Adam Bright Assistant Commissioner
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Adam Bright Assistant Commissioner abright@chsaa.org
TO: COLORADO HIGH SCHOOL HEAD FOOTBALL COACHES
FROM: ADAM BRIGHT, CHSAA ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER
DATE: MAY 2021
RE: EARLY SEASON FOOTBALL PROCEDURES - RULES
Attached, please find items of information regarding pre-season procedures and the start of fall
2021 football practice. This information is shared with you in brief form and is not intended to be
a complete review of all rules.
The 2021 CHSAA Football Bulletin will be placed on the CHSAA web site (CHSAANow.com) by
August 1, 2021, found under Sports - Football. Please take the time to find the Football Bulletin
and review its contents prior to the start of fall practice.
After reviewing this document, if you have any questions, please consult with your athletic
director, review a copy of the CHSAA Bylaws and Constitution, or phone the CHSAA office. If
you have any questions, please seek an answer before a potential violation occurs.
Contact your officials' area director before August 1 if you are hosting a
scrimmage and want officials. Officials will be assigned on a first come first
served basis.
The CFOA needs officials to cover all levels of high school football. If you know
anyone interested in officiating high school football, please direct them to
http://www2.chsaa.org/officials/football/o_football.asp
Contact Requirements for the 2021 Season
CHSAA Football/Sports Medicine Committees
Summer Camp Memorial Day through July 31st. No pads or other components of regular football
uniforms except shoes, jersey and helmets may be worn by the players until the third day of team
camp. On the third day of the team camp, players may wear a full regular football uniform and
pads while engaging in blocking and tackling exercises that do not include physical contact
between players. On the fourth day, full player contact may begin.
Fall Camp August 2nd through August 7th. No pads or other components of regular football
uniforms except shoes, jersey and helmets may be worn by the players until the third day of team
camp. On the third day of the team camp, players may wear a full regular football uniform and
pads while engaging in blocking and tackling exercises that do not include physical contact
between players. On the fourth day, full player contact may begin. Teams participating in fall
camp will be allowed to continue in full pads once official practice starts on 8/9/2021 and will not
have to conduct another acclimation period. Also, fall camp teams may conduct a scrimmage on
either 8/13 or 8/14 with up to a total of four fall camp teams in attendance.
During the “Pre-Season” (all practices leading up to the first contest); football practice
(exclusive of 1 scrimmage) per team shall not exceed more than (3) days of contact per week
with no more than a total of ninety (90) minutes of contact practice over the course of those
three (3) days. No team shall allow for more than forty (40) minutes of contact on any one day.
During the “Regular-Season” and “Post-Season” (all practices that take place after the first
official contest); football practice per team shall not exceed more than (2) days of contact per
week with no more than a total of seventy-five (75) minutes of contact practice over the course
of those two (2) days. No team shall allow for more than forty (40) minutes of contact on any
one day.
The CHSAA uses the USA Football’s “Level of Contact” for the purposes of defining contact
in CHSAA football practices:
Definition of Levels of Contact:
1. Air – Players run a drill unopposed without contact.
2. Bags – Drill is run against a bag or another soft-contact surface.
3. Control – Drill is run at assigned speed until the moment of contact; one player is
pre-determined the ‘winner’ by the coach. Contact remains above the waist and
players stay on their feet.
4. Thud – Drill is run at assigned speed through the moment of contact; no pre-
determined ‘winner’. Contact remains above the waist, players stay on their feet and
a quick whistle ends the drill.
5. Live Action – Drill is run in game-like conditions and is the only time that players are
taken to the ground
For the purposes of this recommendation, “contact” will be defined as drills run at the Thud and
Live Action Level. Drills run at the Air Bags and Control level would not be considered contact.
Interpretation – During the regular-season a team may continue to dress in full pads for
practice, but may only participate in “Thud” drills, “Live Action” drills and game time
simulations no more than seventy-five minutes per team per week and no more than two days
during that week. It is assumed that when players are in shells (shorts, shoulder pads, and
helmets) no contact or simulations will occur. A team may participate in “air,” “bags,” and
“control” drills and simulations at any point.
The Pre-Season will simply expand this to ninety minutes per team per week and no more than
three days during that week.
At no time shall any team allow “contact” in excess of forty minutes on any one day.
CHSAA Sports Medicine Committee Requirements for Heat
Acclimatization and Early-Season Football
Acclimatization period is in place for all summer activities, starting May 1st through the
first day of formal practice and fall season.
Football requires during the acclimatization period.
• Practice is defined as time on the field including warm-up, stretching, practice and
conditioning.
• Single practice dates should not exceed 2 hours in length with an additional 25 minutes
added for water breaks. A minimum 2 water breaks should be incorporated each hour.
