Archive for the ‘Legislative Council’ Category

Video: The May, 2021, CHSAA Legislative Council Meeting

A complete recording of the May, 2021, CHSAA Legislative Council Meeting.

For 2021 season, girls golf state tournament dates pushed back to June

4A State girls golf generic

(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

The girls golf state championships will move into June for the spring 2021 spring season, following a vote of CHSAA’s Legislative Council on Friday.

The change passed along with the rest of the golf report during the virtual meeting, which brings together 77 representatives of schools, leagues and associations. And it did so overwhelmingly, with 97 percent approval.

“I think if we can do this in June, we can create a better situation for the girls,” said CHSAA association commissioner Tom Robinson, who oversees golf.

The change also moves regionals back one week, to May 24-26. The state tournaments will be held June 1-2, 2021. Typically, the state championships are held around the final week in May.

There are three main reasons for the change in dates:

Primarily, it moves the postseason away from traditional AP and IB testing dates. It also avoids many scheduled graduations of schools. And it should — fingers crossed — help alleviate some issues the tournaments have faced with weather over recent seasons.

“We agreed that there were issues with the spring, of course, with weather,” Robinson said. “But that was something we had no control over. But we did have control over moving scheduled regional and state events off of AP and IB events. For girls, that seems to be a bigger factor than the boys.

“We’ve always had to make choices around those dates,” Robinson continued. “As well as the thing that happens year-in and year-out, and that’s trying to negotiate when you’re going to play, or if you’re going to attend your graduation ceremony.

“Those are the main issues, and because we are CHSAA and we are an education-based Association, we should make considerations for at least hose kind of things,” he added. “I applaud the membership for supporting these changes.”

As for weather, there is of course no guarantee that moisture will stay away from championship rounds, but average rainfall trends indicate that May is often wetter than June in Colorado. The 2019 state tournaments were limited to one round in all three classes, and the same thing happened to 5A in 2015. Many other rounds, such as 2014’s 5A tourney, have been interrupted but ultimately completed.

“I think in the end, we will have more good days than bad by having it the first week in June,” Robinson said. “We can’t predict bad weather, even in the fall, but I think this increases our chances of having a two-day event. And it gives options for the girls to be able to play without issue.”

The specific 2021 championship sites have not yet been solidified. Robinson is working with various courses to secure those dates, and is leaning toward municipal courses so that everyone can have equal access to practice rounds.

Overall, he sees the move as a step forward for the girls.

“All around, it’s a positive message to the girls,” Robinson said.

A rundown of the votes and changes implemented by the Legislative Council

The CHSAA Legislative Council met virtually for the first time in its 99-year history on Friday.

They voted on more than 50 items, and made a number of changes to the Association’s bylaws, which impacted things from alignment to the transfer rule. We have rounded up most of those changes here.

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Two classes of hockey

Regis Jesuit Valor Christian hockey

(PaulDiSalvoPhotography.com)

Hockey will split into two classifications, beginning with the 2020-21 season.

The two-class split, which was recommended by the hockey committee during its meeting in February, places 20 teams into Class 5A, and 17 in 4A. The committee used a variety of factors to place teams from bylaw 1500.21, including enrollment, geography, competitive history, competitive balance, participation rate, and the entry or selection process that places an athlete at a program.

The committee recognized the need for two classes because there isn’t much, if any, parity in the sport. Over the past four years, only 14 different schools have advanced to the quarterfinals of the state tournament. Hockey currently has 37 teams.

The alignments for the sport can be found in this story from February.

Hockey will use the CHSAA Seeding Index to seed its two state tournaments: RPI, MaxPreps, and the CHSAANow coaches poll.

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New seeding criteria for 5A basketball

Basketball generic boys girls

(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

An amendment during the meeting changed the seeding criteria that 4A and 5A basketball will use for their state tournaments: The two classes will now use a combination of the RPI standings, MaxPreps rankings and the CHSAANow coaches pool — bringing them in line with what a number of other sports are now using.

1A will also use the same criteria, but will also use the Packard Ratings.

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2A baseball changes postseason

Calhan Rye baseball

(Lisa Hayes/StillOfTheMomentPhotography.com)

The 2A baseball postseason will now mirror what is done in 3A, 4A and 5A, with a 32-team regional bracket. All teams will qualify for the bracket via the RPI standings, and seeded by RPI. The top eight seeds will host regionals, and seeds Nos. 20-32 can be moved for geographic reasons.

