Throughout the process of communicating our plan regarding the state basketball tournaments in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have maintained that the tournaments would be played unless a state agency or a host venue made a decision affecting that status.
On Thursday evening, the CHSAA office was informed by the University of Denver that the school would no longer be able to host the Class 3A state basketball tournament.
With uncertainty at all additional sites, including a state of emergency declaration by the City of Denver, the difficult decision has been made to cancel the remainder of all state basketball tournaments in all classes.
“Everything we’ve done up to this point was to try and keep the experience of a state basketball tournament for our student participants and high school communities,” said CHSAA commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green. “In the face of this unprecedented public health emergency, we are compelled to discontinue play in all tournaments.”
The move is in line with similar decisions from the NCAA, which cancelled all remaining winter sports championships and spring sports championships. Additionally, other high school associations, such as Connecticut, Oregon, Texas, California and Kentucky have made similar announcements. Some of those, including Wisconsin and Kansas, canceled on Thursday night.
“We want to thank those who have supported us through the difficult decisions in these uncertain times,” Blanford-Green said.
All spring sports and activities will be suspended until early April to address concerns surrounding the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, CHSAA commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green announced on Thursday.
The 2020 spring sports season — including all practices and competition — the state speech tournament, and student leadership’s Advisor U are suspended through April 6. All music festivals are canceled through April 6. Additionally, an outreach with the Colorado Athletic Directors Association will be conducted remotely at a date to be announced.
The decision is effective Friday, March 13. The decision to continue competition on Thursday is up to local schools and school districts.
The situation will be monitored and evaluated with key decision-makers from around the state to determine when, or if, to resume the spring season.
On Wednesday morning, Blanford-Green convened a digital conference with more than 50 administrators, representing diverse levels of leadership from all parts of the state to collaboratively create a plan. That group arrived at a consensus to support the decision made by the CHSAA office.
“I want to thank the Board of Directors, membership and CHSAA staff for their support and guidance,” Blanford-Green said. “The collaborative decision-making has been in the best interest of our students and school communities, and it hasn’t gone unnoticed.”
Further information about the spring sports season will be communicated via CHSAANow, when available.
Over the course of the past week, our office communicated consistently said that our plan is to hold our state championships events without changes unless directed otherwise by a state agency or facility administration.
On Wednesday at 5:30 p.m., Gov. Jared Polis announced that the state wants large public gatherings, including sporting events, “to establish protocols where they can establish safe spacing at events” to help limit the spread of COVID-19.
After the press conference, CHSAA commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green consulted with state educational and health departments, and they advised a higher standard of risk minimization than originally communicated with the additional cases that have been reported in Colorado over the last 24 hours.
Logistically — and with the state tournaments set to begin in less than 13 hours — this goal of social spacing is beyond the scope of our host facilities. In addition, at least one of our venues has indicated that we would not be able to host games with fans in attendance for the bulk of the tournament.
Therefore, we are making the difficult decision to limit attendance to essential team personnel only, without fans in attendance. Essential personnel means only those who have been submitted on the official CHSAA gate list by schools will be able to enter the venue. No spirit teams or bands will be permitted entry. Media will be permitted to attend, if they have a CHSAA-issued pass.
In response to several inquiries from family members of participants, each player will be allowed to have a maximum of four guests attend games. CHSAA assistant commissioner Bert Borgmann will be communicating directly with schools on instructions of how those guests will enter the venues, and how things will operate within the venue.
Games in all classifications will be available on the NFHS Network this weekend, meaning fans will not miss out on the tournament. Additionally, CHSAANow.com will be providing live coverage of the games.
The decision is being made based upon recommendations by health officials in all areas, and follows decisions made by neighboring states, and the NCAA, including their postseason events being held in Colorado.
“While this decision is a difficult one, we do want the students who have worked so hard to be able to have a culminating event that reflects the commitment they have made throughout the season,” Blanford-Green said.
“We knew that this was an evolving situation, and our goal was to have a tournament that goes on without interruption,” Blanford-Green said. “But circumstances have changed with this pandemic, and the focus must now be on how we give the kids the experience of a state champ event.”
A refund policy for tickets purchased will be communicated on Thursday.
Our office will continue to monitor this situation closely, and provide updates if necessary.
We continue to support our member schools and school districts, and the local decisions they are making in the best interest of their students and communities.
During his press conference, Gov. Polis stressed the need for community help in combating the virus.
“I know that many Coloradoans are upset, frustrated and, in fact, scared,” Polis said. “Some are disappointed that your conference or your graduations or your gatherings are cancelled … and those are normal feelings. We all understand that, and we all share that. But we need you to be part of working with us of doing everything we can at the state level to respond to this virus, and to reduce the trajectory of its spread.”
Dear Colorado high school basketball participants, coaches, fans, communities, and CHSAA supporters:
I am writing you today to keep an open line of communication from our office to you with regard to COVID-19 and our culminating championships.
We are in direct contact with relevant state agencies, as well as the host facilities, which would guide us in making any changes in the schedule to our state basketball tournaments. Last week, we let you know that our plan is to conduct the championship events unless directed by state agencies and/or facility administration of cancellations. On Tuesday, we reiterated that plan.
Per state guidance, and out of an abundance of caution, we are encouraging those above the age of 60, or those in at-risk populations, to avoid large crowds, as data shows they are more susceptible to contracting COVID-19, if exposed.
We will remain in contact with those monitoring the situation to make the best decisions on behalf of our students and our high school fans and communities.
Our student-athletes, high school fans and communities, are at the forefront of any decisions we would make moving forward, regardless of financial impact. We fully understand and believe in what our tournaments mean to our communities, and our goal is to uphold the experience of the participants and fans without compromising health or safety. We are open to all options going forward if a directive which impacts our state tournaments is made by state agencies.
We will continue to support the local administrative decisions made in the best interests of their school communities.
With today’s news that Gov. Jared Polis has declared a state of emergency in Colorado, the CHSAA office reiterates that Commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green’s statement from last week remains true today.
Per the Commissioner’s statement on March 4, “Our plan is to conduct the championship events unless directed by state agencies and/or facility administration of cancellations.”
I am in contact with multiple state and local agencies in regards to any changes that may occur with CHSAA culminating championships. The state and local agencies as well as our facility administrators have me on their “high alert” communications. If there are closures, logistics will be communicated to the membership and posted to CHSAANow immediately.
My suggestion is that these discussions and contingency plans happen at the local level should a school terminate contact and the state event still contested. Our plan is to conduct the championship events unless directed by state agencies and/or facility administration of cancellations.
The safety and well-being of our participants, staffs, volunteers and fans will be in the forefront of all decisions.
Spring sports competition, and decisions regarding regular season events, are up to local schools and school districts. The CHSAA office sent out a school memo today that regular season games cancelled would not affect postseason qualification and seeding.
“The safety and well-being of high school students in school communities must be the priority,” Blanford-Green said. “We support our local school districts to make the best decisions for their school communities, and will work with them as needed.”