Water should be readily available at all times.
• With the adoption of the NFHS Calendar and additional pre-season practice dates, no
two-a-day practices are allowed.
• Helmets should be removed for water breaks during warm weather conditions or after
intense or prolonged exercise. This will help cool the core body temperature.
• Every coaching staff should have a heat index application downloaded so they may
monitor heat conditions at every practice.
• See the USA Football Heads Up link provided for detailed information on heat, hydration
and concussion. http://usafootball.com/health-safety/heat-preparedness
• New 2019-2020: Increase the allowable practice time for the regular season and post-season by
twenty minutes. The time will be allotted for dynamic warm-up and non-contact instructional time.
The dynamic warm-up and instructional time will be helmets only, no shoulder pads. The
instructional time will follow the USA Football Fundamentals model.
MAJOR CHANGES FROM LAST YEAR’S REPORT:
I. MAJOR CHANGES FROM LAST YEAR’S REPORT:
A. 6 man to add one week to regular season for 2021.
B. CSU-Pueblo to host Championships in 6Man through 3A for 2021.
II. RATIONALE:
A. Aligns 6 man to end on same weekend as man thru 2A.
B. Allows all classifications to play championship games at neutral site venue.
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS:
A. 2021 Summer Camps to have two options. Option one normal summer camp dates,
start official practice on 8/9/2021. Option two is fall camp start on 8/2 and roll directly
into official practice. Option two allows for a second scrimmage on 8/13-14, and
traditional scrimmage on 8/19-21.
CALENDAR Start of Formal CHSAA Practice: August 9, 2021 All players must have completed physicals and signed parent permission forms submitted to the athletic director prior to start of practice on this date. Players may start accumulating the required nine days of practice only after the start of practice on August 9th. Please note: You may have informal practice, camps/clinics prior to August 9, 2021 but no school protective equipment may be used (exception: Helmets), nor can these informal sessions, camps or clinics have mandatory attendance required (see CHSAA Bylaws, 1780 Physical Exams and 2300 Practice). Bags, shields, etc. are not considered to be protective equipment. Equipment Use Dates: Formal Practice Begins: August 9-10-11, – Shoes, jerseys and helmets may be worn, August 12-13 – Full uniform/pads, but no contact allowed between players (limited to hitting pads and control drills). Sleds and bags may be used on all scheduled practice dates. Saturday, August 14 – Full contact allowed. Reminder: All practice dates are limited to one-practice per day. Summer Equipment Issue Limitations (Article 33, rule 3310, Exception) The issuing of protective football equipment except during the formal sports season is a violation.
2021 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE DATES
CHSAA THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
WEEK 1 8/26/2021 8/27/2021 8/28/2021
WEEK 2 9/2/2021 9/3/2021 9/4/2021
WEEK 3 9/9/2021 9/10/2021 9/11/2021
WEEK 4 9/16/2021 9/17/2021 9/18/2021
WEEK 5 9/23/2021 9/24/2021 9/25/2021
WEEK 6 9/30/2021 10/1/2021 10/2/2021
WEEK 7 10/7/2021 10/8/2021 10/9/2021
WEEK 8 10/14/2021 10/15/2021 10/16/2021
WEEK 9 10/21/2021 10/22/2021 10/23/2021
WEEK 10 10/28/2021 10/29/2021 10/30/2021 *
WEEK 11 11/4/2021 11/5/2021 11/6/2021 **
* = End of Season 6man/8man/1A/2A/4A/5A
** = End of Season 3A
CHSAA WEEK 1 = NFHS WEEK 8
3310. EQUIPMENT DATES
3310.1No pads or other components of regular football uniforms except shoes, jerseys and helmets may be worn
by the players until the fourth day (exclusive of Sundays) of the formal sports season. On the third day of the formal
sports season, players may wear a full regular football uniform and pads while engaging in blocking and tackling
exercises that do not include physical contact between players.
(a) ISSUE RESTRICTIONS -- the issuing of protective football equipment except during the formal sports season
is a violation.
EXCEPTION 1: To allow individual players who participate in football exercises or drills while in shorts, 7 on 7
competitions, and 7 on 7 drills to use Colorado issued helmets under the following criteria:
1. The issuing of the football helmet is approved by the local school district.
2. Football helmets for drills and 7 on 7 may NOT be distributed before Memorial Day.
EXCEPTION 2: An individual or team camp may use Colorado high school-issued protective football equipment
under the following criteria:
1. The issuing of the equipment is approved by the local school district.
2. Camps must be conducted by a college/university, an appropriate commercial organization or
an individual high school.
a. High schools may develop their own team camp on site or at any other location.
