by Jessica Hughes
On Dec. 17, 2020, the rally cries of “Let us play! Let us play!” could be heard by those near the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. More than 60 Colorado high school athletes from across the state, along with parents, and coaches, gathered to protest the postponement of Season B high school sports until Jan. 25, 2021.
Protesters carried handmade signs proclaiming, “Let us play,” “Sports = Mental Health,” “# No Reason” and “Suicide kills teens more than COVID” at Creekside Park in Glendale. Chants continued, coupled with cowbells, as they crossed the street with protected police vehicles to make their voices heard in front of the CDPHE’s Denver offices.
The protest came on the heels of the latest decision by Governor Polis to postpone Season B sports including: ice hockey, basketball, wrestling, skiing, and swimming to begin early February instead of the original schedule of Jan. 4. Their objective was to put the pressure on the Colorado High School Activities Association, Polis, and local health officials to begin Season B sports as previously scheduled.
“It is simple. They won’t let us play sports. For now, it’s postponed, but honestly, the way I see it that’s the first step in them deciding to cancel altogether. I will not stand for that. Not when we have made it perfectly clear that we want to play regardless of the risks associated with COVID. For us athletes, taking away our sports and taking away our seasons is something we need to breathe,” says a Colorado high school athlete and participating protester who voiced her concerns at the rally.
Pleading to be heard, students also turned to the notion that suicides among their age group were a greater cause of death than COVID-19 patients of similar age. Claiming that a lack of playing for some of these kids is more deadly than the virus.
“Sports are clearly the answer here and not the problem,” says Darren Pitzner, the head coach for the girls’ basketball team at Green Mountain High School. Going on to say, “how can we make variances for liquor stores but not for kids to be kids.” He encouraged the young crowd by telling them they were on the right side of history and to give themselves a round of applause for being there. “We need to start saying yes to kids right now.”
As the Protesters started to make their way to the CHSAA offices across the street, Pitzner turned to the crowd and said: “Let’s make sure they hear us!”
Hear them they did, as of Dec. 21, 2020, CHSAA secured variances from the CDPHE and state officials to allow all Season B sports and activities to start on Jan. 18.
According to the CHSAA website, “For months, our office has been laser-focused on students and the safe resumption of high school sports and activities in 2021,” said CHSAA commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green. “The conversations with CDPHE and the Governor’s COVID Response Team to resume Season B sports have been intentional and assertive. Though it has taken many late nights and weekends, we are thrilled that our student-athletes, member schools, and local school communities have a resolution. Educationally-based athletics are a vital extension of the classroom.”
While winter sports are set to continue, new variances are in play including no more than 24 people, which include coaches, athletes and trainers allowed in the gym to play basketball and limiting the number of games played in the season for all winter sports. The season may not be what they hoped for, but the games must go on. Visit chsaanow.com for a complete guideline for Season A, B, C and D sports.
High school athletes from across the state stand in front of the CDPHE Denver offices at the December rally. Photo by Jessica Hughes
Colorado high school athletes hold signs in protest of the postponement of Season B sports. Photo by Jessica Hughes
Student athletes gather at Creekside Park in Glendale to show their frustration of the postponement of winter sports. Photo by Jessica Hughes
Photo by Jessica Hughes
Colorado high school athletes in their school letter jackets hold signs of “# no reason.”