CHSAANow

Month: August 2014

  • Consistency has Pine Creek always a threat for boys soccer titles

    Pine Creek Rock Canyon boys soccer 5A state
    Senior Nick Bannister (11) is the lone returning all-state player for Pine Creek. (Pam Wagner)

    Normally the loss of two first team all-state players would make it difficult for any team to repeat as state champions. But don’t tell that to the Pine Creek Eagles boys soccer team.

    With the fall season underway, the Eagles find themselves without three key components to last season’s championship team. Yet, they are still expected to remain well in the hunt — and are considered favorites by some — to walk away as champions for a second straight year. In fact, the Eagles opened up as No. 1 in CHSAANow.com’s preseason poll.

    But coach Ben Corley insists that his team’s key to success is not the personnel, but their ability to identify what makes them successful as a team and maintaining those standards throughout the season.

    “The biggest thing is looking at last season and identifying the character traits and the attributes that are a part of the DNA of our program,” Corley said. “Our success (last season) came out of focus and the amount of daily work that we put in.”

    The Eagles have been a staple in the state tournament for the last several years, but finally got over the hump with their 1-0 double-overtime win against Rock Canyon back in November.

    With the added pressure of defending their title, they’re choosing to look at the task similar to the way they did last season. While a second straight championship is the ultimate goal, they have to conquer every practice and succeed in each game in order to reach that mountain top.

    “It’s not about looking a big, broad-stroke concept such as defending a championship,” Corley said. “It’s as much about replicating those steps rather than worrying about the results.”

    Pine Creek Rock Canyon boys soccer 5A state
    (Pam Wagner)

    The Eagles will be without all-state players Aaron Haefner and David Meyer. Meyer’s absence will probably be felt the most as he minded the net for the Eagles during their title run. But the Eagles won’t be found at any pity party over the loss of their seniors. Instead, they’re anxious to see how their shoes will be filled.

    “We feel like there are opportunities for guys to step up. It’s more opportunity than anything,” Corley said. “Our backup keeper last year, Logan Thomas, was a junior. He’s excited to step in and be the guy in goal. He’s also a varsity basketball player and has a lot of hops.”

    It will help that senior midfielder Nick Bannister returns to the team. Bannister is the only returning all-state player for Pine Creek and ranked second on the team in goals scored.

    They’ll need Bannister to be in top form early in the year as the Eagles first four games consist of three of the CHSAANow.com top-10 ranked teams. The non-league blitz against Cherry Creek, Rangeview and Denver East will give the Eagles a glimpse of how their 2014 competition will shape up.

    [divider]

    Class 5A boys soccer

    Defending Champion: Pine Creek

    Runner-up: Rock Canyon

    Returning All-State Players: Nick Banniser Sr., Pine Creek (1st); Kevin del Mazo, Sr., Smoky Hill (1st); Zach Fronapfel, Sr., Fort Collins (1st); Ben Overholt, Sr., Chatfield (1st); Walter Prince, Sr., Smoky Hill (1st); Chase Breslaw, Sr., Heritagee (2nd); Peter Hendricks, Sr., Ralston Valley (2nd); Marcus Krause, Sr., Doherty (2nd); Colton Ladyga, Sr., Smoky Hill (2nd); Dalton Lundberg, Sr., Heritage (2nd); Jorge Rangel, Sr., Grandview (2nd); Roberto Valasquez, Sr., Highlands Ranch (2nd); Nick Vergara, Sr., Eaglecrest (2nd)

    Regular season begins: Aug. 21

    Playoffs begin: Oct. 23

    State Championship: Nov. 8 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park (Commerce City)

  • Photos: Montrose sports begin fall practice

    MONTROSE — Fall practice kicked off for Montrose in football, softball and boys soccer on Monday.

  • Football’s TV schedule for 2014 season

    Below is a list of high school football games available on TV and live streams in Colorado this season. This is in addition to games on the NFHS Network, which will have extensive coverage every week.