3. The camp must show proof of liability insurance.
4. Camps must be for students and/or teams from a variety of different schools if it is conducted
by a college/university or an appropriate commercial organization. Players from a minimum of
six schools must be involved in the camp. Individual school camps limit participation to those
students who have completed the registration process for enrollment into that high school.
(Note: only students from the high school sponsoring the camp may participate).
5. The camp should be for a period of time that is typical for camps/clinics (3-5 days) at a
college/university or an appropriate commercial organization. Camps held at individual high
schools can be a maximum of 10 days at the individual school site over a period of 14 calendar
days.
6. Camps held at individual high schools will be allowed the same period of time as the
college/university camp guidelines listed above. They will follow the same progression prior to
attending, by developing a four-day camp which includes, two days in helmets, one-day full pads
with no player to player contact, and one day of full pads and full contact.
Schools may conduct a lower-level team camp concurrent with the varsity camp, or at a separate
time. An individual may only attend one ten-day team camp. If camps are held at separate
times and/or locations, the individual must choose to attend either the varsity or lower-level
camp. He/she cannot attend both.
If camps are run concurrently, the individual may only participate in either the varsity or lower-
level scrimmage. He/she cannot participate in both.
7. Issuing equipment for camps held at individual school sites will mirror the restrictions of the
formal football sports season. No pads or other components of regular football uniforms
except shoes, jerseys, and helmets may be worn by the players until the third day of the team
camp. On the third day of the team camp, players may wear a full regular football
uniform and pads while engaging in blocking and tackling exercises that do not include
physical contact between players. On the fourth day, full player-player contact may
begin.
8. COMMERCIAL/COLLEGE CAMP Schools may attend a camp conducted by a
college/university for a typical period (3-5 days). Prior to attending, high schools must
develop a four-day camp, which would include two days in helmets, one day of full-pads
with no player-to-player contact and one day of full-pads and full contact. The four-day
camp and the commercial/college camp must both fit within the 14-calendar day time
frame already established. The four-day lead up practices may not begin until Memorial
Day.
9. Equipment must be returned and collected immediately.
10. Equipment for team camps cannot be issued after August 1. 3310.2 Schools may issue equipment for ONE camp at any point from Memorial Day to August 1. Schools may not issue equipment to their team or any individual player for a second contact camp. The following questions are designed to provide clarification on the Summer Contact Camp Rule. They are actual questions that have been asked regarding the expanded rule. Q – Can a school hold both a team contact camp at a college and then have one on our campus? A – No. The Bylaw specifies one or the other. Q – Can a player attend both a full contact camp with his team and go to the Mile High Football Camp (or some camp like that for individual players)? A – Yes. This change does not affect an individual player’s ability to go to multiple individual skills camps if he is not issued school equipment for a 2nd camp. Q – When can a school have the team contact camp on its campus? A – The Bylaw specifies dates for both a team camp at a college or sponsored by a corporation or the team camp at a school as being from Memorial Day until August 1st. No contact team camps are allowed after August 1. Individual players may attend individual contact camps after that date. Q – Who can participate in a team camp held at a school and sponsored by that school? A – Only those students who are registered as students with your school. Incoming ninth graders are also eligible if they have completed the registration process with your school. Q – What are the primary differences between the camp sponsored by a school and one offered by a college/university or commercial organizations? A – Camps that are run by a college/university or commercial organizations must have multiple teams involved, are held for the typical number of days (3-5); most other similar camps there is a scrimmage element to them. (The camp sponsored by the school may be up to 10 days in length in a 14-day period, the players work up into full pads like they do in the fall. They may scrimmage with up to 3 other teams on either day 8, 9, or 10 of Camp. Q – Can a school charge a fee for a team camp that takes place on our campus? A – Yes. Q – Can a varsity team go to a contact camp sponsored by a college or commercial organization and its sub-varsity teams hold a team contact camp on my school’s campus? A – Yes. However, each athlete may only participate in one or the other, not both. Q – School A is holding a team contact camp on its campus from June 2 to June 15 and School B is holding a similar camp on those same dates. Can the two schools meet for a scrimmage at some point during the camps? A – Yes. Up to 4 schools may scrimmage on either day 8, 9 or 10 of an individual team camp. Q – School A is planning on attending the 5-day team contact camp at a college/university. Can it also use the five days preceding the camp to prepare its athletes using any kind of player equipment (helmets, pads, etc.)