Winter sports get delayed yet again
Winter high school sports in Colorado are being pushed back at least a month due to the rapid spread of coronavirus — a delay that will also affect the seasons that follow.
All Season B sports, including basketball, skiing, wrestling, hockey and swimming and diving, will not begin as scheduled Jan. 4, CHSAA announced Monday, after a decision from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Instead, the start will come no earlier that February.
“The COVID- 19 pandemic has reached an all- time high in terms of disease transmission both in Colorado and around the nation,” said CDPHE executive director Jill Hunsaker, in a letter provided by CHSAA. “( CPDHE) 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.”
CHSAA submitted a variance to the state to begin Season B sports competition Feb. 1, according to its release. Gov. Jared Polis’ COVID response team is expected to meet in mid- January to consider the proposal amid an evolving public health landscape. The postponement of Season B will also delay the start times for Season C and Season D, CHSAA said.
“Our top goal for the new year is to support a return to in- person learning,” Hunsaker’s letter read. “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.”
Denver East boys basketball coach Rudy Carey told The Denver Post that he approves of the postponement decision. Carey grew concerned that those Colorado counties currently without red level health restrictions, allowing indoor gym access for basketball, would provide some teams with an unfair advantage in preparation for the season.
“I applaud the decision and I think it’s the responsible decision to postpone it, because this ( coronavirus) stuff is out here, and it’s very serious,” Carey said. “We haven’t been able to have meetings or anything. Hopefully, we’ll be allowed to get into the gym in January to try and catch up a little bit. There’s no way get shots up unless you’re outside.”