The state tournament also got an overhaul, and will move to an eight-team single-elimination bracket. Previously, 2A had a 16-team bracket.

With this change, 2A schools can now schedule 23 games.

Baseball also created a game minimum to be able to qualify for the postseason: 12 games in 1A, 17 in 2A and 3A, 19 in 4A and 5A.

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New field hockey tournament

Field hockey generic

(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

In an effort to help the growth of the sport, the state field hockey tournament will expand from eight teams to 12.

The top six seeds will receive a bye while the next six will compete in a play-in bracket.

In one of those brackets, No. 9 and No. 12 will play, with the winner playing No. 8. The winner of that game will face No. 1.

In the other bracket, No. 10 and No. 11 will play, with the winner facing No. 7. The winner of that game will face the No. 2 overall seed.

During that same round, the No. 4 and No. 5 seed will play, with No. 3 and No. 6 also playing.

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The transfer rule

A number of proposals involved the transfer rule. Among the changes which passed:

  • An adjustment to clarify that a student doesn’t have to transfer from a member school, in or out of state, in order for the rule to apply.
  • A proposal better explained the transfer consequence for transferring to another school, and a return to the original school — also known as an A-B-A transfer. Specifically, a student who transfers from School A, transfers to School B and plays at School B, and the returns to School A, will only be eligible for sub-varsity competition at School A in the sports they participated in at School B for 365 days.
  • A new bylaw passed allowing for students to participate with “restricted varsity eligibility during the regular season” if their high school does not offer a JV team, or if their school doesn’t allow seniors to play on sub-varsity teams.
  • The definition of a hardship was rewritten to read: “‘Hardship’ means a situation, condition or event which must impost a severe non-athletic burden upon the student or his/her family and require a transfer of schools. This does not include the personal or initial choice of enrollment and/or participation.”

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Notables:

  • The alignments for sports were finalized with the approval of each sports report. Those new alignments will be posted in the near future.
  • The season of sport was changed in boys swimming, allowing for those championships to be moved up a week and have their own spotlight.
  • 6-man and 8-man football will use the same four data points of seeding that was used in 1A-5A this season.
  • In 5A football, all playoff games will be hosted by the higher seed.
  • 1A girls volleyball will move from districts to regionals. The sport will also require that all teams play a minimum of 18 matches against member schools and varsity opponents in order to qualify for the postseason.
  • Boys volleyball will have one classification during its inaugural season in spring 2021.
  • Girls wrestling will use the same weight classes that were used in the pilot season.
  • The 4A and 5A boys lacrosse state tournaments will each grow from 16 to 24 teams starting in spring 2021.
  • The new format that will be used for a two-classification setup in girls lacrosse was approved. Find the structure for that format here.
  • 2A soccer will increase its state tournament field from 12 teams to 16.
  • The regional field in 3A softball will grow to 32 teams, bringing it in line with 4A and 5A.
  • The requirements for qualifying for the state skiing championships were made more strict, to make the state field slightly smaller.
  • The state spirit championships will move to a three-day format beginning this year. Schools will only be able to participate in one cheer category and one dance category at the state championships. Cheer and dance are now considered separate sports.
  • Schools will be eligible to join CHSAA as activity-only schools, and not offer sports.
  • The process for classifying programs was clarified with an amendment to bylaw 1510, which deals with the Classification, Appeals and League Organizing Committee (CLOC). Now, the CHSAA staff can offer adjustments “in extraordinary circumstances” that are based upon bylaw 1500.21 (the bylaw allowing for classification based upon factors other than enrollment) in even years. These adjustments will need to be voted on by CLOC. Typically in even years, the classifications are already set and ready to go for the following cycle, so there would be very few adjustments, if any.
  • The amateur status bylaw was reworked, and now reads that student-athletes “must maintain his/her amateur status” and notes that they “may not sign a professional athletic contract.” A new note defines a professional as “being paid in any form for playing in an athletic contest, or if you sign a contract or verbally commit with an agent or professional sports organization.” Notably, student-athletes will be allowed to play with or against professionals in certain situations, such as in the Olympics or a World Cup.
  • The coach ejection bylaw was updated to give it a more consistent level of suspension across all sports. Now, the first ejection is penalized by a suspension equal to 10% of that sports season, and a second ejection is 20%.
  • All-Star games were added to bylaw 2300, allowing for “up to two All-Star Games after the completion of the state championship in that sport.” No all-star games are permitted in football.
  • Middle schoolers from “feeder” schools will be permitted to practice with high school teams in volleyball, basketball, soccer and football “when they cannot field enough high school athletes to hold an intra-squad practice in game-type conditions.” There are a number of limitations guiding this new bylaw.
  • The number of practices required for students to participate in prior to competition in contact sports was reduced from five to three in all sports but football, which will still require nine.
  • Schools can now form a team with only one participant, if they choose to.
  • Adding a new sport or activity will now require approval from the Budget Committee in addition to CLOC, Sports Medicine, Equity and the Board of Directors.
  • The full membership of the following schools is now official: DSST – Byers, KIPP Northeast, Loveland Classical, Strive Prep – Rise, Strive Prep – Smart, and Thomas MacLaren. KIPP Northeast and Strive Prep – Rise play together are a co-op: Regis Groff.
  • Officials’ fees increased with a 2% cost of living adjustment across the board, for all levels.
  • The alignment of State Festival and State Tournament will now be permanent in speech.
  • Student Leadership’s fall conference will move to a regional model beginning this year.

