Colorado decides to keep high school football in the spring

After a day of discussion, the state athletic association unanimously votes to keep 2020-21 plan intact.

Thumbnail image of this articles writer: Mitch Stephens
Story updated Sept. 9, 11 a.m.

The Colorado High School Activities Association met Tuesday night to reconsider its revamped 2020-21 plan. Ultimately, the Board of Directors decided to stay the course.

A day after Gov. Jared Polis and the CHSAA considered returning football to the fall in light of declining coronavirus numbers and public outcry, the Board of Directors unanimously voted not to adjust the Aug. 4-approved sports calendar, which slotted gridiron action in the spring.

"We understand that our school communities would like to return to all levels of normalcy," CHSAA Board of Directors President Troy Baker said in a release. "We listened to all parties and the voices of our membership resonated strongly to support the plan as approved in August. The plan aligns with the CHSAA mission. All students have an opportunity to play a season during the 2020-21 school year."

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That August plan moved football, along with field hockey, gymnastics, boys soccer, unified bowling and girls volleyball to a Season C that runs from March 1 to May 1.

Local coaches had started a petition on Twitter entitled "Let Them Play," which had nearly 14,000 signatures as of Tuesday afternoon. The movement appeared to gather momentum last week when Michigan reversed its 2020-21 plan and returned football to the fall.

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On Monday night, CHSAA commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green released a statement saying the state was reconsidering and has been working with health and educational officials.

"Over the course of the past week, this has prompted conversations at the state level to see if some outdoor fall sports could resume under the state safety guidelines, including variances that would be needed to make this happen," Blanford-Green wrote in the release. "We appreciate their willingness to keep the dialogue open."

That dialogue, however, ended Tuesday night with the unanimous vote to keep things as is.

Colorado remains one of 17 states plan to play football to the spring. As of Saturday, 23 states have already kicked off games with relatively small positive coronavirus tests reported. Ten more states plan to begin play this fall, including Kentucky and Pennsylvania this week.
Cherry Creek celebrating its 2019 5A state championship.
Photo by Theodore Stark
Cherry Creek celebrating its 2019 5A state championship.