Colorado became the ninth state to move its 2020 football season to 2021 due to COVID-19. As part of a modified four-season plan, the Colorado High School Activities Association announced Tuesday it would push back football — along with field hockey, gymnastics, boys soccer, unified bowling and girls volleyball — to Season C beginning March 1 and ending with the playoffs by May 1.
The state associated had the plan ready for weeks while waiting for approval from Gov. Jared Polis. On Tuesday, the CHSAA unleashed the plan that organizes seasons into approximate seven-week chunks with regular schedules and playoffs being reduced.
Season A includes softball, boys golf, boys tennis and cross country and begins as early as Aug. 10 and concludes by Oct. 17. Season B (basketball, ice hockey, skiing, spirit, girls swimming and wrestling) runs from Jan. 4 to March 6. Season D (baseball, girls golf, lacrosse, girls soccer, boys swimming, girls tennis, boys volleyball and track and field) starts April 26 and concludes in late June.
"The health and safety of our student participants, coaches, officials and essential personnel, including volunteers is a primary concern for the return of interscholastic athletics and activities," said CHSAA Commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green in a release. "We are very grateful for the state, health and educational leaders for their shared commitment of a return to these highly beneficial education programs when it is deemed safe for all school communities."
James Walker II, Cherry Creek
File photo by Theodore Stark
Reactions from football coaches were mixed in statements included in the CHSAA release.
"Certainly not the decision that we were hoping for but we are really looking forward to providing student-athletes with opportunities to compete in educational based activities in an unprecedented time," Pueblo South football coach Ryan Goddard said. "Allowing our kids to compete is what's important, the date on the calendar is secondary."
Said Cherry Creek football coach Dave Logan: "While I am disappointed we cannot play this fall, I appreciate the fact, given the parameters of engagement, that CHSAA has done everything they can do to allow all of our students in all of our extracurricular activities to have a season in the 2020-21 school year."
Earlier Tuesday, Minnesota also announced its plan to move football to the spring, joining California, Illinois, Maryland, Nevada, New Mexico, Virginia and Washington along with the District of Columbia to move the sport back from the fall season.
Of the remaining 41 states, 37 plan to play the fall season as scheduled, though 10 of those will push back those seasons by weeks.
