The Haxtun-Fleming Herald - What can we reason but from what we know? -Alexander Pope

On June 1, the Colorado High School Activities Association plans to lift the moratorium against all in-person condition sessions between coaches and high school athletes. The announcement came following a meeting last week with the CHSAA Resocialization Task Force.

“Starting on that day, any decisions regarding athletics and activities through the summer months will be made at the local school district level,” said CHSAA Commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green. “The CHSAA's administrative oversight for athletics and activities will resume when camps, clinics and fall sports practice dates are projected to begin.”

In an email to member schools, Blanford-Green noted that the situation is not a free-for-all. “Our schools will face some challenges, no different than professional and collegiate sports to resume any level of student participation,” she noted.

Blanford-Green said each District’s individual date of return will be fully supported by the CHSAA and that each District’s administration will have to assess their own local situation and made the best decision based on the safety and well-being of their students and school personnel.

In the email to schools, the Commissioner provided suggested recommendations, referencing national, state and health guidelines to assist them with resuming activities and athletics while keeping safety standards and protocols a priority.

"There is light at the end of the tunnel," Blanford-Green said. "As with [the] reopening our country and our state, taking incremental steps within the mandated and suggested guidelines will be critical in ensuring the success of transitioning from virtual to in-person.”

"I have strongly recommended that each school or district have a comprehensive plan in place during this transition and that their school communities including participants, parents and especially coaches are informed of the expectations prior to physical contact or conducting in-person sessions," Blanford-Green said. "Our students, coaches, schools and the Association are ready to re-socialize back to participation. The importance of returning to education-based athletics and activities reaches beyond a contest or a perceived scholarship. It is about reconnecting our students — socially, emotionally and physically."

The CHSAA Resocialization Task Force plans to meet again after June 1 to begin discussions on athletics and activities for high school participation for the 2020-21 school year.