? A – Yes, beginning no earlier than Memorial Day, schools must follow the equipment progression outlined in Bylaw 3310.1, Exception 2. Q – What is the practice session length each day that a team may be on the field if they hold their own team contact camp? What other limitations are placed on the activities of a school-sponsored team contact camp? A – See Practice requirements as established by the Football Committee and Sports Medicine Committee. Q – We have camps where no equipment is issued and occasionally those camps occur outside the summer team contact camp calendar. What is the status of those camps? A – Nothing changes with the camps that do not issue equipment. Bylaw 3310 addresses specific Equipment Dates, how the equipment is issued and under what conditions it may be issued. SCHOOLS ATTENDING A TEAM CONTACT CAMP – WHETHER ON A HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS OR ONE SPONSORED BY A COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY OR COMMERCIAL ORGANIZATION – MUST PROVIDE NOTIFICATION TO THE CHSAA OF THEIR INTENTION. SCHOOLS THAT DO NOT PROVIDE THIS INFORMATION ARE SUBJECT TO PENALTIES AS ESTABLISHED BY THE CHSAA BYLAWS. A form can be accessed at http://www2.chsaa.org/sports/football/pdf/TeamContactCampForm.pdf
Commercial Camp Letter Dear Colleagues, First and foremost, thank you so much for your continued support of high school football in the State of Colorado. We continue to work hard as a State High School Athletic Association to develop our programs Statewide and to provide our athletes with an amazing experience participating in educationally-based high school football. Like you and your programs, we are constantly evaluating and assessing everything we do and how we can best serve our student-athletes. This is especially true in relation to our athlete’s safety. As you know, safety awareness within the sport of football continues to be an area of focus both in our State and across the Country. We have made many policy and procedural changes over the last few years to address the safety and well-being of our athletes that compete in the sport of football. The reason for our correspondence to you today is to notify you of our policies and procedures that could influence when our football teams are able to safely attend a football team camp. The below Bylaw, from the Colorado High School Activities Association will be requiring a minimum 4-day progressive lead up camp before teams can attend a commercial/college team camp or host a camp at an individual school. COMMERCIAL/COLLEGE CAMP – Schools may attend a camp conducted by a college/university for a typical period (3-5 days). Prior to attending, high schools must develop a four-day camp, which would include two days in helmets, one day of full-pads with no player-to-player contact and one day of full-pads and full contact. The four-day camp and the commercial/college camp must both fit within the 14-calendar day time frame already established. The four- day lead up practices may not begin until Memorial Day. Camps held at individual high schools will be allowed the same period of time as the college/university camp guidelines listed above. They will follow the same progression prior to attending, by developing a four-day camp which includes, two days in helmets, one-day full pads with no player to player contact, and once day of full pads and full contact. This requirement is in line with the progression that is mandatory during the regular high school football season. We feel strongly that this type of progression allows coaches an amount of time to properly teach specific fundamentals and safe procedures in regard to the use of football equipment. In addition, we feel it will provide a safer venue for your team camps as players will have been in equipment and have had a few days to adjust to the equipment prior to participating in your camp. Looking at the 2021 calendar, with Memorial Day falling on May 31st, the earliest possible date a Colorado high school football team could host/attend a team camp and still meet the 4-day requirement would be June 4th. This would only be if high school teams start their camp on Memorial Day. We do feel that our partners at the high school and collegiate level along with other commercial camps will be supportive of these Bylaws as their fundamental purpose is the safety and well-being of our players. As always, please feel free to call or email if you have any questions or if there is further clarification that we can provide. Once again, thank you so much for your continued support of high school football in the State of Colorado. Good luck to all of you as you prepare for the spring and summer off-season programs. Thank You, Adam Bright Assistant Commissioner Colorado High School Activities Association
Scrimmage Date: August 19, 2021
The first date for a scrimmage is August 19, 2021 for those players who are eligible for
interscholastic competition and who have nine days of practice completed before this date. Each
school can have two scrimmage dates. Check CHSAA By-law 2320, for complete information
regarding scrimmages. First Competition week will begin on August 23, 2021.
First Allowable Interscholastic Contest:
Thursday, August 26, 2021.
Equipment Fitting
Coaches may fit equipment to players prior to the start of formal practice. This equipment
must be secured in a location that is unavailable to players until the above stated
equipment use dates. Players should not have access to this equipment until the specified
equipment issue dates. Resources – USA Football Heads Up Equipment Fitting and USA
Football – Proper Equipment Fitting.
Transfer/Academic Eligibility
The eligibility for fall 2021 football players should be checked immediately following the
end of the second semester of the 2020-2021 school year. A good rule of thumb to avoid
problems with the transfer rule is that if you don't recognize the player; make sure the
athletic director has cleared him/her to practice.
Summer School Make-Up
If you have student/athletes who have been declared academically ineligible due to failing
classes during the second semester of the previous school year, they may regain
eligibility through the completion of summer school courses. The student must make up
previous failures and the school must accept this credit and place it on the school
transcript. The deadline for the completion of summer school make-up credit is the
Monday of the NFHS Week Nine (August 30th 2021). (CHSAA Bylaw 1750.1)
Eight Grade Contact
1900.5 A person, acting in the capacity of the high school coach or serving in a role
representing the high school, may have informational meetings prior to May 1st with 8th
grade students who live in that high school’s attendance area as established by the
school district, or with those 8th grade students that have pre-registered to attend that
high school; the coach may conduct practice with those eighth graders starting May 1.
This contact may include currently registered underclassmen. The Sunday Contact rule
applies to this contact.
Q1: At what point does an 8th grade student become eligible to participate
with high school aged students at a school sponsored activity (i.e.
camps, weight room, off-season workouts, etc.)?
A1: Beginning May 1st, 8th graders that have pre-registered or live in the
attendance area to attend that high school may participate
with/against under classmates.
Rules Meeting Required for All Head CoachesHead coaches in all varsity sports are required to attend a CHSAA-approved rules clinic
in their sport prior to the start of the first game of the season. This is a mandatory meeting
and there are a number of ways coaches can meet this requirement, including attendance
at the officials’ rules session at Colorado High School Coaches Association Clinic in the
summer. The list in this bulletin includes these clinics as part of the National Association
of Sports Officials National Summit. Go to chsaa.org and look for other meetings that will
meet this requirement.
Coaches will be required to sign in and should be prepared to have a form to be signed for file with
their athletic director.
ATTENTION: There is no longer a “Zero Week”
The football season shall begin in correspondence with the National
Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Calendar week Eight.
The competitive season shall be from August 23, 2021 until the final state
championship.
Scrimmage Date August 19, 2021
* If teams choose to play in an official contest the week of August 26-28 (First
Week of Competition). Teams will have an open date or bye week in their
regular season schedule. (EXCLUDING 4A & 5A TEAMS)Football Rules Changes - 2021
By NFHS on February 10, 2021football
Action in the Free-Blocking Zone [2-17-2c (NEW), 2-17-4]
Blocking below the waist now requires the block to begin immediately following the snap.
2021 EDITORIAL CHANGES
2-10-1, 9-4-4 PENALTY, SIX-PLAYER RULES DIFFERENCES – RULE 2 and 7, APPENDIX,
INDEX
2021 POINTS OF EMPHASIS
1. Sportsmanship
2. Intentional Grounding
3. Ineligible Downfield and Line of Scrimmage FormationState Association Adopted Rules:
The NFHS rulebook (Table 1-7, pg 23) delegate's authority to the state
associations for certain rules. The following shall apply in Colorado:
1-1-4 Note Determining the number of game officials – A6 = 4, A8 = 4 (5
preferred); 1A-5A = 5.
1-3-2 Note Mandating specific ball for all playoff competition – Any NFHS
approved Wilson ball must be used for all playoff contests.
1-3-7 Use of supplementary equipment – Authorized.
1-5-1c4 Note Commemorative Patches – Must be requested of CHSAA on a
case-by-case basis.
1-5-2d Use of artificial limbs – Authorized.
1-5-3b Note 1 Use of drum for deaf teams – Authorized.
1-5-3b Note 2 Use of device to enhance a required hearing aid – Authorized.
3-1-1 Procedure to resolve ties- NFHS overtime procedure.
3-1-2 Mercy Rule – Running clock procedures are on p. 8 of the football
handbook.
3-1-4 Continuation of interrupted games – Subject to league policy.
3-1-5 Note 2 Length of halftime intermission – Subject to league policy.
3-2-1 Determining when coin toss is held – On the field, 3-5 minutes prior to the
scheduled start time.
3-5-7L TV/radio timeouts are authorized when a game is broadcast.
8-3-1 Exc & OT 5-1-1– If a touchdown is scored during the last down of the
fourth period or in overtime. The try is not attempted unless the point(s) would
affect the outcome of the game.
Rule 1 Size of A6 and A8 fields – 100 yards for 8-man; 80 yards for 6-man.
2. The football committee strongly recommends that coaches share film with
officials following each contest in an educational effort to improve the game.
3. The CHSAA Football Advisory Committee reminds schools that in the case of
extreme travel, teams can elect to establish a site more conducive to that travel
for a playoff game. This does not, however, alleviate the home school of its
responsibility as host.4. The Wilson football has been the designated ball for the CHSAA playoffs and
must be used in all playoff games.
5. It is strongly encouraged that leagues do not use a point differential as a tie-
breaker in league standings. Having point differentials as part of the criteria has
created hard feelings and unsporting acts, due to late scoring attempts in order
to reach the maximum point differentials.
6. P. A. announcers shall remain neutral.
7. Schools should assign official’s escorts to and from the locker rooms at halftime
and at the conclusion of the game. Officials should never be escorted through
spectators.A. Seeding and Qualifying The seeding committee for all classifications will be the members of the football committee, minus any active coaches. If necessary, replacements for the active coaches will come from the same classification in roughly the same geographic area of the state. The committee will meet at the CHSAA office on the Sunday following the final week of the regular season. Following the end of the regular season, the procedures listed below will be utilized to capture the playoff bracket and serve as the criteria used for seeding the bracket. The top 16 teams (24 in 4A and 5A) in the classification based on the final RPI rankings will qualify for the post-season bracket. Each conference champion will automatically be placed on the playoff bracket. Conference champions are determined by the conference Bylaws or policies. If a conference champion is not ranked in the top 16 (24) based on the final RPI ranking, they will replace the lowest ranked team that is not a conference champion in the top 16 (24). Seeding Criteria (once qualifiers are determined) · Four sources of data will be collected and used when seeding teams for the playoff bracket: RPI Ranking System; MaxPreps; Packard Rankings; Coaches Poll. Each source of data collected at the end of the regular season will be equally weighted. · Coaches Poll: All Head coaches are required to vote 8 of 10 weeks (3A-5A) or 7 of 9 (6 Man -3A) in the on-line Coaches Poll during the regular season. · Head coaches that have met the above standards will have the opportunity to vote in the final on-line Coaches Poll at the end of the regular season. · The four sources of data collected will be utilized to place teams on the 16(24)- team bracket. Once on the bracket, teams can be moved one spot at maximum based upon a head-to-head regular season game, if they are consecutive seeds on the bracket. · If the scenario exists where three or more consecutive seeded teams have all played one another, they will remain as originally placed on the bracket. · A conference champion not ranked in the top 16(24) of the final RPI rankings will be placed in the bracket. · When possible, conference opponents will not be paired against one another in the first round and geography will be a consideration in the first round. These adjustments can be made for seeds #9-16/24. · Only the league champion in both 5A Metro Leagues and the 4A I-25 League are eligible for post season.
Playoff Hosting Policy and Procedure
· The higher seeded team shall be the host in the first round. In subsequent
rounds, the team with the fewest number of home games shall be the host. If equal,
the following criteria will determine the host:
-If opponents are from the same conference, the school with the higher
conference standing in the regular season shall be the host.
-If opponents are not from the same conference, the higher seed shall host.
Informational Items
· Following the first round of the playoffs, if both teams have played the same
number of home games during the playoffs, the team with the higher seed will host.
· The 6man through 3A championship game sites will be hosted at Colorado
State University-Pueblo, 4A and 5A will be hosted at Empower Field at Mile High.
· In 4A and 5A, the top eight seeded teams will receive a first-round bye, and
host in the second-round of the playoff bracket. Teams seeded numbers 9-24 will
play in the first round, with the higher seeded team hosting.
· 5A semifinal sites must accommodate a seating capacity equal to or greater
than 5,000. Playoff schools that cannot accommodate the minimum seating capacity
of their classification must designate a regional site prior to their first playoff contest.6-MAN North East Central Central Briggsdale Arickaree/Woodlin Hanover Fleming Flagler Deer Trail North Park Idalia Edison Peetz Otis Genoa-Hugo Prairie Stratton/Liberty Kiowa Pawnee Hi-Plains Weldon Valley South East South Central South West Cheraw Aguilar Antonito Cheyenne Wells Branson/Kim Cotopaxi Eads Colorado D&B Cripple Creek-Victor Granada Manzanola Mountain Valley Kit Carson Primero Sierra Grande Walsh La Veta
RULES Games are to be played according to the National Federation Football rules and in accordance with the Colorado High School Activities Association rules and regulations. If any player other than 9th grader is going to play in the game, the coach of the opposing team must approve prior to the athlete being allowed to participate in the freshman game. OPENING DATES The opening dates for football practice shall be in accordance with the date set by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and the Colorado High School Activities Association rules and regulations. WARM-UP TIME Teams will have a minimum of 45 minutes to warm up before the opening kick-off. SCOUTING Scouting of opponent’s practice during the football season is unethical. The scouting of varsity games may not be done in the stadium press box. SCOUTING BY VIDEO RECORDING Videotaping or Recording by scouts must be done from a designated area in the stands. No electrical power will be provided by the home team nor any videotaping or recording from the press box. FILM/HUDL EXCHANGE All current season’s video will be made available on HUDL by 12:00 noon on Saturday. If a team has a Saturday game, then the video will be made available by 12:00 noon on Sunday. Any team that does not have all of their games available, will not be allowed to participate in the video pool. OFFICIALS Varsity games will use five officials per game; the junior varsity and freshman will use four. OFFICIAL’S PAY All contest officials are to be paid by the home school at the prevailing rate. The team that cancels a game will be responsible for the payment of the officials. USE OF BANDS Bands are to be off the field five minutes before the kick-off and twelve minutes after the end of the first half. Bands must stay clear of the field immediately before half time until both teams have left the field. Arrangements for a visiting marching band are to be made by invitation only. Pep band members will be admitted at no charge with their sponsor and if they have their instruments.
ATHLETIC PARTICIPATION
As per guidelines set by CHSAA.
INCLEMENT WEATHER
A postponed varsity football game must be made up as soon as possible by agreement
of the schools involved. Make up for junior-varsity games must be by mutual
agreement.
ALL-CONFERENCE SELECTION
Each team’s coaching staff will nominate their own All-Conference designees. The
number nominated will depend on their finish in the Conference, according to the
following distribution:
1st place 15 nominations
2nd place 13 nominations
3rd place 11 nominations
4th place 9 nominations
5th place 7 nominations
6th place 5 nominations
These will be submitted after the 9th week of the season, a ballot will be distributed
listing each player by school, position, grade, and number. A maximum of 4 players per
category, per school may be nominated in the following categories:
All-Conference Offense Selections - 14
i. Offensive Line/TE (6)
ii. Quarterback (1)
iii. Running Back/Fullback (3)
iv. Wide Receiver (2)
v. All Purpose (1)
vi. Place Kicker (1)
All-Conference Defense Selections – 14
vii. Defensive Tackle (2)
viii. Defensive End (2)
ix. Linebacker (4)
x. Defensive Back (4)
xi. Punter (1)
xii. Return Specialist (1)
Vote at Meeting: Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Coach
of the Year. A League representative will submit 1st Team All-League to Brad Cochi,
bcochi@chsaa.org
Note: Coaches who nominate a player All-conference on offense and defense would
count as two selections.
ATHLETE/COACH OF THE YEAR
Each conference will select an Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year along with a
Coach of the Year after the regular season. The Offensive and Defensive Players of
the year must be a member of the All-Conference team. Both will be selected by a vote
of the coaches at the All Conference Meeting.HALFTIME
The rules of the game concerning half time activities will apply unless officials are
contacted prior to the start of the game.
UNIFORMS
The home team will wear dark jerseys, and the visiting team will wear light jerseys.
FIELD PHONE COMMUNICATION
Both teams have the option to provide and utilize their own school’s field phone
communication system either as the primary, secondary or as a supplementary means
of communication to and from the field in addition to the field phones provided by the
host facility. In this situation, the equity of field communication (number of phones) shall
not be monitored or enforced.
POLICIES (ALL CLASSES):
1. Forfeits:
A. A team that wins because it is awarded a forfeit will count the game as a
win for its season record. A team that loses because of a forfeit will count
the game as a loss for its season record.
B. If a school fails to field a team and does not play one game, each of its
scheduled games shall be counted as no contest.
C. If a school plays at least one game and discontinues its schedule, each of
its games scheduled prior to the season shall count as a forfeit and will be
computed in the RPI standings. If a non-conference game is canceled
because a team discontinues its schedule, a school may reschedule
another game during that week to replace the forfeit or accept the forfeit.
D. All games scheduled after the start of the season must be approved by the
Commissioner to count in the RPI standings.
2. RPI Tie-breaker:
A. If two teams have the same RPI in the final standings, the following
tiebreaker shall be used (in the order listed):
1) Head-to-head competition
2) Winning percentage
3) Opponents’ winning percentage
4) Opponents’ opponents’ winning percentage
5) Highest-rated win against a team in the final RPI standings
6) Next-highest rated win until the tie is broken
7) Coin flip
3. Teams playing an opponent twice will receive separate RPI points.
4. Junior-varsity opponents will not accumulate Final RPI Standing points.
5. Enrollment for out-of-state schools will be equated to Colorado classifications.
6. The number of points a team scores in a game will have no bearing on the RPI
point system.
7. NO GAMES - conference or non-conference - WILL END IN A TIE. If the game
is to be extended, the National Federation tiebreaker method (10-yard line) shall
be used.II. PLAYOFF TIMES, SITES AND OTHER INFORMATION:
1. It is the desire of the Association that schools mutually establish game times and
dates which best accommodate the interests of each school and community.
NOTE: All mutually established game times and dates are subject to final
approval by the CHSAA office. When mutual agreement for the game time and
date cannot be reached the following statements will apply:
1. Saturday, 1:00 p.m. and Friday 7:00 p.m. are preferred.
2. Semifinal games will be played on Saturday, 1:00 p.m. Exception:
Semifinal games may be played on Friday, 7:00 p.m. if it is mutually
agreed upon by both teams, if there is a facility conflict, or there is a
television opportunity.
3. Thursday playoff games will be allowed through the quarterfinals if
mutually agreed upon by both teams. If not agreed upon the preferred
game times will be Friday at 7:00 p.m. or Saturday at 1:00 p.m.
4. When mutual agreement cannot be reached and travel distance is 150
miles or greater, then the game will be played on Saturday. Friday night
will be considered a reasonable option if the distance is less than 150
miles.
5. Both home and visitor will be provided the opportunity to supply input in
the scheduling process but more weight shall be given to the home team
preference.
6. Six or seven days rest following the previous game shall be considered
adequate and will not be a consideration when establishing the date.
7. The Commissioner shall have the sole province to designate game times,
dates and sites, including weeks when a school district is hosting more
than one game.
2. Stadium Arrangements – The Commissioner (or his/her designee) has the
authority to select the site based on the adequacy of the seating, field conditions,
etc. Minimum seating capacities have been established and can be found in the
respective playoff format sections.
3. Playoff games shall not be postponed without the permission of the
Commissioner (or his/her designee).
4. The Commissioner (or his/her designee) shall have the authority to select an
alternate site in the event of poor playing conditions.
5. Determining sites for State Football Playoff Games (ALL CLASSIFICATIONS) -
In the opening round of the state playoffs, the teams with the higher designation
(No. 1 higher than No. 2) will host.
The home team at each subsequent playoff game shall be that team which has
had the fewer home games during the state playoffs. If both teams have had an
equal number of home games, then:
In Class A6 & A8, a coin flip will be conducted by the Commissioner to determine
home site.
In Class 1A/2A/3A/4A & 5A, the team with the higher designation will host that
game.EXCEPTIONS: All Championships will be played at a neutral site.
For bracketing purposes, the team designated on the bracket or by a coin flip
shall remain as the designated home team regardless of where the game is
played.
Situation 1: Team A is designated the home team by a coin flip, but will not
guarantee Team B's expenses. Team B guarantees A's expenses and
hosts the game.
Ruling 1: For future site consideration, Team A has played a home game, while
team B has been away.
Situation 2: Team A wins the coin flip, but chooses to travel to Team B.
Ruling 2: Team A has been home; Team B has been away.
Situation 3: Team A, designated as the home team, cannot meet the seating
requirements and plays the game at Team B's field.
Ruling 3: Team A has been at home; Team B has been away.
Situation 4: Teams A and B agree to play at a neutral site.
Ruling 4: Home and visiting team must still be designated based on the criteria
above.
6. State playoff officials for all classifications will be assigned by the CHSAA office.
7. For all playoff contests, there will be an exchange of the most recent two complete
digitals. If one school films/videos and the other school does not, the upcoming
opponent may secure a film from a previous opponent so that an exchange of
digitals can be completed. The exchange must be consummated by 12:00 noon
on Sunday preceding the next contest
8. A field to be used for any playoff game must have a field clock, or an extra official
shall be hired in order that official time may be kept on the field by officials.
9. Five-person official crews will be used in all state playoff contests for football.
10. Regulation field for A8-Man is 40 x 100 yards with 15-yard side zones.
11. Mercy Rule:
In classes 8-man, 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A and 5A and at all levels (all conference
and non-conference games), when a 40-point differential exists at any time
during the game a running clock shall be used for the remainder of the game
regardless of whether the score drops back below the mercy rule differential.
(In 6-man, the margin is 45 points). See the following procedures below:
The clock will not be stopped when:
1. The ball goes out-of-bounds.
2. A forward pass is incomplete.
3. A score or touchback occurs.
4. A fair catch is made or awarded.
The clock will be stopped when:
1. The period ends.
2. Charged or injury time out.
The mercy rule will not be used in any live televised championship games.12. Equal Facilities (Field Phone)
If telephone facilities for both teams are provided as a standard practice
(during the regular season) at a playoff site, then the same number of
telephone facilities must be provided for both teams. This number must stay
consistent throughout the contest. If one set of phones becomes inoperable
during the contest, then neither team may use the phones initially provided.
Teams are permitted to bring their own set of phones to a contest. These
phones will be considered "extra" and are not under the procedure as
outlined above.
The responsibility for notifying both teams of phone problems should belong
to the referee.
If a school does not provide phone facilities to both teams as a standard
practice (during the regular season), then it is up to each team, home or
away, to provide its own phones. The home team will not be required to
provide phones to the visiting team if it is not done during the regular season.
13. Warm-up Time
A minimum of 45 minutes should be allowed for each team for pre-game warm-
up.FOOTBALL FIELD DIAGRAMS
*Eight and Six Player Diagram
*Colorado Association adopted 8-man football to play on 100 yard field.
Eleven Player DiagramYou can also read
