CHSAANow

Category: Association

  • NFHS, music publishers pave the way for students to use copyrighted material to complete the year

    Music festival
    (CHSAANow.com)

    Not unlike the process for relaxing the stay-at-home orders and re-opening the economy at the national level, the timing of the return of high school sports and activities may differ from state to state.

    Currently, 21 NFHS member state associations have cancelled all spring sports events, while the other 30 remain in a “suspended/postponed” category. In most cases, these differences rest with whether schools have been closed for the semester or remain hopeful of re-opening in the coming weeks.

    While some states are optimistic that seniors will be able to squeeze in some final athletic competition, those decisions will all be guided by one overriding factor – the health and safety of the student participants.

    Although the timing for the almost eight million high school student-athletes to return to sports competition remains in question, we are excited to announce that at least some high school students involved in other school activities will have a way to continue participation in an online setting.

    In addition to its role as the national leader and advocate for high school sports in the United States, the NFHS serves in a like manner for activities such as music, speech, debate, theatre and academic programs. Similar to high school athletes involved in baseball, softball, lacrosse, and track and field, students in high school music programs faced an end to competition with the shutdown of schools.

    However, in a landmark decision, several prominent music publishers are allowing temporary use of their copyrighted music for educational purposes. This will allow high school musicians to complete their year-end assessments, as well as classroom instruction while schools are closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Students involved in these important activity programs can continue participation online and maintain compliance with copyright laws.

    The NFHS appreciates the action on the part of these music publishers – Alfred, Barnhouse, Hal Leonard, Warner-Chappell Music and Warner Entertainment – so that high school music students can remain engaged during these extraordinary times.

    The permissions, which expire on June 15, are designed to enable students to complete the remainder of the school year. The five publishers account for about 95 percent of available educational music.

    More than four million high school students participate in activities other than sports; and with their year-end events canceled or postponed, the relaxing of copyright restrictions has delivered a ray of sunshine to many music students across the country.

    The NFHS has been a national leader in helping schools maintain compliance with copyright standards. In 2017, the free “Understanding Copyright and Compliance” online education course was first offered on the NFHS Learning Center (www.NFHSLearn.com). Last year, two new segments were added to the course, which now includes separate tracks for music teachers, spirit coaches, school administrators, speech and debate directors, and theatre directors.

    As we begin to look at resuming high school activity programs down the road, an openness to meeting the needs of high school activity participants in different ways may become the norm. We thank these major music publishers for getting us started down that path.

  • Frequently asked questions about COVID-19 and the spring season

    Field hockey boys soccer girls soccer football boys lacrosse girls lacrosse generic
    (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

    The CHSAA office has found a few frequent topics when answering questions about the COVID-19 pandemic and the spring season.

    So, we created a page dedicated to the latest information about the Coronavirus and included a list of Frequently Asked Questions. That page is here, and will be updated with the latest information, should updates be needed.

    Commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green answered these frequent questions, and we are also publishing them below.

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    Why hasn’t the Commissioner made the decision to cancel spring sports?

    We understand how extremely tough this is for our activity and athletic participants, especially graduating seniors, coaches and their school communities. We continue to extend dates aligned with restrictions, mandates and recommendations from state and health officials.

    There are many factors that would need to be considered after the most recent extension of suspending spring sports to April 30. The primary factor in a decision like that will be a guarantee to our Association that activities can be conducted statewide without jeopardizing the safety of not only our students but our officials, coaches, staffs, volunteers and spectators. We are not confident that an assurance like that will be forthcoming after the 30th.

    Our country and our state continue to adjust as they work to find answers and mitigate the spread of the virus. We don’t want to give false hope. Resuming spring activities and athletics statewide due to safety concerns does not appear promising.

    May students have contact with coaches during this time?

    We strongly encourage virtual contact by coaches and administrators to check on the well-being of their students as well as to upload workouts, but we have not permitted voluntary team workouts, rehearsals, or tryouts due to the direct or indirect implications of a mandatory participation by the students.

    We need to be focused on our “Why”, which is ensuring that our students are navigating this disruption without pressure.

    Some school districts have closed. How does that affect the spring season?

    State, health and educational mandates and recommendations will take precedence in discussions leading to April 30. The cancellation of in-building instruction and athletics, as well as the closure of many HS and collegiate facilities will definitely be considered.

    Will the summer be a consideration for the spring season?

    If statewide spring activities and athletics are cancelled, we would not conduct a summer season outside of the educational construct. If the spring season is cancelled and once the defined school year ends, no events would be conducted.

    This is not about creativity or an unwillingness to think outside the box. Our staff does that very well when inclement weather or facility availability disrupts an event.

