow their STEM interests and develop valuable life skills; and since there are more high school gamers than athletes, it’s about time we foster this pastime in an educational setting.”

  • Associate Commissioner Tom Robinson to be recognized with lifetime achievement award

    5A girls golf Tom Robinson
    (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

    One of Colorado’s most celebrated all-around athletes, sports game officials and CHSAA Associate Commissioner Tom Robinson will be presented with the Joint Effort Lifetime Achievement Award on Thursday, April 12 at 7 p.m. at Manual High School Thunder Dome.

    Robinson is being recognized for his many years of service to the Colorado High School sports community through his work at CHSAA, but also for his many years of committed service to his community as a sports official and for his work with the Cleo Parker Dance Studio, one of the finest dance studios in the world. Robinson’s wife internationally recognized choreographer, Cleo Parker Robinson.

    “We are pleased to recognize the work and contributions of Tom Robinson. Tom is a bridge between high school sports and community and is one of the truly ‘good guys’ in the Colorado youth sports landscape, John Bailey, Joint Effort Director, said on this announcement.

    “Tom Robinson is one of those rare individuals who has enjoyed success at every step of his life. He was an exceptional athlete, teacher, coach and athletic official. He has the credibility in the community because he is a product of the community, whether it’s sports, officiating, or the entertainment community. That credibility comes from being genuine, caring and deliberate about what he does,” CHSAA Assistant Commissioner and long-time colleague Bert Borgmann said.

    “The young people of our state have benefited from the work that Tom has done as a teacher, coach and official.”

    Robinson is in his fourth year as Associate Commissioner, after serving 13 years as Assistant Commissioner. He started at CHSAA in 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. He was a member of Regis Jesuit’s Board of Trustees from 2003 until 2012.

    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).

    His primary responsibilities for the CHSAA office include golf and officials, but he has developed a sporting behavior program that has earned recognition from member schools based on the premise that fans should “Cheer for Your Team and Not Against Your Opponents.”

    He was named the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame’s Outstanding College Official, receiving the Award in 2008. He has also been awarded the John Adams Officiating Award, sponsored jointly by the CHSAA, Mountain West and Western Athletic Conferences.

    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. He was given the Outstanding Service Award from the MWC upon his retirement from on-field coaching.

    He moved into a position as a collegiate replay official, earning the responsibility of handling the replay officiating duties for the 2017 NCAA title game between Clemson and Alabam.

    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. As a student at Regis Jesuit, he was named to the football All-State team.

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

    He and his wife, Cleo Parker Robinson, have shared 47 years of marriage and have one son, Malik.

  • CHSAA implements ArbiterAthlete to improve eligibility and compliance, streamline athlete registration

    ArbiterSports and CHSAA jointly announced on Tuesday that the two organizations have signed an exclusive statewide agreement with a key component being the implementation of ArbiterAthlete across all 355 CHSAA member high schools.

    The adoption of this technology solution will improve the compliance and eligibility tracking process for athletes who sign up for athletic/activity programs in the state and provide real-time access to the information athletic directors, administrators, coaches and parents need.

    “This agreement will deliver actionable benefits to every stakeholder across our state,” said CHSAA commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green. “The CHSAA has seen an increase in turnover in athletic administration, and this partnership will allow us to provide resources and support to simplify the CHSAA eligibility process. It will be a win-win for both organizations but more importantly, the school communities we serve.”

    The implementation of ArbiterAthlete across the state will improve the ease and efficiency with which high schools interact with each other and with the CHSAA.

    “CHSAA saw the need to enhance its operations so it could continue to support its member high schools in a streamlined way,” said ArbiterSports President and CEO Jeff Triplette. “Not only does compliance become more automatic, but the school administrators can save time and paperwork, and spend more quality time with student athletes and their athletics programs.”

    In addition to efficiency improvements, the ArbiterAthlete solution will help Colorado stay in compliance with the latest FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) and HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) guidelines across the entire state.

    “We are excited about the endless opportunities afforded to our Association through this partnership to elevate our practices and educational outreach,” added Blanford-Green.

    ArbiterAthlete is an athlete pre-participation and registration product made possible through a joint venture between PlanetHS of Jacksonville, FL and ArbiterSports.

  • New scoring procedures, balk definition highlight 2018-19 gymnastics rules changes

    gymnastics generic
    (Cannon Casey/CHSAANow.com)

    INDIANAPOLIS — New rules to clarify scoring procedures and redefine a balk are among the notable changes made by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Girls Gymnastics Rules Committee that will take effect for the 2018-19 season. All rules changes were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

    The reorganization of Rules 7-3-3, 8-3-3 and 9-3-3 included an objective method for evaluating composition.

    “Composition is the framework of the exercise,” said Julie Cochran, NFHS director of sports and liaison to the Girls Gymnastics Rules Committee. “Good composition should demonstrate a variety of changes in movement and direction, tempo and rhythm. The reorganization of the composition deductions provides judges with a list of guidelines to consider when evaluating composition in each event.”

    Several rules were impacted as a result of redefining “balk.” As part of the committee’s rules changes, a balk on all apparatus was redefined in Rule 1.

    “The new definition of the balk clarifies what an incomplete attempt is on the vault, bars and beam,” Cochran said. “The new rules book walks judges through the specifics of a balk on each apparatus in the rule for each event and the supplemental information.”

    A balk is now defined as follows: “On vault, an incomplete attempt that results in a fall during the run, stops mid-run, runs off the runway or contacts the board, hand placement mat, board safety mat or vault table without coming to a rest or support on top of the vault table. On bars and beam, an incomplete attempt to mount without touching the board or apparatus or running underneath the apparatus.”

    The changes in a balk also impact several other rules, including Rule 7-2-7, which introduces a balk and its application to the section on event description for uneven bars.

    The committee approved changes for a clear back hip circle based on the rationale that Rule 7-3-4c specifies a deduction for a clear hip circle that does not end at 45 degrees. An exception was added to Rule 7-3-4c(9), stating up to a 0.40 deduction is the result of “insufficient amplitude of a clear hip circle.”

    New elements for girls gymnastics were approved in Rules 8-6-2 and 8-6-3 to clarify that Advanced High Superiors exceeding minimum requirements will also receive Advanced High Superior credit.

    Among the new elements are No. 2.111b in Rule 8-6-2, stag/double stag lp/jp; No. 211b, stag/double stag lp/jp w/ ½; and Nos. 3.202a and 3.202b in Rule 8-6-3. No. 3.202a is a 1/1 turn (360°) with hand holding leg between horizontal and 45 degrees above horizontal; while the latter is a 1/1 turn (360°) with free leg between horizontal and 45 degrees below horizontal.

    “The introduction of new elements in the rules book helps keep up with current trends for high school gymnastics,” Cochran said. “The majority of the rules changes added to the 2018-20 rules book are to help provide clarification to existing rules and better understanding for high school judges and coaches.”

    A complete listing of all rules changes is available on the NFHS website at www.nfhs.org. Click on “Activities & Sports” at the top of the home page, and select “Gymnastics – Girls.”

    According to the 2016-17 NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey, 1,562 schools offered girls gymnastics in 2016-17 and 17,915 girls participated nationwide.