In late April, Rashaan Davis was selected as the next assistant commissioner at the Colorado High School Activities Association. He will oversee activities and perform a number of other duties.

To get to know him better, CHSAA Director of Digital Media, Brad Cochi, sat down with Davis to ask a few questions about his excitement for the new role, his background, his vision for the future and more.

Cochi: First of all, congratulations on the new position. Could you please tell us how excited you are to get started and what drew you to becoming the next CHSAA Assistant Commissioner?

Davis: Thank you very much. I am very excited! This is an opportunity that I have been looking forward to for a long time. CHSAA has a great history of creating learning opportunities for students through athletics and activities, and I am excited to now be a part of the team that helps to make that happen. I have been lucky enough to play a small role in each of the CHSAA activities I will oversee. Whether I was advising student leaders, serving as a judge at a speech & debate tournament, or volunteering at a music event, I have had the opportunity to “get behind the curtain” and see exactly how these events are put together.

I love that I am now in a position to work with a network of adults (teachers, coaches, and administrators) who wake up every day looking forward to positively impacting students through their participation in activities. It has been very rewarding to impact students in my own school, but to now be able to impact students across the state? This is beyond words.

In your new role, you will oversee activities, the Hall of Fame, awards/trophies and esports, and will have a wide variety of other duties. What are your thoughts on taking over this grassroots position and how do you see this position growing in the future?

That is a great question. Prior to this even being a position, I had thought about what it would look like to have someone solely in charge of CHSAA-sponsored activities. Those thoughts were always grounded in what CHSAA could do – growing current programs to be as recognized as many of the athletic offerings, the creation of new activities for students who are looking for ways to connect on their campus, and working with other state associations to share best-practices and implementation procedures. Now that this is a reality, I can’t wait to do those things and so many more.

I am also looking forward to the days when we will be adding new activities to what CHSAA already offers. Future activities might include: Robotics, Knowledge Bowl, and middle school leadership conferences, and One-Act Plays. All of my assignments are important, and I look forward to coming in and giving each of them the attention they deserve. The future is bright for activities at CHSAA.

You have a broad background in education. Could you please give us some insight into your background and the experiences that have led you to this point in your life?

In order to answer this question, we have to go back a few years. I grew up in Colorado Springs and attended Sierra High School. Growing up in a military community, that seemed like the logical choice upon graduation, so I joined the Army. My time in the military helped shape me into the school leader I have become. Working with a team, completing the mission, and properly making your bunk each day were skills that have translated well. In college, I was voted student body president at a time when the university was looking to change the school mascot, playing a major role in that process helped me to understand what equity and voice really meant.

Over the years, I have been able to work with students to create programs that help schools in our state to provide the best in extracurricular events for their students. I have built curriculum, managed large budgets for major events and worked with other schools to promote programs. Throughout the years, I’ve continued to share the message of educational equity, voice, and belonging. The end of this school year marks my 25th year in education and in all of those years- having served as a Social Studies teacher, Student Leadership adviser, and Campus Administrator- I have come to know that listening is one of the most important things I can do. And yes, I still make my bed every morning.

What are you looking forward to most about your new job?

As I stated earlier, I am looking forward to bringing new and different activities to CHSAA while building capacity in our existing activities. I am excited to work with school leaders, coaches, advisors from around the state, and the CHSAA advisory committees that work with each activity. I am also looking forward to working with the entire CHSAA office staff. Rhonda has assembled a team that I look forward to learning from and growing with. Fostering relationships, building capacity, listening to the ideas of others, and continuing to produce successful events is what I am really looking forward to.

What advice do you have for the upcoming generation on the importance of education and activities?

Education is the basis for all that we do, and activities can play an important role in helping students frame their view of the world. If we can continue creating opportunities for students to showcase their talent, with the help of caring adults and supportive peers, within the school environment, it can only help them develop skills that the world will ask them to have.

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

The 2020-21 Colorado high school girls volleyball state championships will now be held at The Broadmoor World Arena in Colorado Springs and have been moved on the calendar to May 12-13.

The tournament was originally scheduled for May 10-11 at NORCO Volleyball Facility in Loveland. With certain county health departments loosening restrictions and in the interest of accommodating as many spectators as possible, it became apparent that moving the tournament to a different site was the best option.

Bethany Brookens, the CHSAA assistant commissioner who administers volleyball, said she and her staff investigated several other options and The Broadmoor World Arena felt like the ideal fit.

“We are incredibly grateful to the World Arena and the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation for their partnership allowing the CHSAA to host our state volleyball championships in Colorado Springs,” Brookens said. “They have been incredible to work with – especially this pandemic year – and we appreciate their support and dedication in valuing our student-participants, schools, coaches, and communities. This is a true team effort across the city of Colorado Springs.

“Thank you to the many Colorado Springs high schools and administrators who will help run this event, and a huge thank you to the city of Colorado Springs, El Paso County Public Health, and many more wonderful supporters who have allowed and welcomed our schools with the opportunity to have a state-wide culminating volleyball championship.”

Because the Broadmoor World Arena, which recently hosted the basketball and spirit state championships, is currently being used as a COVID-19 vaccine site so the only available dates for the state tournament were May 12-13. El Paso County is actively working on spectator variances for a number of spectators, and Brookens said the association is optimistic about the potential total.

“As a community, we’re grateful for the opportunity to welcome athletes and their families from across the state to Colorado Springs,” said Doug Martin, Acting CEO of the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation. “We know they’ll enjoy their time here and encourage them to visit the many attractions in the area including the spectacular U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum.”

Official attendance numbers and a specific tournament format will be announced at a later date. All competitors, coaches, officials, staff and spectators will be required to comply with local public health guidelines at all times.

Despite the decision to move the state championships, Brookens had only good things to say about her experience working with the NORCO and the Loveland community.

“The city of Loveland has been amazing to work with,” Brookens said. “A huge thanks to the business owners of Loveland, in particular Chris Bierdeman, with Visit Loveland who helped coordinate the hotels, and the restaurants who were going to support the tournament staff and officials at the state tournament.

“The largest thanks truly go to NORCO Volleyball Club and their beautiful facility. Their club director, Cathy Mahaffey, has been incredibly gracious, giving, and supportive, and we are so thankful for them. We look forward to hosting future events in Loveland.”

Because the past days’ weather has impacted the availability of fields and officials, the regular season for boys soccer will be extended through Monday, April 19. As a result, the following adjustments have been made to the postseason calendar.

• The CHSAA state pairings meeting will take place and postseason brackets will be released on Tuesday, April 20.
• Classes 3A-5A may play first-round games on either Wednesday, April 21, or Thursday, April 22. Both schools must mutually agree to play on Wednesday, April 21, or the game will default to Thursday, April 22.
• Classes 2A-5A quarterfinal games will take place on Saturday, April 24. Class 5A may play quarterfinal games on Friday, April 23, if both teams mutually agree on that date. Otherwise, games will default to Saturday, April 24.
• There will be no changes to the second week of the postseason calendar.

“Due to the lack of officials and field availability brought on by the unexpected winter storm across the state, the decision was made to extend the regular season for boys soccer to Monday, April 19,” said Justin Saylor, CHSAA assistant commissioner overseeing boys soccer.

See below for full details on the state tournament schedule.
April 19 – Regular season games must be completed. Roster/gate lists due to CHSAA.
April 20 – State tournament pairings posted.
April 21-22 – Class 3A/4A/5A first-round games (higher seed hosts).
*Teams must mutually agree on date & time.
April 23 – Optional 5A quarterfinal games (if both teams mutually agree).
April 24 – Quarterfinal games for all classes (higher seed hosts).
April 27 – Semifinals planning meeting.
April 28 – Semifinal games for all classes.
April 29 – Finals planning meeting.
May 1 – State championship games for all classes.

(CHSAANow.com)

The following statement is from an email sent by CHSAA to member schools late yesterday:

… as the state restrictions are being lifted, the CHSAA is communicating directly with OCR (Office of Civil Rights) to receive a finalized statement on what can be done to provide an across-the-board increase in games, meets, events for all Season D participants. If given the green light to increase opportunities for students participating in Season D, in all spring sports cancelled in 2020, the Commissioner will seek that opportunity. We are discussing a 10% or 15% regular season increase. This would be a minimum of 1 or 2 regular season games, meets, matches, etc. The current calendar will not allow for a full season, extended play-off formats or increased qualifiers. I am at the place of “what can we do” to provide this opportunity for all SEASON D participants aligned with recent state and local health decisions to dial back statewide restrictions.

CHSAA administrators will communicate any changes once confirmed with OCR. We are very mindful of the schedules that may have been completed but state decisions to dial back some of the restrictions allows administrators to be conscious of what this addition would mean to our Season D student participants.

(Steve Abeyta/steveabeytaphotography.com)

INDIANAPOLIS — Adjusted points of contact that reduce injury risk during inversions and release stunts and tosses are the most notable revisions in the 2021-22 high school spirit rules.

At its recent virtual meeting, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Spirit Rules Committee produced rules changes that emphasized the committee’s continued focus on risk minimization. A total of seven proposals were recommended to the NFHS Board of Directors, which reviewed and later approved the changes to take effect next year.

“The NFHS Spirit Rules Committee continues its efforts to increase the health and safety of all cheer and dance participants,” said Dr. James Weaver, NFHS director of performing arts and sports and liaison to the NFHS Spirit Rules Committee. “This year’s rules changes allow for good safety practices and allow for education and practice in the sport of spirit.”

To reduce injury risk for the top person in a pyramid during a braced inversion that does not flip or roll, Rule 3-3-3 no longer mandates that the top person make hand-to-hand or hand-to-arm contact with a bracer. Removing this contact requirement keeps the top person out of a potentially dangerous position caused by attempting an unnatural connection with the bracer.

The same change was made in Rule 3-5-5c, which deals with contact between a top person and a bracer during a transition from a release stunt or toss. This modification also allows a top person to land in other positions besides a cradle position after a hand-to-foot release.

An alteration to Rule 4-1-21 now permits spirit participants to wear religious head coverings during performance without seeking state association approval beforehand. The rule states headwear must be made of non-abrasive and soft materials, fit securely and be attached in such a way that it is unlikely to come off while performing. The NFHS Spirit Rules Committee is the fourth NFHS sports rules committee to adopt or adjust a rule related to the wearing of religious head coverings so far in 2021.

An exception was added to Rule 3-2-1 (Rule 4-2-1 for dance) that allows a base and top person to share a pom during a dismount from a thigh stand, a shoulder sit or straddle, a shoulder stand or a prep. Previously, bases could not hold any objects or accessories while supporting a top person in these positions; only a hand-to-hand connection was acceptable.

Finally, language was removed from Rule 3-3-6 and Rule 4-2-8. Rule 3-3-6d was deleted as a response to a 2020 rule change that withdrew the requirement for upper body contact during a suspended stunt. Minute changes were made to Rule 4-2-8 to clarify that a spotter is required anytime the feet of the top person are in the hands of a base, or during the toss portion of a toss to shoulder stand.

A complete listing of the spirit rules changes will be available on the NFHS website at www.nfhs.org. Click on “Activities & Sports” at the top of the home page and select “Spirit.”

According to the most recent NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey, competitive spirit ranks ninth in participants for girls with 161,358 in 7,214 schools.

The 2020-21 girls volleyball state championships will be held at NORCO Volleyball Facility in Loveland.

All five classifications will play on May 10-11, beginning the eight-team tournaments with quarterfinals on May 10. Both semifinals and finals will be held on May 11.

This location allows for the continuation of the traditional state tournament format of having all classifications competing at a single location.

“We are really excited to partner with NORCO Volleyball because even during this COVID year, we are still able to showcase all five classifications at the same time for the finals,” said CHSAA assistant commissioner Bethany Brookens, who oversees volleyball. “We are thrilled that we were able to find a facility where all classifications can be showcased and celebrated together and equally, like in a normal year.

“We find great value in having all classifications showcased equally and this allows us to do that.”

The NORCO Volleyball facility is 30,000 square feet in size and has 10 courts.

“NORCO Volleyball and the Centerra community in Loveland are honored and excited to be hosting this year’s CHSAA state volleyball finals,” NORCO juniors club director Cathy Mahaffey said. “Our new world class 10-court facility was intentionally designed to accommodate the best and most competitive volleyball teams and players from across Colorado and the United States.”

Like all indoor sports, spectators will be limited. More information will be forthcoming as the data approaches.

Brad Cochi.

Veteran prep sportswriter, photographer, digital producer and editor Brad Cochi has been named Director of Digital Media, CHSAA Commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green announced Wednesday. Cochi will assume his new duties on April 12.

“We are excited for the national opportunity presented to Ryan Casey to work with MaxPreps. Ryan opened the door for the Association to think outside of the paper-pencil box. He will be greatly missed but will continue to work with our team through our long-standing corporate partnership. We are equally excited for our membership and prep athletes across the state, and our high school communities as Brad Cochi takes the helm to begin the grass root initiative of building the CHSAA Digital Media Department as its director. He is a great addition to our staff,” Blanford-Green said.

Cochi replaces Casey, who held the position for the past eight years.

Cochi has extensive experience in multi-media journalism and has worked the past 10 years for BoCoPreps.com, part of Prairie Mountain Publishing, whose holdings include the Longmont Times-Call and Boulder Daily Camera.

His duties included producing and editing written copy for award-winning online and print media, shooting and editing video interviews and highlights, producing video talk shows and special series, along with marketing and administrative strategy.

His experience includes maintaining web sites and he was the creator and producer for the video series Brad vs. BoCoPreps and BoCoPreps.com Podcast.

“I can’t wait to get started,” Cochi said. “I have really enjoyed covering Colorado high school activities in multiple capacities for more than 12 years now, and I couldn’t be more excited for this new opportunity to continue covering, promoting and supporting student-athletes across Colorado.”

Cochi served as sports editor for the Canon City Daily Record, was sports editor of the CU Independent while in college and was a research intern for longtime Sports Illustrated and ESPN report, Rick Reilly.

He has an MBA in Management/Marketing from the University of Colorado-Denver after completing his BS in Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Colorado-Boulder. Cochi has won a number of awards for writing and website work.

(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

The Class 3A girls swimming and diving state championship meet has been moved from this coming Saturday to Monday in anticipation of the forecast snowstorm that is expected to disrupt travel along the Front Range this weekend.

There is no planned changes to the schedules for the 5A and 4A meets scheduled for Thursday and Friday.

The championship venue, the Veteran’s Memorial Aquatic Center, is in Thornton.

CHSAA assistant commissioner Justin Saylor sent the following email to schools on Tuesday:

I have reached out to many of you directly, including Swim/Dive Committee Chair Scott Cohen regarding the forecasted storm over the state on Saturday and Sunday. With schools traveling from Moffat County, Gunnison, La Junta, etc. for this meet, the decision has been made to postpone 3A Swim/Dive until Monday, March 15th. VMAC is an Adams 12 Five Star District Facility and in all likelihood if the storm is half as bad as they are predicting, the facility and district would be closed on Saturday, potentially stranding schools in the metro area for several days. To allow schools an opportunity to plan, we wanted to make this decision as early as possible. Times for the event on Monday will remain the same and a new schedule will be posted online ASAP.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has approved variances for Season C sports, paving the way for those sports to begin practice over the next week.

Sports in Season C include: field hockey, football, gymnastics, boys soccer, unified bowling and girls volleyball. This will mark the first-ever sanctioned season for unified bowling.

Field hockey, gymnastics, boys soccer, unified bowling and girls volleyball begin practice on March 8, and competition on March 15. Football begins practice on March 4 for the 48 teams that did not participate during Season A, and competition on March 18.

Complete dates are available on the approved calendar.

Each sport has sport-specific modifications in place this season.

CDPHE variance approvals are required for a high school sport season to begin outside of the current participant dial levels. This allows student participants statewide to participate aligned with education-based models.

The complete letter from CDPHE, including information regarding safety implementations mandated by CDPHE for each sport, is available here.