    This is a statewide health emergency and a statewide safety situation, and as a result a potential cancellation would end of the season.

    Can students and/or coaches have access to school facilities during the moratorium?

    No, per the Governor’s executive order all school facilities must remain closed through April 30.

  • Music publishers agree to allow educational use of copyrighted music through June 15

    INDIANAPOLIS — Several prominent music publishers have temporarily allowed the use of their copyrighted music for educational purposes through an agreement with the NFHS and the National Association for Music Education (NAfME). These guidelines are designed to allow high school musicians to complete their year-end assessments and for classroom instruction while schools are closed due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The agreement will expire on June 15.

    “The publishers have been gracious with their permissions to allow students the ability to complete their year-end assessments while remaining copyright compliant,” said Dr. James Weaver, director of performing arts and sports.  “The NFHS has worked for many years to help schools be copyright compliant. This move by the publishers should be applauded for the assistance they are providing schools in this unprecedented time.”

    For music to be distributed for K-12 assessment and adjudication, student recordings must meet the following guidelines:

    • Performances can only be shared for educational assessment or state adjudication purposes.
    • Performances must be shared in as private of a setting as possible and must be viewable only by an individual link.
    • The recorded performance must use legally purchased music.
    • Any arrangements made shall have proper permissions secured prior to recording.
    • Once the recorded performance has been adjudicated, it must be deleted from the sharing platform.

    “These requirements are designed to allow schools and students to still participate in their music education as well as protect the intellectual property of the music publishers,” said Weaver. “The permissions afforded by the publishers are temporary in order to get us through the remainder of the school year.”

    The five publishing houses that have agreed to allow their music to be used include:

    • Alfred
    • Barnhouse
    • Hal Leonard
    • Warner-Chappell Music
    • Warner Entertainment

    Collectively, the publishers account for approximately 95 percent of available educational music.

  • Swimming and diving rules changes clarify proper race finish, official timing procedures

    Girls swimming generic
    (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

    INDIANAPOLIS — Providing more clarity on a proper race finish and official timing procedures are among the noteworthy high school swimming and diving rules changes for the 2020-21 school year.

    These topics were among those discussed by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Swimming and Diving Rules Committee at its annual meeting March 22-23, where a total of six rules changes were recommended for approval. The rules meeting was held in an online format to comply with current health safety guidelines. All recommendations were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

    Rule 1-1-1 was edited to profile the end wall in more detail. Previously described as “the walls perpendicular to the race course,” the new definition broadens the term to include “the vertical portion of the pool, contiguous surface of the deck and overflow gutter, the front of the starting block or platform, or the touchpad at the end of the course.”

    “This additional language provides clarity on what constitutes the end wall,” said Sandy Searcy, NFHS director of sports and liaison to the Swimming and Diving Rules Committee. “The 2019-20 rules book changed the definition of the finish of the race by permitting the swimmer to finish at the end wall, not the touchpad. That change necessitated a more concise definition of the end wall.”

    The end wall was also referenced in the change to Rule 6-3-2, which specified acceptable methods for measuring “official” times. When a legal touch is made with the end wall to signify a legal finish, buttons and/or stopwatches, which are commonly used for backup timing, are now explicitly listed as alternatives to touchpads.

    Clarity to the usage of backup timing devices was also addressed in a change to Rule 6-3-4. Whereas official times could previously only be taken from backup mechanisms in the event of a malfunction to the automatic timing equipment, the rule’s new language was written to incorporate all other instances where an official time is not properly recorded.

    “This rule change more accurately describes the protocol for determining an official time when the competitor contacts the end wall and not the touchpad,” Searcy said. “Backup buttons or stopwatches may need to be used in situations where the swimmer does not activate the touchpad or the touchpad malfunctions. This phrase clarifies conditions when the swimmer does not touch the touchpad initially.”

    New articles were added to Rules 1-4-5 and 1-4-6 to differentiate the terms diving “round” from diving “session” and bring consistency to those definitions. Used frequently throughout Rule 9 of the rules book, a diving session refers to one of the various levels – preliminary, semifinal and final – within an 11-dive competition, while a diving round is the completion of one dive by each participant. Additionally, divers are now permitted to practice in between diving sessions at the discretion of meet management.

    Alterations were made to the uniform code under Rules 3-3-3 and 3-3-4c regarding accepted and prohibited manufacturers’ logos. In addition to the mark signifying approval from the international governing body for aquatic sports, FINA, the USA Swimming checkmark logo is now considered an acceptable suit marking.

