(Photo courtesy of Theresa Scott)

When Theresa Scott and her husband, AJ, lived on the grounds of the United State Air Force Academy, they were housed right near Air Academy High School.

They had just two kids then: Josh and Jordan.

Several years and three kids later, the Scott family no longer lives on the Academy grounds, but Theresa will be a regular around Air Academy once again.

The Kadets named Scott as their new girls basketball coach on Thursday. She takes over for Phil Roiko, who retired at the conclusion of the 2019-20 season.

She has several years of coaching experience in her past, but spent the majority of her time in recent years watching her sons compete in high school athletics. Four of the five boys played basketball at Lewis-Palmer High School, each winning a state title.

All four continued their playing careers in college.

And now Scott wants to get back into the coaching world and is excited to jump on at Air Academy and continue the program’s trend of successful seasons.

“A lot of the girls are soccer players and they’re smart players,” Scott said. “I can’t wait to get to work with them. They have a lot of heart. I’ve watched film and they have a ton of heart and that’s something that’s harder to train into them than skills.”

The Kadets won their only girls basketball title in 2012 and advanced to the Class 4A Final 4 in 2019. In 2020-21, they’ll play in the combined 5A/4A PPAC league.

There has been a bit of a layoff since Scott has sat on a coaching bench (including varsity assistant stops at Lewis-Palmer and The Classical Academy) but she’s not overly concerned especially considering that her family has deep basketball roots.

When asked if she was likely to get unsolicited advice from her boys, she laughed it off and said any suggestions she takes from them she will likely reach out for.

“They’ve all asked me different questions about what I thought I would do,” Scott said. “In fact, one of them was asking last night. I’ve already told them I thought it would be fun to see what their take on it would be. As I remind myself of drills and stuff, there’s a lot I can ask them about. I really respect my boys’ level of basketball IQ.”

It has to be hereditary. Scott played basketball at the Air Force Academy and then raised a family that never looked out of place on the court. With them all out of the house, she’s embarking on a new journey of educating kids about a game her family has always loved.

(Jack Eberhard/JacksActionShots.com)

Cherry Creek senior Jack Moss has been named Colorado’s Gatorade player of the year in baseball.

Moss, a first baseman and outfielder who is committed to Arizona State, has a 3.92 GPA and is the president of Cherry Creek’s Student Athlete Advisory Committee. He has volunteered for Habitat for Humanity, and at a homeless shelter and food bank.

“Jack is one of the hardest workers I have ever coached,” said Cherry Creek coach Marc Johnson. “He is always honing his craft. He realizes if he is not getting better, someone else is. He takes pride in getting bigger, faster and stronger.”

As a junior last season, Moss hit .490 with 31 RBIs, 13 doubles and a home run.

Moss is the 10th baseball player from Cherry Creek to win the award, and the first since Griffin Jax won it in 2013. Former Bruin Darnell McDonald was a two-time selection in 1996 and 1997, and was the national player of the year as a senior.

Cherry Creek baseball is the most awarded program in Colorado in the history of the Gatorade award, across any sport. No other team has had more honorees.

He becomes the 20th athlete from Cherry Creek to win a Gatorade award.

In April, Gatorade announced that it would continue to honor spring sport athletes despite the cancellation of the season nationwide.

(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

INDIANAPOLIS — Measures to reduce the risk of injury for participants and to provide an additional scenario for instant replay usage comprise the prominent components of the 2020-21 high school ice hockey rules changes.

The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Ice Hockey Rules Committee proposed a total of five rules modifications as a result of its meeting April 27-28, which were all subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors. The committee’s meeting was held in an online format to comply with current health safety guidelines.

“I commend the committee for adapting its meeting to an online format, its continued focus on minimizing risk for players and its overall efforts to support high school hockey,” said Dan Schuster, NFHS director of educational services and liaison to the Ice Hockey Rules Committee.

One of the risk-minimization changes was made to Rule 3-2, through which a more severe penalty may now be assessed to a player wearing skates that are deemed “dangerous.” Previously, a player with dangerous skates was given a warning and an opportunity to return to the game once the issue was corrected. In 2020-21, a first offense will warrant a game misconduct penalty.

Under Rule 7-6-1, a player who strikes an opponent with his or her hand may now receive a major penalty at the discretion of the official. Traditionally, improper hand contact that was not considered to be fighting constituted a minor penalty.

State associations that have authorized an instant replay system during games may now utilize it to review infractions that involve student-athlete ejections. This clause was added to Rule 9-13 as an accompaniment to the pre-existing instant replay situations, which include reviewing goals and undetected goals and determining the correct amount of time on the game clock.

“If a state so chooses to adopt this as part of its replay policy, it will allow review to ensure the correct player is removed in an ejection situation,” Schuster said. “An ejection, in some cases, can be as critical to a game as a goal. This will give state associations the flexibility to review this important moment in a game.”

Risk minimization was also the focus in Rule 7-13-3, where language was added to prohibit a player from moving an opponent’s glove, tooth or mouth protector that has fallen on the ice for the purpose of keeping it from the opponent’s possession. The stick was the only piece of equipment specified within the original version of the rule.

Finally, a subtle change was made to Rule 3-4-2 to clarify the purpose of the throat/neck protector as a “laceration” protector.

According to the 2018-19 NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey, more than 35,000 boys participate in ice hockey in 1,638 high schools across the country, and more than 9,600 girls participate in the sport in 642 schools.

(Kevin Keyser/KeyserImages.com)

Chaparral never has a problem showing up to support its athletic teams. The student section tends to be loud, giving the Wolverines a distinct home-field advantage.

And sometimes it even travels on the road.

Athletic director Rob Johnson speaks with pride when he talks about the support his students offer to each other in various athletic contests. In a chat with CHSAANow.com, Johnson talked about what makes Chaparral special, the importance of general school spirit and how essential it has become with everything happening in the world today.

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(PaulDiSalvoPhotography.com)

Question: As an athletic director, what is the biggest embodiment of school spirit in your eyes?

Johnson: Participation I think is number one. It’s getting kids involved in not only athletics but just involved in the school and whatever opportunities there are for kids get involved, whether it be a Red-Blue Crew, which is basically a group that kind of heads up our spirit and getting involved in those kinds of things.

So getting involved is number one because you need numbers. Spirit comes with numbers and that says to me as an athletic director, I think that’s one of my top priorities is to create a good energy, promote it and get kids involved in any way we can to can to have good school spirit.

Q: I’ve been to some of your away games, like an away volleyball game at Lewis-Palmer and I’m always kind of stunned with the turnout of your students for an away game that’s not Legend or somewhere that’s right next door. Why is your school a school that’s able to travel so well?

Johnson: I think a lot of is that it’s a culture and specifically you talk about volleyball, having that culture. And then part of that goes back to T.R. Ellis, our original volleyball coach, who created this super fans group who’s also part of the Red-Blue Crew. That started with volleyball and they kind of just transferred throughout the whole school year.

Volleyball itself has a culture of creating that. It’s in the fall so it’s during football and it’s a really good time to create that early energy for the kids to travel. And part of the rules was if you’re going to be officially be a super fan and get a super fan t-shirt, then if there were some rules that you had to go to certain away games and be involved in all these different things. So there were some expectations with it, which is good.

I think you needed to kind of give them that little push and then the goal is to get that energy to go to every sport throughout the year, which it doesn’t always happen. There are times where you know not every team that’s playing is going to have an away crowd. Some of it is just the culture of the specific program too. That’s, that’s where the coach has got to come in and create that culture.

(Kevin Keyser/KeyserImages.com)

Q: What makes your group of student fans so unique from others that we see throughout the state?

Johnson: It’s our kids. There’s a pipeline of these kids that have come through with younger siblings and they see that energy. They see those volleyball games. And then you have middle school kids sitting in the bleachers of a basketball game and football games, they’re seeing how it happens. That goes back to our culture and then really honestly the best years we ever had with spirit is junior and seniors who just literally take it over and it’s never an adult pushing it.

It’s eventually the kids who really care about the school, care about their culture and and just want to have fun and they engage other people. Those are the kids that in groups that really take our school to another level in terms of school spirit engagement. It comes down to our kids for sure.

Q: If there are no adults involved, how are you making sure that they maintain that high level of spirit while also maintaining the core of sportsmanship and values that come with educational athletics?

Johnson: That’s a good point. We have a great administrative staff. Our student government representative was a huge part of the Red-Blue Crew. There’s definitely an adult presence for sure with all of us adults being on the same page and connecting and communicating well, but just being present, being with the kids and when they see our admin team and on the road they realize that we’re in this with them.

We’re in this together. So it’s a team effort for sure. Just presence. You have to have a good presence.

(Kevin Keyser/KeyserImages.com)

Q: How vital do you think school spirit is in a time like what we’re living in right now?

Johnson: That’s a good question. I think it’s going to even improve it. I think kids are realizing how much they missed the school. They miss their friends and being around that energy you talk about. So, I think it’s going to improve and it is vital. I think kids need it right now more than anything. And by the time fall hits and I hope to gosh we’re playing games, I think for every school it’s going to be real exciting for all of us.

Q: Do you see any incoming juniors or seniors right now trying to take that on and maintain that Chaparral camaraderie, even though the kids can’t quite be around each other or be around their coaches or be around their teachers?

Johnson: Yeah, there’s definitely a group of them. I don’t know if I have that list of names yet. We’re always looking at who’s going to be next year. You can kind of tell by the way they manage the crowds and how many games they go to. That student government and that Red-Blue Crew, those two different groups are always setting the stage for that. And that’s already starting for sure.

There’s always a small group of probably five or six kids that just kind of take it over here. So yeah, I can picture them right now and we’ll see. Again, that’s one of those things we try to lay back and not force it because then all of a sudden it feels forced. We want the kids that if that’s their passion and they want to run with it, we’ll support them. That’s where their buy-in comes from.

Q: What is your vision of the first Chaparral sporting event look like after all this?

Johnson: Whatever one it is, I envision it with adults as well, but a really big turnout which will have really good positive energy. I don’t think it will be anything of an “Us versus You” situation. It’s just that we’re all — both schools — are in this together. Let’s have a blast and just make some noise.

(Kevin Keyser/KeyserImages.com)

(File photo)

The annual July CHSAA Student Leadership Conference has been converted to a virtual event which will take place on July 15.

Due to the current Covid-19 pandemic, an in-person event was not a possibility. Traditionally the event was held on the Colorado State University campus in Fort Collins but was moved to the Hotel Elegantè Conference and Event Center in Colorado Springs for 2020.

“We were excited to bring a new format at a new location to our Membership in 2020,” said Justin Saylor, the CHSAA assistant commissioner in charge of Student Leadership. “A lot of time and hard work went into converting the event to a conference model with an enhanced curriculum. While it is unfortunate we will have to wait another year to make this happen, the additional time to plan and share ideas will only make for a better event in 2021.”  

The virtual conference agenda is still being hashed out but will include a mix of different online platforms over the course of one day. Breakout sessions, speakers, awards, and a variety of other learning opportunities will highlight the event.

“It has been heartbreaking for students and advisors to see both Advisor U and now the Summer Conference cancelled due to Covid-19,” said Rashaan Davis, the chair of the Student Leadership advisory committee. “While our in-person attendance may have been cancelled, I am confident that our virtual event will be just as inspiring and educational. Now, more than ever, leadership is needed in our schools.”

More information, including how to register, will be sent directly to schools and advisors. Questions should be directed to Justin Saylor.

Jeffco Stadium
(Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

LAKEWOOD — Jeffco Stadium and the North Area Athletic Complex will turn on their stadium lights this week.

Jeffco Stadium
(Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

Jeffco Stadium (6th Ave. and Kipling St., Lakewood) would have hosted the three-day, all-classification state track meets starting Thursday, May 21. The spring sports season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 61-year-old stadium will turn on its stadium lights at 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday (May 21-23) to honor the state track meet, graduating Class of 2020 and student-athletes who missed out on the spring athletics season.

The North Area Athletic Complex (HWY 93 and 64th Pkwy., Arvada) will also join the statewide Be The Light campaign by turning on its lights at 8:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday (May 21 and 22).

A look at football’s coaching changes so far this offseason.

The championship database has a new, updated look. It now includes more detailed information for each year, and new ways to search the database.

(Paul Soriano)

INDIANAPOLIS — Changes introduced for the 2020-21 high school girls gymnastics season again explore composition thanks to efforts to streamline the category for efficient evaluation.

The clean-up work to composition, in addition to standardizing fall time throughout the rules, were among 14 rules changes recommended by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Girls Gymnastics Rules Committee. All rules changes were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors and cover the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons.

“The rules committee, which is made up of coaches, judges, and state administrators, worked as a team to make these changes to the rules book in an effort to enhance the sport of gymnastics,” said Stephanie Hauser, Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) assistant director and chair of the NFHS Girls Gymnastics Rules Committee. “The insight from each of the committee members added perspective to the group discussion with the focus centered on the value of education-based gymnastics.”

As it had two years ago, the rules committee placed an emphasis on composition, thereby, impacting Rules 7-3-3, 8-3-3 and 9-3-3. This year’s tweaks eliminate redundant language and streamline the composition category for ease of use.

“The intent of the composition category is to evaluate the structure of the routine,” said Julie Cochran, NFHS director of sports and liaison to the Girls Gymnastics Rules Committee. “By reducing the number of deductions and combining similar deductions, the revised composition category will provide a more efficient method of evaluation.”

Balance beam and floor exercise composition requirements had redundant categories eliminated, while the choice of elements category in composition was redefined and increased to 0.30 on uneven bars. Cochran said the committee believes its guidelines for composition deductions will better assist judges in identifying composition deficiencies and, consequently, result in appropriate deductions.

The standardization of a 45-second fall time was among other significant changes addressed by the rules committee. As part of Rule 8-2-1, dealing with balance beam, the committee made modifications allowing gymnasts 45 seconds to remount after a fall as opposed to the previous 30-second time limit.

The newly adopted 45-second fall time also affects Rule 2-2-1b(13). The rule now indicates a gymnast’s exercise will be terminated if the gymnast exceeds the 45-second fall time limit on the uneven bars and beam. According to Cochran, the implementation of a 45-second fall time strengthens the rules committee’s emphasis on athlete safety.

Other new rules for 2020-21 focus on vault equipment and deductions, as well as clarification for the awarding of Advanced High Superior (AHS) credit to an element.

Rule 6-1-1e now specifies that tape, chalk or other substances may not be used on the Vault Table.  Changes to the vault category also include Rule 6-4-2a, which specifies gymnasts can receive up to a 0.30 deduction for failure to pass through the vertical.

The committee also introduced new language clarifying the amount of twist needed for an element to be awarded AHS credit in Difficulty and Bonus.

Both Rules 8-5c and 9-5c now state that AHS elements listed in the rules book with a 1/1, 1½ or 2/1 twist or more must add a ½ to the listed AHS to be considered different. Adding a ¼ may still be awarded an AHS in difficulty but will not make the element different when awarding AHS’s in the Bonus category. Balance Beam leap and jump elements listed in the rules book with a ½ or ¾ twist may be considered different when an additional ¼ twist is added.

Cochran emphasized that “the rules committee continues to focus on implementing rules that feature an objective approach to evaluating routines as well as supporting efforts toward risk minimization.”

A complete listing of the gymnastics rules changes, including edited definitions, will be available on the NFHS website at www.nfhs.org. Click on “Activities & Sports” at the top of the home page and select “Gymnastics-Girls.”

Girls gymnastics featured 18,658 participants throughout 1,578 schools, according to the 2018-19 NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey.

(Kevin Keyser/KeyserImages.com)

The Colorado High School Activities Association has convened a specialized task force to discuss the return of athletics and activities.

The CHSAA Resocialization Task Force will begin meeting in June, and will consist of educational leaders representing all levels of administration, classifications and state geography; CHSAA Sports Medicine Advisory members; as well as the members of the Board of Directors, and the CHSAA staff.

The purpose of the task force is to explore the many options on if, when or how, activities and athletics can resume for Colorado high schools.

Commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green announced the purpose of the task force in an email to all schools on Thursday. She has already received an outpouring of interest of educational leaders willing to serve.

“The immediate and overwhelming response speaks volumes to amazing educational leaders across our state, who are committed to Colorado students and working with CHSAA to create this experience, knowing the challenges we will face,” said Blanford-Green. “Each and everyone that has reached out to members of our staff would elevate the discussion, so we will have another tough decision to make.”

In her email to schools, Blanford-Green wrote: “Every single sports entity from the professionals to little league are currently focused on how to resume participant engagement within a safe environment, free of health threats and liability. If resocialization was easy, we would all be watching current events instead of re-runs of the 2004 Athens Olympics.”

She added: “My goal, and that of the CHSAA staff, is to remain laser focused on the next steps for resuming CHSAA programs in a safe, educational, environment while mitigating operational efficiencies to reduce financial stressors for our membership.”

This Resocialization Task Force will not be pressured to commit to definitive dates or timelines, but is assembled to provide guidance to the Association that is consistent with Federal and State mandates.

“The term Resocialization was coined by the NCAA, I paused at first, but then I realized its overarching meaning, which is beyond just a game or a contest,” Blanford-Green said. “It’s about coming back to the culture of athletics and activities: teammates and socialization, and the support system that extends beyond. Resocialization embodies all the attributes of education-based participation that we all want and need to safely return.”

Blanford-Green will look at keeping this task force in place throughout the 2020-21 season.

The group will have a clear set of questions and topics to examine beginning in June:

• Do students need to be fully engaged with in-person learning before the Association resumes activities and athletics?
• Should CHSAA consider offering some activities and athletics if Federal, state, medical and safety guidelines can be met at the local and Association level?
• Should CHSAA consider moving some activities and athletics to later start dates, such as September, October, or January, and consider extending the end of the season further than the traditional activities calendar?
• Should CHSAA consider adjusting some activities and athletics to be conducted earlier or later than their traditional season?
• Should we consider online participation for some activities in place of physical activation?
• What safety measures will need to be in place to resume specific and/or all activities?

“Adjusting to the unimaginable impact that the pandemic has had on education and high school athletics will allow us to think outside the box and emerge as stronger leaders for students and programs across the state of Colorado,” Blanford-Green said.