2020 Legislative Council meeting agenda, proposals and information

On May 29, the Legislative Council will meet virtually. Below is information about the meeting, including links to the agenda and proposals that will be considered.

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Schedule

May 29, 2020

  • 9 a.m. – Meeting Convenes

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Action Items

Note: Constitutional Proposals require 2/3 vote for approval; Administrative and Athletic Proposals requires majority vote for approval, unless otherwise noted.

Proposals
Constitutional
CON 1 Definition of Schools Eligible for Membership (Board of Directors)
CON 2 Activity-Only Member Schools (Board of Directors)
CON 3 Clarification of Budget Process (Board of Directors)
Administrative
ADM 1 CLOC Committee (Board of Directors)
ADM 2 Transfer Clarification (Board of Directors)
ADM 3 Return to Original School (Board of Directors)
ADM 4 Restricted Varsity Eligibility (Board of Directors)
ADM 5 International Students (Board of Directors)
ADM 6 Transfer Clarification (Board of Directors)
ADM 7 Homeless Students – Eligibility (Board of Directors)
ADM 8 Migrant Student/Boarding School (Black Forest League)
ADM 9 Amateur Status Update (Board of Directors)
ADM 10 Coach Ejection (Board of Directors)
ADM 11 All-Star Games (Board of Directors)
ADM 12 Reporting of Scores (Board of Directors)
ADM 13 High School/Middle School Practice Allowed (Board of Directors)
ADM 14 Change Practice Requirement (Board of Directors)
ADM 15 Exceeding Game Limits Can be Appealed (Board of Directors)
ADM 16 Board of Director Appeals Timeline (Board of Directors)
ADM 17 Transfer Eligibility (5A CSML)
Athletic
ATH 1 Team Composition (Board of Directors)
ATH 2 COED Teams (Board of Directors)
ATH 3 Swimming & Diving (Board of Directors)
ATH 4 Unified Sports (Board of Directors)
Activity
None
Policy
None
Junior High/Middle School Division
None

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Action items — Committee reports

Note: Require majority vote for approval, unless otherwise noted. Those are noted with an asterisk (*), and require 2/3 vote approval.

Committee Reports
Administrative
CR 1 Budget Report (Jim Thyfault)
CR 2 Classification and League Organizing Committee* (Randy Holmen)
CR 3 Coaching Education Registration Advisory (CERAC) (Jesse Shawcroft)
CR 4 Equity (Derek Cheney)
CR 5 Officials’ Fees (Mike Book)
CR 6 Sportsmanship (Aaron Bravo)
CR 7 Sports Medicine Advisory Committee (Larry Bull)
CR 8 Tournament and Playoff Finance (David Walck)
Activity
CR 9 Music (Kevin Beaber)
CR 10 Speech (Christine Jones)
CR 11 Student Leadership (Rashaan Davis)
Sport
CR 12 Baseball (David Schuessler)
CR 12a 2A State Tournament Format (Western Slope)
CR 13 Basketball (Sean O’Donnell)
CR 13a Amend Re-Alignment of District 1A (Fishers Peak/Southern Peaks)
CR 13b Revised 5A Seeding Process (Centennial)
CR 14 Cross Country (Rick Macias)
CR 15 Field Hockey (Lance McCorkle)
CR 16 Football (Chris Noll)
CR 17 Golf (Chris Cline)
CR 18 Gymnastics (Stacy Folmar)
CR 19 Ice Hockey (Larry Bull)
CR 20 Boys Lacrosse (Mike Jacobsma)
CR 21 Girls Lacrosse (Richard Judd)
CR 22 Skiing (Christian Ranmaker)
CR 23 Soccer (Dan Knab)
CR 24 Softball (Steve Longwell)
CR 25 Spirit (Kylie Russell)
CR 26 Swimming and Diving (Scott Cohen)
CR 27 Tennis (Kris Roberts)
CR 28 Track and Field (Darryl Abeyta)
CR 29 Unified Bowling (Matt Heckel)
CR 30 Volleyball (Matt Heckel)
CR 31 Wrestling (Vince Massey)