    “This rule is a clarification of what the swimming community may see on suits this fall as a result of a rule change made by USA Swimming,” Searcy said. “A small checkmark will be positioned next to the FINA marking on some suits and is not considered as an additional manufacturer’s logo or advertising.”

    Finally, headings were added to Rules 9-3-3 and 9-3-5 to help explain the two-step process for entering divers at championship meets. The process includes entering the divers and swimmers’ first and last names, events and school affiliations onto an official team entry document, and then submitting the document at the time and place specified by the meet manager. Subsequently, divers will submit a scoresheet/dive list to complete the process of their entry into the diving event.

    According to the 2018-19 NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey, swimming and diving is the 10th-most popular sport for boys with 136,638 participants in 7,704 schools, and the eighth-most popular sport for girls with 173,088 participants in 8,007 schools.

  • Be The Light movement grows as more schools shine for their students

    Last week, dozens of schools joined and continued the Be The Light, Colorado movement, as they sought to be a beacon of hope for their students during the on-going COVID-19 pandemic.

    In addition to physically lighting stadiums, arenas, pools and theaters, schools and districts are asking that their communities, as one district put it, “be the light to someone every day during these difficult times.”

    The following is a video we put together compiling some of the #BeTheLightCO posts from the past week.

  • NFHS: Let’s gain a new appreciation for officials during down time

    Hotchkiss Limon girls basketball
    (Paul Soriano)

    During this shutdown of normal life in our nation, we are learning to deal with a new challenge – how to handle the unexpected time on our hands at home. Simply keeping up with the days of the week is a major accomplishment!

    While we anxiously await the re-opening of schools and a return of high school sports and performing arts, this down time can be used in positive ways to take advantage of educational opportunities. And kudos to some individuals who already are seizing those opportunities – men and women who officiate high school sports.

    Two weeks ago, we began to offer the 11 officiating courses on the NFHS Learning Center (NFHSLearn.com) free of charge, and the response has been nothing short of amazing. By the end of March – merely a week into this new opportunity – more than 5,200 courses had been taken.

    In addition to veteran officials fine-tuning techniques in one or more of the seven sports featured in these courses, this has been a great opportunity for individuals interested in officiating to take a free course to determine their interest level. 

    Those of us in leadership positions are so appreciative of these individuals who give freely of their free time to officiate high school sports or adjudicate music contests. We would suggest that everyone – student-athletes, coaches, parents and other fans – use this down time to do the same.

    At various times this year before the shutdown of schools, officials have been the victim of verbal and physical abuse. Inappropriate behavior by parents and other fans was causing officials to quit before they even reached two years on the job.

    And yet, in the past three years, more than 35,000 individuals have signed up to become officials through the NFHS’ #BecomeAnOfficial campaign and 5,200 courses that have been taken in the past couple of weeks by men and women who want to give back to high school sports. These are good signs more people will continue to be involved in officiating when the games return.

    But what about the parents and other fans in the stands? Will their behavior be changed upon return? The conclusion of the New Mexico Activities Association’s state basketball tournament last month provided an interesting perspective on the impact of fans to the atmosphere at high school sporting events.

    After completing the first two days of its state tournament with fans in the stands, the NMAA conducted the final three days without fans because of concerns about the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Dana Pappas, commissioner of officials for the NMAA, noted the following about the final three days of competition:

    “Officials would make a call and if coaches had a question about it, they asked – calmly and respectfully. In huddles during time-outs, coaches just talked to their players, without raised voices. The behavior of coaches on the sidelines from Thursday through Saturday was in stark contrast to what we witnessed on Tuesday and Wednesday. Perhaps they did not feel the need to be overly emotional for the benefit of their fans.

    “My hope is that the absence of sport throughout the world gives us all a moment to gain perspective and do a ‘gut check’ as to the kind of fans we are at contests. If the quality of the game is unchanged (or even better) without fans there to scream at the coaches, officials and players, then is that behavior really necessary when the games resume?”

    The message here is that while the games can continue without fans, the ideal situation is for stands full of fans positively cheering for their teams.

  • Recent school closures and extension of stay-at-home hasn’t changed spring season timeline; suspension remains until April 30

    Calhan Rye baseball
    (Lisa Hayes/StillOfTheMomentPhotography.com)

    CHSAA’s timeline of spring sports has not changed since information communicated on April 1: The spring season remains suspended until April 30 in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    “The recent closing of some schools and districts, and Gov. Polis’ extension of the stay-at-home order, hasn’t changed the timeline we established on April 1,” said CHSAA commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green.

