The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) approved the Colorado High School Activities Association’s (CHSAA) request for a winter sports variance, allowing high schools to proceed with winter sports seasons with a modified approach for COVID-19 safety. The decision is good news for high schools across the state, especially rural districts where school sports are part of the rhythm of the community.
There are general guidance plans as well as sport-specific modifications, listed in various sports’ 2021 bulletins released by Assistant Commissioners Bert Borgmann and Justin Saylor. Season B sport include basketball, ice hockey, skiing, spirit (cheer and dance), girls’ swimming and diving, and wrestling. Participants, coaches, and managers for all leagues should not attend practice or race if they are exhibiting any symptoms of coronavirus or have been in contact with someone with COVID-19 in the past 14 days. CDPHE has also set dial-specific guidelines for leagues competing in different counties.
CHSAA’s plan also includes provisions for daily symptom screenings through a CHSAA symptom tracker, strict mask enforcement, and county-specific outdoor and indoor event guidance. CDPHE has also advised athletic scouts and recruiters to reexamine athlete evaluations in order to avoid unsafe practices and competitions, which may put athletes and programs at risk.
Most sports are reducing team and heat sizes, eliminating scrimmages and foundation meets, encouraging virtual and dual meets for appropriate sports, implementing thorough sanitization plans, and reducing locker room use to restroom use and changing when necessary. Leagues will also need to meet each county’s specific guidelines based on their dial level, including venue capacity, practice protocols, and locker room use.
CHSAA COVID-19 Sports Dial , Courtesy Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
Current mandates for venue and capacity per state public health orders are organized by dial level:
- Level Green – Protect Our Neighbors: 50 percent venue capacity or 500 people, whichever is fewer, excluding coaches and referees/umpires (or other staff required for player safety).
- Level Blue – Caution: Groups of up to 50 players, excluding coaches or referees/umpires (or other staff required for player safety) at a time per court or per field.
- Level Yellow – Concern: Groups of up to 25 players, excluding coaches or referees/umpires (or other staff required for player safety) at a time per court or per field.
- Level Orange – High Risk: Groups of up to 10 players, excluding coaches or referees/umpires (or other staff required for player safety) at a time per court or per field, maintaining six feet of physical distance between non-household contacts.
- Level Red – Severe Risk: Groups of up to 10 players, excluding coaches or referees/umpires (or other staff required for player safety) at a time per court or per field, maintaining six feet of physical distance between non-household contacts. Only outdoor recreational sports are permitted at this level.
- Level Purple – Extreme Risk: Groups of up to 10 players, excluding coaches or referees/umpires (or other staff required for player safety) at a time per court or per field, maintaining six feet of physical distance between non-household contacts. Only outdoor recreational sports are permitted at this level.
Each approved league as listed by CDPHE may decide whether they’d like to participate, and leagues can apply for the season’s organized sports by filling out this form. Completed forms should be sent to mara.brosy-wiwchar@state.co.us. Additionally, schools should wait until they have returned to in-person or hybrid education models before returning to extracurriculars like athletics.
Gyms and sporting facilities can host events up to the appropriate dial capacity unless hosting a CHSAA variance-contracted and approved league for a CHSAA Season B sport. In this case, facilities can host to the capacity of the variance, and the approved league will be responsible for contract compliances, including mask and face covering enforcement, symptom screenings, and any other sport-specific requirements.
More detailed information about each sport’s COVID-19 protocols can be found in CHSAA’s Season B Guidance plan.
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