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Board of Directors

    • Replacement for Chase McBride (District 2).

Legislative Council meeting to be held entirely online in late May

(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

For the first time in the 99-year history of CHSAA, the Association’s legislative body will meet in an online-only format.

The Legislative Council meeting was originally scheduled to be held on April 15, but the COVID-19 pandemic and the related health and safety guidelines from state and local agencies meant that the body could not meet in person.

As a result, the 76-member Legislative Council will meet online at the end of May, including voting and debating of proposals and committee reports. The meeting will also be streamed so that every CHSAA member school can view it.

“In order to implement policies and procedures, it is imperative that we have a Legislative Council meeting to discuss and vote on the next steps in effectively moving the Association forward,” said CHSAA commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green. “We have seen that technology allows us to still operate effectively — although not ideally, because the strength of our Association is the dialogue and communication that happens around new policies or procedures.

“With these unprecedented times, technology and flexibility allows the membership, the Board of Directors and the CHSAA staff to still maintain a level of normalcy as we look to next year.”

The Legislative Council has members who represent schools through sports leagues and associations, such as the Colorado Athletics Directors Association (CADA), and the Colorado Association of School Boards (CASB).

The Legislative Council agenda features 25 bylaw proposals, and the standard committee reports, of which there are 31. For the first time, unified bowling will have a report, and boys volleyball and girls wrestling are included in their respective sports committee reports.

The membership has until today to send in amendments to committee reports.

The meeting is now scheduled for May 29.

Formerly the Board of Control, the legislative body first met on April 1, 1921, a Friday.

Legislative Council notebook: Girls lacrosse adds a second classification

2019 Legislative Council meeting

(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

DENVER — Girls lacrosse will add a second classification, following a vote of CHSAA’s Legislative Council on Wednesday.

A proposal, jointly submitted by the Western Slope and Pikes Peak leagues, passed by a majority vote to split the sport’s 58 teams into 5A and 4A classifications.

The move mirrors a split of classes by boys lacrosse ahead of the 2013 season.

Now, the decision on how to split the teams, notably the cut line for enrollment, will need to be decided.

Additionally, the lacrosse committee will need to figure out how to handle its semifinals and championships. Currently, with one class, girls lacrosse holds both rounds at the University of Denver.

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New seeding criteria for football

Thomas Jefferson Fort Morgan

(Dustin Price/dustinpricephotography.com)

The football committee will use a new approach towards seeding the 5A-1A playoffs starting with the 2019 season.

A complete breakdown of how it will work is available here, but here are the basics:

  • Four data points (the RPI, MaxPreps rankings, Packard rankings, and the CHSAANow coaches poll) will be equally weighted.
  • Teams will be ranked according to that data, and seeded accordingly.
  • They may be moved one spot based upon head-to-head, and seeds may also be adjusted (Nos. 9-16 in 4A-1A, and Nos. 17-24 in 5A) for geography and to avoid league matchups.

Additionally, with the approval of the football committee report, the 6-man football title game will be Nov. 23 this year, moving it up one week and returning it to a date it had been.

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Board of Directors

  • Troy Baker will be CHSAA’s new president.
  • Rick Macias, an at large member, is moving off the board. His replacement has not yet been named.
  • Rick Mondt (representing District 3) will be replaced by Steve Longwell, Eaton athletic director.
  • Angie Sanders (representing District 4) will be replaced by Nate Smith, Englewood athletic director.
  • Jim Lucas (representing CASE) will be replaced by Ryan West, Englewood principal.

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Notables:

  • Three schools were officially approved for new membership: Addenbrooke Classical Academy (Lakewood), Banning Lewis Preparatory Academy (Colorado Springs), and DSST: Conservatory Green (Denver).
  • A proposal that would have created a 6A classification in football was voted down.
  • Soccer will have a game minimum requirement in order to make the 2A playoffs: 12 games, 10 of which must be against NFHS schools.
  • Soccer is changing its officiating system to a diagonal system of control (one center ref, and two assistants), which is pretty much standard across the board in the sport at all levels.
  • Softball will use a double bag at first base. The sport has also changed its mercy rule, and games will now end if a team is up by: 15 runs after 3 innings, 12 after 4, or 10 after 5.
  • Swimmers will now be required to compete in a minimum of six high school meets to qualify for the state competition.
  • Volleyball’s default regional day will be a Saturday, if the schools can’t agree. Also, the new tri-color volleyball (red, white and blue) was approved to be used during the postseason.
  • A school’s prior year out-of-building student percentage on rosters can be used as part of the criteria to classify schools going forward.
  • Co-op sports programs between schools will now be on a two-year basis, changing from the current one-year period.
  • Sunday competition, out of season, will be allowed for teams and participants at national events, if sponsored by the NFHS and/or approved by the CHSAA office.
  • The 2019 state cross country championship will be Oct. 26.
  • Field hockey created a mercy rule for regular season play: A five-goal differential would create a running clock; a six-goal differential causes the winning team to remove a player; a seven-goal differential caused the same team to remove a second play; an eight-goal differential causes the removal of a third player. If the losing team cuts into the margin after a player has been removed, a team may substitute a player back in.

Basketball and soccer officials will get a bump in their fee structure

Highlands Ranch Cherry Creek girls basketball

(Kevin Keyser/KeyserImages.com)

DENVER — Varsity basketball and soccer officials will get a bump in their fee structure following a vote of CHSAA’s Legislative Council on Wednesday.

Basketball officials working a three-person crew at varsity games will earn $60 per game on a three-man crew starting with the 2019-20 season, a bump from $53.

Varsity soccer officials on three-person crews will earn $59 for a center referee, and $54.50 for assistant referees.

“The schools understand the issues around funding averages for officials across the nation and that Colorado is in the lower tier,” said CHSAA associate commissioner Tom Robinson, who oversees officials. “However, our schools are trying to do the best the can with the budgets they have to make those increases meaningful in a timely manner.”

Additionally, the officials fees report which was approved calls for a $6 travel stipend to be paid by Denver and Colorado Springs metro area schools to officials registered in those areas for the 2020-22 cycle, and a $10 stipend for the 2022-24 cycle.

This stipend will be paid once per assignment at a site per day. Previously, the stipend was $2.

Football officials were already scheduled to increase to $61 per game for the 2020-22 two-year cycle, per a previously approved fee structure.

Spirit will add a new game day cheer division

2018 state spirit finals

(Marlee Smith/CHSAANow.com)

DENVER — A new division is coming to spirit — and it will be included during this fall’s state championships.

When CHSAA’s Legislative Council voted to approve the spirit report on Wednesday, that included the addition of a game day division at the state event.

Game day more accessible to a wide range of schools, as it is a competition surrounding a spirit program’s primary role, which is to support their school’s athletic teams. Teams are judged based upon their ability to lead cheers, use skills to rally a crowd, communicate to fans, and support the athletes on the fields.

“This will be very exciting for other spirit programs to have the opportunity to participate utilizing their everyday game day skills,” said CHSAA assistant commissioner Jenn Roberts-Uhlig, who oversees spirit. “It is more accessible to a wide range of schools, as it is a non-tumbling division.

“We’re hoping to pull in some schools who may not access to gyms, tumbling or choreography,” she added. “This will bring another fun experience to our championships.”

This discipline joins cheer, co-ed cheer, pom pon, Jazz and hip-hop as divisions at the state championships.

Spirit programs will only be allowed to participate in either game day or co-ed/cheer at the state championships.

Unified bowling, girls wrestling and boys volleyball become sanctioned sports

2019 Legislative Council meeting

(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

DENVER — There will be three new sanctioned sports in Colorado.

Unified bowling, girls wrestling and boys volleyball were all approved in a vote by the Legislative Council during its annual meeting on Wednesday. It means each sport will begin sanctioned play during the 2020-21 season, including the first official championships.

“What an exciting chance for our Association to provide participation opportunities that speak to inclusion and our mission,” said CHSAA commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green. “We are looking forward to the first official seasons for these three sports in two years.”

Unified bowling will take place in a season that straddles the fall and winter seasons. Girls wrestling will be in the winter. Boys volleyball will be in the spring.

Each sport will need to form committees, and begin the process of creating its postseason structure. It is likely that girls wrestling and boys volleyball will look similar to their gender counterparts which are already sanctioned.

Each sport went through a rigorous process which required an establishment of a pilot season. In boys volleyball’s case, they have had multiple pilot seasons.

During that piloting process, each sport had to gain approval from the Classification, League Organization and Appeals Committee, the Equity Committee, the Sports Medicine Committee, and the Board of Directors. When the Board gave its support on Tuesday, that meant the sports could finally head to a vote of the membership.

The three sports will become CHSAA’s first new sports since three were added in the late 1990s.

Field hockey was approved in 1996, and played its first season in 1997. Girls lacrosse was approved in 1997, and played its first season in 1998. Boys lacrosse was approved in 1998, and had its first season in 1999.

Legislative Council preview: Vote on sanctioning of new sports, 6A football proposal among agenda highlights

Legislative Council meeting

(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

CHSAA’s Legislative Council will vote next month on a jam-packed agenda, one that includes the potential sanctioning of three new sports.

The Council, which will meet on April 24 at the Denver Marriott Tech Center, is set to vote upon more than 60 bylaw proposals or committee reports.

The meeting will cover a wide variety of topics, touching on every sport and activity CHSAA sanctions, and hear proposals ranging from the transfer rule to the age rule.

Find the entire agenda, and all proposals, on this page.

Perhaps the most notable proposals are three separate votes on whether or not to sanction boys volleyball, unified bowling and girls wrestling. All three sports are currently in their pilot stages, and have cleared a number of stages with approval from various committees along the way.

Each sport has one major step remaining prior to the vote in April, however, and that is a vote by CHSAA’s Board of Directors next month. If approved there, they will officially be up for a sanctioning vote by the membership at the Legislative Council. Should the Board vote down any of the pilot sports, they would not be forwarded to the Legislative Council for a vote.

CHSAA has not added a new sport since field hockey, boys lacrosse and girls lacrosse were sanctioned in 1998-99.

If sanctioned, unified bowling would take place in the fall, girls wrestling would be a winter sport, and boys volleyball would be in the spring.

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6A football proposal

Smoky Hill Denver East football generic

(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

The Continental League is forwarding a proposal to create an eighth class of football — Class 6A — something that is similar to an idea that discussed among large-school representatives in December.

This proposal would take the top eight teams in 5A according to the final RPI standings of the regular season, and place them in a 6A playoff bracket. Teams ranked Nos. 9-24 in the final RPI would create the 5A playoff bracket.

The current 5A conference alignment would remain the same, as the 6A classification would not be created until the postseason. The setup of the regular season would not change.

It is worth noting, however, that the football committee discussed this proposal and decided to not support it.

Because this proposal would amend the Classification and League Organizing Appeals Committee (CLOC) report, it will require a two-thirds majority to pass.

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Game day for spirit?

State spirit

(Ray Chen/ArrayPhoto.com)

Spirit may be getting a new discipline, should a proposal to add Game Day be approved.

The proposal, which comes from the Board of Directors, would add Game Day under the spirit umbrella. Already, spirit has Cheer, Co-ed Cheer, Pom Pon, Jazz and Hip-Hop.

This discipline is more accessible to a wide range of schools, as it is a competition surrounding a spirit program’s primary role, which is to support their school’s athletic teams. Teams are judged based upon their ability to lead cheers, use skills to rally a crowd, communicate to fans, and support the athletes on the fields.

No choreographer or payment for music would be needed to compete in this division.

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Two classes of girls lacrosse?

Cherry Creek Kent Denver girls lacrosse

(Matt Daniels/MattDanPhoto.com)

With girls lacrosse continuing to grow — there are 58 teams this spring — the Western Slope and Pikes Peak leagues are proposal a second classification for the sport.