    From the information communicated on April 1:

    The suspension of spring activities and sports has been extended to April 30 following state and local extensions on school closures and mandatory social-distancing related to the on-going COVID-19 pandemic.

    Any decisions regarding spring activities potentially resuming will depend on students’ abilities to return to in-person instruction.

    It is important to note that, as has been the case since the beginning, further updates and information from state agencies could have an impact on the season.

    As an Association, CHSAA encourages everyone to stay home in order to stay safe.

    “We encourage everyone to follow all guidance from the state in terms of social distancing, and staying at home,” Blanford-Green said. “We have seen recent postings of students gathering for athletic purposes of group workouts. This is disheartening that adults would place our students in situations that may not be in the best interest of their safety and well-being, and those of their community. The more that we follow federal and state guidelines, the sooner we can get back to the activities that we all love.”

    Update, 8:15 a.m. Tuesday: Blanford-Green answered a couple of common questions on Monday night. Among them:

    Could there be a summer season in place of a spring season?

    Some school districts have already cancelled in-person learning, and some have cancelled their spring sports, for the rest of the school year. How will this work?

     

  • Friday Night Lights in April: Schools light their stadiums for students

    The Be The Light, Colorado movement continued to spread through the end of its first week with an inspirational display of Friday Night Lights in April.

    The #BeTheLightCO trend, which started with five schools and districts on Monday night, and continued with 12 more on Tuesday, and 16 on Wednesday, has now spread across nearly 70 schools and school districts around the state.

    The movement seeks to provide a beacon of hope for students during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has closed schools and put the season on hold. Schools and school districts are lighting their stadiums as a way to show students they are in our hearts and on our minds.

    Among those taking part since Wednesday:

    Jefferson Academy:

    Springfield:

    Wiggins:

    https://twitter.com/Wiggins_50/status/1245895369197637633

    Rocky Ford:

    Vista Ridge:

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B-i6GTKJSW8/

    Montrose:

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B-izOkMnolF/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    West Grand:

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B-itsfDBZVr/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    Hayden:

    https://www.facebook.com/bryan.richards.944/videos/2519446381705883/

    Yuma:

    https://www.facebook.com/watch/?ref=search&v=2972451569501378&external_log_id=292e5a8304a311f2b31dd1bfc86e18c9&q=%23bethelightCO

    Fort Lupton:

    Lewis-Palmer Schools:

    Cheraw:

    Pagosa Springs:

    Valor Christian:

    Soroco:

    Lamar:

    Sand Creek:

    Mountain Range:

    Haxtun:

    Brush:

    Denver West:

    Windsor:

  • A look at the three schools joining CHSAA in 2020-21

    This fall, three schools will join CHSAA for their initial seasons: Addenbrooke Classical Academy, Banning Lewis Prep, and DSST: Conservatory Green.

    With their addition, which was approved by the Legislative Council in April 2019, the CHSAA membership will grow to 363 schools.

    Below is a quick introduction to each of the three new schools.

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    Addenbrooke Classical Academy

    Location: Lakewood

    Enrollment: 142

    Mascot: Mustangs

    Initial sports: Cross country, boys soccer, volleyball, boys basketball, girls basketball, girls soccer.

    School info: A public K-12 charter school operating under Jeffco Public Schools. It opened in 2013.

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    Banning Lewis Prep

    Location: Colorado Springs

    Enrollment: 337

    Mascot: Stallions

    Initial Sports: Cross country, football, track, spirit, volleyball, boys basketball, girls basketball, girls soccer.

    School info: A charter school for grades K-12. It originally opened in 2006, but only opened its high school in 2017. The first graduating class will be the class of 2021.

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    DSST: Conservatory Green

    Location: Denver

    Enrollment: 303

    Mascot: Hornets

    Initial Sports: Cross country, boys soccer, spirit, volleyball, boys basketball, girls basketball, girls soccer.

    School info: A public STEM charter school, which was opened in 2014.

  • More schools join in to Be The Light for their students in Colorado

    A number of other schools joined a movement to turn on their stadium lights Tuesday night as they sought to provide a source of hope for their students.

    Started on Monday night in Colorado, five stadiums turned on their lights for a short period of time to show students they were thinking of them, even as schools remained closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Many more joined in Tuesday as the movement spread. Among those taking part in #BeTheLightCO on Tuesday were:

    Sargent:

    https://twitter.com/TrevanPepper/status/1245188270268563457

    https://twitter.com/TrevanPepper/status/1245184956583817216

    Five Star Schools:

    University:

    Sierra:

    Cedaredge:

    Gunnison:

    Legacy:

    Arapahoe:

    Limon:

    Alamosa:

    Boulder:

    Weld Central: