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COVID In Colorado: CHSAA Delays 'Season B' Sports As Coronavirus Cases Rise

DENVER (CBS4) - The start of Season B sports in Colorado has been delayed. The Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) said that a letter, sent by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, indicates that the season will not be permitted to begin on Jan. 4, 2021.

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Season B had been scheduled to begin on that date according to the CHSAA 2020-2021 sports calendar. CDPHE said that no variances will be given to CHSAA sports at this time.

In the letter, Jill Hunsaker Rye, Executive Director of the CDPHE wrote, "The COVID-19 pandemic has reached an all time high in terms of disease transmission both in Colorado and around the nation. The Colorado School of Public Health estimates that 1 in 40 Coloradans are currently infectious. Hospital admissions are steadily increasing, and the past six weeks have produced a significant increase in the number of deaths statewide. With the Thanksgiving holiday just behind us and the impending December holiday festivities, we are very concerned that the rate of transmission will continue to increase.

"At this time, we do not have enough information about what disease incidence and hospitalization capacity will look like in January, and therefore are unable to make a determination regarding indoor high school athletics in Season B. Season B high school sports would operate based on the restrictions in the level of the Dial in the county in which the school resides. For counties in Level Red, this means no indoor group sports are authorized."

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"In addition, our top goal for the new year is to support a return to in-person learning. Season B sports are conducted mainly indoors during the colder months, which reduces the ability to assure social distancing. This in turn may further promote disease transmission at a time when we need to ensure that students and teachers are protected and that in-person learning is the highest priority.

"We welcome an ongoing conversation regarding the indoor requests at a future date as more schools safely open their indoor facilities for students."

CHSAA is proposing a Feb. 1 start date for Season B. CHSAA, CDPHE and Gov. Jared Polis' COVID Response Team plan to meet again in mid-January to continue discussion of Season B and reassess COVID-19 data at the time. Variances will not be considered prior to that date.

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Additional Information From CHSAA:

Proposed CHSAA Calendar (subject to variance approval)

Season B:

  • 7 Weeks
  • Practice: January 25
  • Competition: February 1-March 20

Sports:

  • Boys & Girls Basketball
  • Boys & Girls Skiing
  • Boys & Girls Wrestling
  • Girls Swim & Dive
  • Ice Hockey
  • Spirit (Championship Weekend March 25-27)

Season C:

  • 7 Weeks
  • Practice: March 15
  • Competition: March 22-May 8

Sports:

  • Boys Soccer
  • Field Hockey
  • Girls Volleyball
  • Gymnastics
  • Unified Bowling
  • *Football (see dates below)

Season D:

  • 7 Weeks
  • Practice: May 3
  • Competition: May 10-June 26

Sports:

  • Baseball
  • Boys & Girls Lacrosse
  • Boys & Girls Track & Field
  • Boys Swim & Dive
  • Boys Volleyball
  • Girls Soccer
  • *Girls Golf (see dates below)
  • *Girls Tennis (see dates below)

More info:

  • Football: 9 Weeks (same as Season A Football)
    • Practice: March 4
    • Competition: March 15-May 15
  • Girls Golf: 10 Weeks (same as boys golf)
    • Practice: April 19
    • Competition: April 19-June 22
  • Girls Tennis: 7 weeks (same as Season D sports and Boys Tennis)
    • Practice: April 26
    • Competition: April 26-June 12
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