At first local spring sports were on hiatus until at least April 6, following the announcement last Thursday by the Colorado High School Activities Association.
However, CHSAA followed up this past Tuesday with an announcement that high school spring sports will be delayed until at least April 18.
The Colorado High School Activities Association, following the most recent recommendation of state and federal health officials, has announced changes in the spring sports and activities schedules.
“In light of Governor Jared Polis’ announcement Monday (March 16) afternoon where new restrictions were mandated to slow the advance of the COVID-19 virus narrowing the minimum standards for public gatherings, we are announcing that the Association will follow the guidelines that went into effect at 8:00 a.m. today and will remain in effect for 30 days,” CHSAA Commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green said. “This media and school advisory is to keep the membership apprised of the latest decisions from the CHSAA office.”
These updates include:
The Spring Sports moratorium is extended through April 18. CHSAA encourages schools to set stricter standards on student gatherings outside of the high school.
All CHSAA Music Events have been cancelled for 2020.
The CHSAA Hall of Fame, scheduled for April 14, has been cancelled.
The CHSAA Legislative Council meeting, scheduled for April 15, has been postponed pending changes in the public gathering restrictions.
The State Speech Tournament and Student Leadership Advisor U have been postponed until later in the spring pending changes in the public gathering restrictions.
The CHSAA office will remain closed until March 30, with staff working remotely from home.
The CHSAA will recognize individual participants from the CHSAA State Basketball Championships with a memento in the coming weeks to recognize their leadership and resolve during that week.
National and state decisions related to the COVID-19 virus are changing daily, even hourly, so new updates will be posted on CHSAANow.com and communicated via email to schools and media.
The Yuma City Recreation Department has suspended its activities until the original April 6 date as well.
Yuma High School Activities Director Michael Dischner noted that many other events also are in peril, such as prom and possibly graduation, though both of those events occur in May.
Numerous YHS students are scheduled to participate in State FCCLA and State FBLA conventions in April, and the State FFA Convention comes at the end of the school year.
Several students have qualified for the Colorado Engineering and Science Fair in early April at Colorado State University. However, CSU has suspended all large events on campus through April 10, so the decision has been made to have a virtual science fair.
The Yuma Drama Club’s spring production of “Chicago” also has been put on hiatus.
The YHS baseball team was scheduled to open its season Saturday at Haxtun. As of now it is not clear when, or if, the season will take place.
Dischner said he has not received any guidance from CHSAA since the announcement was made last Thursday.
“I would hope they would be open to extending the season at least to the end of June,” he said.
Track and field and girls golf also could be looking at a later ending to their seasons.
If CHSAA does allow the resumption of activities after April 6, there would need to be some time for the student/athletes to get back into playing shape.
“You can’t expect someone after three weeks of sitting around to just go out and run a 100-meter dash in a meet,” Dischner said.
Organized practices are not allowed, but there is nothing stopping the student/athletes from working out on their own.
“The kids need to try to throw on their own if they can,” baseball coach Brady Nighswonger said.
Track and field coach Lucas Lubbers said coaches still can communicate with their student/athletes, and provide voluntary workouts. He said when CHSAA made the announcement last Thursday, he was able to hand out a workout sheet.
“I told them ‘this is all in your hands now,’” Lubbers said.
Track athletes can stay in shape, and even practice some field events, but those that require equipment are out of luck, unless the athletes have their own, because the coaches cannot hand out equipment.
Girls golf coach Jenny Noble said that for now the team members will practice on their own if they want.
As for the scheduling aspect, Nighswonger noted the YHS baseball team will have missed nine or 10 games by the time April 6 rolls around, which is half the season. (The Pioneer has not followed up since CHSAA announced its new date of April 18. There’s was only so much time.)
“I don’t know if they’ll want you to pick up where your schedule leaves off,” he said. “The best option would be to push everything back a bit.”
“It’s crazy,” Dischner said. “I never thought I would see anything like this.”