The proposal reasons that boys lacrosse added a second classification when it approached 70 teams, that it would help competitive equity, and continue to encourage new programs.

The lacrosse committee does not support the proposal, and raised questions about how it would be split. For example, four-time defending champion Colorado Academy would technically be able to play in the 4A classification due to its small enrollment.

Like the football proposal, this also amends the CLOC report, and will require a two-thirds vote.

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Other proposals

Rangeview Chaparral boys basketball

(Kevin Keyser/KeyserImages.com)

  • The first administrative proposal, from the Board of Directors, would add a school’s “prior year out-of-building student percentage on rosters” to the factors used for placing teams into classifications.
  • Another proposal from the Board would require co-op programs to compete together for an entire two-year competitive cycle. Currently, co-ops can change year-to-year, which creates scheduling and alignment problems.
  • A transfer-rule proposal would make it so students who have transferred previously cannot practice with their new school, get cut, transfer to their original school, and maintain eligibility.
  • One proposal, also from the Board, asks that the The Amateur Status be simplified and rewritten to read: “An essential condition of CHSAA eligibility is that a student-athlete be an amateur. He or she may not compete for or accept cash for playing some part or all aspects of a sport. An amateur may not sign a professional contract or play with/against professionals.” This proposal also amends a Q&A to allow booster clubs to purchase state championship rings, and adds an exception that student-athletes may fundraise for personal items that exceed $100.
  • A proposal surrounding national competition aligns with the direction the NFHS is heading with wanting to create national championships, as it allows competition on Sundays for these specific events. This proposal also slightly opens up the language that allows individuals or teams to participate — if it is “sponsored by the NFHS or approved by the CHSAA office” and they have permission from their school.
  • The Tri-Valley League is proposing a simplification to the way the maximum number of matches are tallied in wrestling, changing it from a points system to a 10 meet/dual meet maximum, along with no more than 10 days of tournaments (including dual meet tournaments).

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Committee Reports

Colorado Academy St. Mary's Academy field hockey

(Lance Wendt/LanceWendt.com)

  • The CLOC report would make official the membership of Addenbrooke Classical Academy (Lakewood), Banning Lewis Preparatory Academy (Colorado Springs), and DSST: Conservatory Green (Denver). Additionally, if approved, the classifications for 2020-22 would be approved.
  • Officials fees would be set to $60 per official in basketball; and $59 for a center ref and $54.50 for assistant refs in soccer.
  • Speech wants to add a one-year pilot to offer Congressional Debate at the 2019-20 state tournament and state festival.
  • No major changes in baseball, basketball, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, girls lacrosse, tennis, track and field, or wrestling.
  • The 2019 state cross country championship has been moved to Oct. 26.
  • Field hockey is creating a mercy rule for regular season play: A five-goal differential would create a running clock; a six-goal differential causes the winning team to remove a player; a seven-goal differential caused the same team to remove a second play; an eight-goal differential causes the removal of a third player. If the losing team cuts into the margin after a player has been removed, a team may substitute a player back in. Additionally, field hockey slightly altered its seeding procedure for the state tournament, guaranteeing the conference champion the No. 1 seed.
  • The football committee is recommending a new seeding committee and criteria for playoffs. Additionally, the league alignment for the 2020 and 2021 season would be approved by the Board of Directors this June.
  • Boys lacrosse wants to move the 4A semifinal games to a neutral venue. This would be effective for the current 2019 season.
  • Skiing is creating a Championship Committee — comprised of the nordic and alpine race directors, the host school’s athletic director, and the CHSAA representative — who will make the decisions on any scheduling and venue changes, should they be needed.
  • Soccer is recommending game minimums in 2A, and changes to its officiating system.
  • Softball is recommending a new mercy rule, and a double bag at first base.
  • In spirit, schools will only be able to be represented once at the state competition in the overarching cheer and dance disciplines.
  • In swimming and diving, all athletes will be required to compete in a minimum of six high school meets to qualify for the state competition. All multi-team meets count as one meet toward the minimum.
  • Volleyball changed the color of the official ball that will be used during the postseason.

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Board of Directors

  • Troy Baker has been elected as the next president of CHSAA’s Board of Directors. He will be formally introduced to the Legislative Council.
  • The following members of the Board are concluding their terms, and their replacements will be nominated at the meeting: Rick Macias, Rick Mondt, and Angie Sanders.