    Televised games

    Date Time Teams Location Station
    Aug. 29 Delayed Broomfield vs. Legacy Broomfield HS Ch. 8 (Broomfield)
    Sept. 11 7 p.m. ThunderRidge vs. Douglas County Shea Stadium Altitude
    Sept. 18 7 p.m. Columbine vs. Ralston Valley NAAC Altitude
    Sept. 25 7:30 p.m. Chatfield vs. Ralston Valley NAAC Altitude
    Oct. 2 7 p.m. Cherokee Trail vs. Grandview Legacy Stadium Altitude
    Oct. 10 7 p.m. Regis Jesuit vs. ThunderRidge Shea Stadium Altitude
    Oct. 17 7 p.m. Cherry Creek vs. Valor Christian Stutler Bowl Altitude
    Oct. 17 Delayed Holy Family vs. Erie Holy Family HS Ch. 8 (Broomfield)
    Oct. 24 7 p.m. Grandview vs. Valor Christian Legacy Stadium Altitude
    Nov. 29   Class 4A championship Mile High Altitude
    Nov. 29   Class 5A championship Mile High Altitude

    Streaming games

    Date Time Teams Location Site
    Aug. 22 7 p.m. Columbine vs. Fountain-Fort Carson Jeffco Stadium Stream It Sports
    Aug. 22 7 p.m. Valor Christian at Bonneville (Id.) Idaho IdahoSports.com
    Aug. 28 7 p.m. Pomona vs. Valor Christian NAAC Stream It Sports
    Aug. 28 7 p.m. Smoky Hill vs. Rock Canyon Sports Authority Stadium NFHS Network
    Aug. 28 7 p.m. Discovery Canyon vs. Silver Creek Silver Creek HS NFHS Network
    Aug. 28 7 p.m. Mountain Vista vs. Mountain Range Shea Stadium vistanow.org
    Aug. 29 6:50 p.m. Bennett vs. Eaton Eaton HS NFHS Network
    Aug. 29 7 p.m. Rampart vs. Woodland Park District 20 Stadium CityLinkTV
    Aug. 29 7 p.m. Broomfield vs. Legacy Broomfield HS NFHS Network
    Aug. 29 7 p.m. Legend vs. Arapahoe Arapahoe HS NFHS Network
    Aug. 29 7 p.m. Poudre vs. Fort Collins Poudre HS NFHS Network
    Aug. 29 7 p.m. Durango vs. Beckman (Calif.) CSU-Pueblo Stream It Sports
    Sept. 4 6 p.m. Air Academy vs. Cheyenne Mountain Air Academy HS 20TV
    Sept. 4 7 p.m. Chaparral vs. Bear Creek Sports Authority Stadium Stream It Sports
    Sept. 4 7 p.m. Horizon vs. Chatfield Thornton HS Stream It Sports
    Sept. 5 7 p.m. Mullen vs. Regis Jesuit Mullen HS Stream It Sports
    Sept. 5 7 p.m. Mountain Vista vs. Brighton Shea Stadium vistanow.org
    Sept. 11 7 p.m. ThunderRidge vs. Douglas County Shea Stadium Stream It Sports
    Sept. 12 4 p.m. Arvada West vs. Ralston Valley NAAC Stream It Sports
    Sept. 12 7 p.m. Rampart vs. Palmer District 20 Stadium CityLinkTV
    Sept. 12 7:30 p.m. Standley Lake vs. Green Mountain NAAC Stream It Sports
    Sept. 12 7:30 p.m. Chatfield vs. Lakewood Chatfield HS Stream It Sports
    Sept. 13 6 p.m. Pine Creek vs. Dakota Ridge District 20 Stadium Stream It Sports
    Sept. 13 6 p.m. Mountain Vista vs. Chaparral Shea Stadium vistanow.org
    Sept. 18 6 p.m. Bear Creek vs. Chatfield Bear Creek HS Stream It Sports
    Sept. 18 7 p.m. Liberty vs. The Classical Academy District 20 Stadium 20TV
    Sept. 19 7 p.m. Grandview vs. ThunderRidge Legacy Stadium Stream It Sports
    Sept. 20 1 p.m. Arapahoe vs. Hinkley LPSS Stream It Sports
    Sept. 25 7:30 p.m. Lakewood vs. Bear Creek Jeffco Stadium Stream It Sports
    Sept. 25 7:30 p.m. Ralston Valley vs. Chatfield NAAC Stream It Sports
    Sept. 26 7:30 p.m. Cherry Creek vs. Cherokee Trail Stutler Bowl Stream It Sports
    Sept. 27 10 a.m. Monarch vs. Fairview Centaurus HS Stream It Sports
    Oct. 2 7 p.m. Pine Creek vs. Air Academy District 20 Stadium 20TV
    Oct. 2 4 p.m. Standley Lake vs. Denver South NAAC Stream It Sports
    Oct. 3 7 p.m. Mullen vs. Chatfield Mullen HS Stream It Sports
    Oct. 4 6 p.m. Rampart vs. Palmer Ridge District 20 Stadium CityLinkTV
    Oct. 9 7 p.m. Fairview vs. Mountain Range Recht Field Stream It Sports
    Oct. 9 7 p.m. Mountain Vista vs. Fruita Monument Shea Stadium vistanow.org
    Oct. 9 7 p.m. Chatfield vs. Arvada West Chatfield HS Stream It Sports
    Oct. 10 7 p.m. Douglas County vs. Chaparral DCSDS Stream It Sports
    Oct. 16 7 p.m. Grandview vs. Overland Legacy Stadium Stream It Sports
    Oct. 17 7 p.m. Columbine vs. Chatfield Jeffco Stadium Stream It Sports
    Oct. 17 7 p.m. Rampart vs. Liberty District 20 Stadium CityLinkTV
    Oct. 17 7 p.m. Columbine vs. Chatfield Jeffco Stadium Stream It Sports
    Oct. 23 7 p.m. Legacy vs. Fairview 1stBank Field Stream It Sports
    Oct. 24 7 p.m. Mountain Vista vs. Highlands Ranch Shea Stadium vistanow.org
    Oct. 24 7:30 p.m. Pomona vs. Chatfield Pomona HS Stream It Sports
    Oct. 31 7 p.m. Rampart vs. Durango District 20 Stadium CityLinkTV

  • Heritage lineman Frank Umu commits to Colorado State for football

    (Pam Wagner)
    Heritage’s Frank Umu (77) has committed to play football at Colorado State. (Pam Wagner)

    Heritage lineman Frank Umu has committed to Colorado State, according Matt McChesney on Twitter.

    Umu, a 6-foot-5, 267-pound senior, had 65 total tackles last season. He also forced a fumble, recovered another and blocked a field goal last season. Umu played on the offensive line, as well.

    McChesney, owner of Six Zero Strength & Fitness in Centennial, trains Umu — among many other Colorado athletes. He posted the news Wednesday afternoon:

    The commitment was later confirmed by confirmed by GoldandGreenNews.com, which reported that the Rams hadn’t settled on a position for Umu yet.

    Umu also had offers from Eastern Washington and Weber State, according to Rivals.com.

    The Rams offered Umu last Thursday. At the time, he told GoldandGreenNews.com that “it was such a great feeling.”

    Umu is the tenth player from the Class of 2015 to commit, and third to pledge to CSU. He follows Rocky Mountain offensive lineman Salofi Gaoa and Bear Creek athlete Olabisi Johnson in joining the Rams’ recruiting class.

    Heritage congratulated Umu late Wednesday on Instagram:

  • Castelino, Fairview boys tennis hoping to make 2014 their year

    Fairview's Ignatius Castelino. (Courtesy of Marc Pasquariello-Williams)
    Fairview’s Ignatius Castelino. (Courtesy of Marc Pasquariello-Williams)

    By all accounts, Fairview’s boys tennis team had a state showing last fall that would make most programs envious.

    The Knights sent each of their three singles players and four doubles teams to the Class 5A state tournament at Gates Tennis Center in Denver, pushing five through to the finals and having two more positions place third.

    Still, Fairview couldn’t find a way to solve the Cherry Creek puzzle, finishing second to the Bruins for the third year in a row. Cherry Creek swept all seven individual state titles — the first time that has happened since 1998 — on its way to 98 points overall.

    Even with Fairview returning five players this fall — including all three singles players — and the Bruins graduating their top two singles players, Knights coach Chad Tsuda understands that the advantage still belongs to Creek.

    “Cherry Creek is still that dominant team,” Tsuda said. “I think that is what kind of fuels us. Every team Creek is going to put together is going to be the best, and that gives us a great sense of motivation.”

    State experience is working in Fairview’s favor as the 2014 season approaches. Seniors Ignatius Castelino, Thomas Mason and Andrew Pollack have reached the finals in each of the previous three seasons. Junior Alec Leddon has been in one final, and sophomore Devin Harper placed third at No. 3 doubles last season.

    “It’s exciting to have those top five guys coming back,” Tsuda said. “It’s pretty rare, usually it’s more spread out. It’s nice to have the kind of leadership of the singles players coming back.”

    Leddon took third at No. 2 singles a year ago and Mason was runner-up at No. 3 singles. Pollack was runner-up at No. 2 doubles.

    Fairview's Ignatius Castelino. (Courtesy of Marc Pasquariello-Williams)
    Fairview’s Ignatius Castelino. (Courtesy of Marc Pasquariello-Williams)

    Castelino is seeking his first championship, having fallen to a Cherry Creek opponent in each of the previous three seasons. The Bruins’ Zach Fryer pulled out a 6-4, 6-4 triumph last October.

    “Every season I’m always excited to start. It’s always been fun,” Castelino said. “It’s my senior year but that doesn’t really change anything. I’m just going to still be looking to try and win again this year and help the team win.”

    Castelino said he didn’t spend as much this summer traveling on the junior circuit as he has in past years, but his focus is razor-sharp headed into the fall season.

    “If anything I’ll be more intense,” he said. “I’m more driven to try and do it this year.”

    Tsuda said switching gears from the junior circuit to high school competition isn’t easy, but Castelino handles it well.

    “For players that competitive, when the high school season comes around it totally changes attitude-wise where it becomes a team concept,” he said. “He gets to join a team of which he is a very big part, a leader where people look up to him.

    “It’s a very unique experience to be on a high school team and we are a team — everyone plays hard for each other.”

    [divider]

    Class 5A boys tennis

    Defending individual champions: Zach Fryer, Cherry Creek (No. 1 singles); Connor McPherson, Cherry Creek (No. 2 singles); Ethan Hillis, Cherry Creek (No. 3 singles); Harshil Dwivedi/Jake Miller, Cherry Creek (No. 1 doubles); Erin Norwood/Matt Gross, Cherry Creek (No. 2 doubles); Teller Hoskins/Ben Schlichting, Cherry Creek (No. 3 doubles); Jacob Bendalin/Wyatt Dale, Cherry Creek (No. 4 doubles).

    Defending team champion: Cherry Creek

    Returning All-State athletes: Jacob Bendalin, Soph., Cherry Creek; Ignatius Castelino, Sr., Fairview; Wyatt Dale, Soph., Cherry Creek; Harshil Dwivedi, Sr., Cherry Creek; Ethan Hillis, Soph., Cherry Creek; Teller Hoskins, Sr., Cherry Creek; Erin Norwood, Jr., Cherry Creek.

    Regular Season begins: Aug. 14

    Regionals: Completed by Oct. 4

    State meet: Oct. 9-11 at Gates Tennis Center in Denver

  • Kent Denver boys tennis loses No. 1 singles player, but expects to be deep

    4A champion Kent Denver. (Bethany Brookens/CHSAANow.com)
    Kent Denver celebrates its 4A boys tennis championship last season. (Bethany Brookens/CHSAANow.com)

    Winning Class 4A state boys tennis championships is nothing new to Kent Denver.

    The Sun Devils have won six boys state tennis titles in school history — all coming since 1999. The Sun Devils tied Cheyenne Mountain for the crown in 1999 and won it outright in 2003, 2004, 2008, 2009 and 2013.

    Kent Denver will make a run at its seventh state crown this fall, but will have to do it without senior David Mitchell. Mitchell lost in the No. 1 singles finals to Discovery Canyon senior Luke Lorenz (7-5, 6-4) last season.

    “My team is going to be good this year, but we are going to be a little bit weaker up top,” veteran Kent coach Randy Ross said. “David Mitchell, our No. 1 singles player, is not returning to Kent Denver. He’s staying down in (Bradenton) Florida at IMG Academy. We’re going to be a little bit weaker in the No. 1 position than we have been the last several years, but we are going to be deep.”

    Mitchell was a three-time state finalist, winning at No. 1 singles as a freshman and taking second the past two seasons in the same bracket.

    Junior Willie Gold (No. 2 singles), and sophomore Casey Ross (No. 3 singles), the coach’s son, won state a year ago, as did the doubles team of senior Andrew Thompson and junior Blake Parsons (No. 3 doubles).

    Additionally, junior Kevin Adams (No. 1 doubles), and senior Jack Trueblood (No. 4 doubles) return after winning state in 2013 with their graduated partners. Sophomore Niko Hereford (No. 2 doubles) also was part of a state runner-up tandem last season.

    “We’re going to solid, but Niwot is going to be good and Colorado Academy is going to be good and it’s going to be interesting,” coach Ross said.

    A year ago, the Sun Devils ended up with 91 points, easily outdistancing Colorado Academy (54) and Niwot (50). Perennial power Cheyenne Mountain, which had won state three years in a row, placed fourth with 25 points.

    “High school tennis is an awesome time of year for me,” Ross said. “I love high school tennis, it is so much fun. I love high school tennis in terms of what it brings to the game of tennis, the whole team element of it which is so different for these boys.

    “They are playing individually all the rest of the year and they get this opportunity to play for a team. It’s a fast and furious nine-week season.”

    [divider]

    Class 4A boys tennis

    Defending champion: Kent Denver

    Runner-up: Colorado Academy

    Returning All-State players: Peter Hillary, Colorado Academy, sr. (1st); Ethan Pollock, Colorado Academy, sr. (1st); Jack Trueblood, Kent Denver, sr. (1st); Kevin Adams, Kent Denver, jr. (1st); Willie Gold, jr., Kent Denver (1st); Casey Ross, Kent Denver, so. (1st)

    Regular season begins: Aug. 14

    Regionals: Completed by Oct. 4.

    Championship: Oct. 9-11, Pueblo City Park Tennis Complex

  • With a new coach, Colorado Academy begins defense of field hockey title

    (Jordan Morey)
    Colorado Academy enters 2014 riding a 24-game winning streak. (CHSAA file photo)

    Colorado Academy heads into the approaching field hockey season with a past championship title only months behind, and hopeful of a repeat ahead.

    "Our team has a huge connection on and off the field. It leads to our success. I absolutely think we can win state again this year," said returning all-stater and 2013 player of the year, Sterre Van Ede.

    The Mustangs haven’t lost a game since their 2011 season, a span of 35 games (33-0-2). That includes a current 24-game winning streak which dates to the 2012 season and comprises the past two championships.

    Last year, Colorado Academy finished 17-0-0, and beat Cherry Creek in the final.

    Sterre Van Ede.
    Sterre Van Ede.

    "Both Cherry Creek and Palmer (Ridge) have athletic girls who run very fast," Van Ede said. "And Kent (Denver) is always strong skillfully when we play them."

    In fact, those three teams — along with Colorado Academy — comprise the top four teams in CHSAANow.com’s preseason ranking released Monday. The Mustangs are No. 1.

    Daan Polders, the Netherlands native who coached the Mustangs to their past two championships, will not return for the 2014 season. Instead, Australian Veronica Scott will take over the squad.

    Scott, who has played professional field hockey in Belgium for seven seasons and coached youth overseas, came to the United States two seasons ago and began coaching at Wake Forest. This will be her first season with a high school team.

    "When I came here, I was impressed with the U.S. field hockey scene," Scott said, "but I realized that we needed good coaches at the high school level. Many athletes are arriving at college with a lack of fundamentals.

    "I’m excited to see what potential there is on this team with Stere as a bonus, and everyone bringing something to the table."

    Scott’s coaching style will be similar to Polders, as both bring international field hockey experience to Colorado Academy.

    "I don’t think our team will go under a drastic change, though every coach is different," Van Ede said.

    [divider]

    Field hockey preview

    Defending champion: Colorado Academy

    Runner-up: Cherry Creek

    Returning All-State players: Akiko Mitchell, Sr, Mountain Vista (1st); Julia Murphy, Sr, Colorado Academy (1st); Claire Stemper, Jr, Regis Jesuit (1st); Fiona Sullivan, Sr, Denver East (1st); Sterre Van Ede, Sr, Colorado Academy (1st).

    Regular season begins: August 21

    Playoffs begin: October 20

    Championship: October 25 at All-City Stadium (Denver)

  • Tom Robinson named CHSAA Associate Commissioner

    Tom Robinson
    Tom Robinson

    AURORA — Tom Robinson, Assistant Commissioner for the Colorado High School Activities Association for the past 13 years, has been named Associate Commissioner of the organization, CHSAA Commissioner Paul Angelico announced.

    “Tom has had a long and distinguished career as an educator, official and coach. His 43 years in education are marked with great accomplishments. Tom’s leadership in officiating has help the Association see better training and greater accountability for officials in all sports,” Angelico said. “He will maintain these duties, in addition to providing support to the Commissioner’s office.”

    “I’m totally surprised and humbled by all this. I will do my best to further assist Paul and this important organization in any way I can,” Robinson said.

    Robinson started at the CHSAA in 2001 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.

    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).

    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.

    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.

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

    He and his wife, Cleo Parker Robinson, have shared 44 years of marriage.

  • Fall season in full swing as practice opens in all sports

    State volleyball
    (Kevin Keyser/KeyserImages.com)

    Here we go. The season is officially underway for every fall sport as of Monday morning.

    Boys golf has been allowed to practice for a week, but the remaining fall sports had to wait until Monday to kick things off. Joining the fray now are boys and girls cross country, field hockey, football, gymnastics, boys soccer, softball, spirit, boys tennis and volleyball.

    Boys golf’s meets started last Thursday. The rest of the sports aren’t far behind now.

    Softball can also begin scrimmages Monday, and then games on Friday. Boys tennis can begin scrimmages and matches on Thursday.

    Cross country, field hockey, gymnastics, boys soccer, spirit and volleyball can scrimmage starting Saturday. Each of those sports then begin competition on Aug. 21.

    Football is allowed to scrimmage on Aug. 21. That also marks the start of Zero Week, traditionally a light schedule ahead of Week 1. Teams no longer require CHSAA permission to schedule games during Zero Week. Week 1 games are Aug. 28.

    Boys golf has the first championships of the 2014-15 season, Sept. 29-30. Football’s final title games — those of class 3A, 4A and 5A — are Nov. 29. Spirit closes the fall season out with its championships Dec. 5-6.

    For detailed dates on all sports throughout the coming school year, visit the 2014-15 calendar.

  • Restart procedure altered in boys lacrosse

    Valor Christian Steamboat Springs boys lacrosse
    (Mark Adams)

    INDIANAPOLIS, IN — Restarts by the defensive team no longer will be required to take place outside the goal area in high school boys lacrosse, so long as any player is not within 5 yards of the ball carrier.

    This revision in Rule 4-22 was one of 11 changes recommended by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Boys Lacrosse Rules Committee at its July 21-23 meeting in Indianapolis. The committee’s recommendations were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

    On a violation by the offensive team where the defensive team is to be awarded the ball, the defensive team no longer has to restart play outside the goal area. With this revision, the defensive team could now restart play from the goal area or in the crease.

    “This change will allow the defense to restart play more quickly and will keep the game moving,” said Kent Summers, director of performing arts and sports and liaison to the rules committee. “It also addresses risk minimization by maintaining the requirement for all players to be at least 5 yards from the ball carrier on the restart.”

    Other changes concerned with minimizing the risk of injury include Rules 1-7-3 and 2-1-3. In Rule 1-7-3 concerning the crosse, any strings or leathers will be limited to a hanging length of 2 inches. In addition, any additional strings or laces (e.g., shooting strings, V channels) must be located within 4 inches of the top of the crosse. No more than one side-wall string on each side is allowed.

    “This revision will allow the ball to become dislodged more easily, thus reducing the risk of slashes and cross-checks used to dislodge the ball,” Summers said. “This rules change will create more active play and improve passing.”

    With a revision in Rule 2-1-3, a game no longer can be continued if a team has fewer than seven on-field players because of lack of available players, injuries, penalties, etc. The result of the game shall be determined by the state association or appropriate sponsoring authority.

    Another change approved by the Boys Lacrosse Rules Committee involved the duties and authority of the Chief Bench Official (CBO). Rule 2-7-2 now states that the CBO “shall supervise and have complete jurisdiction over the timekeeper, penalty timekeepers, scorers, coaches, substitutes and any other persons within the bench areas, the special substitution area and the penalty box.”

    This rule also will now include the procedure for the CBO to call violations and apply appropriate penalties, as well as how to inform the on-field officials when violations occur.

    Following are other changes approved by the NFHS Boys Lacrosse Rules Committee (rule references are from the 2014 NFHS Boys Lacrosse Rules Book).

    • Rule 1-6-2: Added the following procedure to check to make sure the ball can easily roll out of the head of the crosse – “ . . . With the ball in the crosse, horizontal to the ground at the deepest point of the pocket, tip the crosse forward 90 degrees to ensure that the ball rolls out of the top end of the head.”
    • Rule 2-10-1: Balls on the bench side are needed only at the table and not along the sideline.
    • Rule 3-1-2: More clearly defined when the running clock begins in those games where the score differential reaches 12 goals or more.
    • Rule 5-5: A player using a crosse found to be illegal for not meeting any required specification other than a deep pocket will receive a three-minute non-releasable penalty (except hanging string length and end caps as in Rule 1-7-3). Also, any crosse ruled illegal and resulting in a three-minute penalty will remain in the table area for the remainder of the game.
    • Rule 6-4: Added “with his feet no wider than shoulder-width apart” to the section on illegal offensive screening.
    • Rule 6-5-2e: The 30-second penalty has been erased in situations when a goal is scored by the opponent.
    • Rule 6-5-2w: “Take a dive or feigning a slash to the head or body in order to deceive the official and draw a penalty” was added to the examples of illegal procedure.

    A total of 101,687 boys participated in lacrosse during the 2012-13 season according to the NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey.