In a significant development, the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) has approved the addition of girls flag football as the 33rd sanctioned sport. This fall, it will become the 18th sanctioned high school sport for girls in Colorado. The decision was made during a vote held on Tuesday afternoon at the DCSD Legacy Campus in Lone Tree.
The council also announced other changes that will take place in the upcoming season, including the implementation of a shot clock for boys and girls basketball at the varsity level, starting from the 2026-27 season. This move is expected to propel Colorado basketball to new heights and align it with other states.
In addition to these key changes, CHSAA announced that high school ice hockey will start one week earlier in future seasons to maintain consistent venues for the Frozen Four playoff semi-final and state championship games. Spring sports schedules will also be adjusted in the 2025 and 2026 seasons to prevent championships from overlapping with Memorial Day Weekend.
Furthermore, skiing state championships will now be divided into two separate events – one for Alpine competition and one for Nordic competition. Coaches returning to CHSAA will have to complete a concussion course refresher, while schools will receive precise instructions for athlete transfer paperwork completion.
Expressing excitement over these changes, Larry Bull, District Athletic Director for Cherry Creek Schools said that it was an excellent day for female athletes in Colorado. He commended their hard work and dedication towards flag football and described their achievement as amazing.
Rob Johnson, Chaparral Athletic Director expressed similar sentiments about basketball’s shot clock implementation saying that this development would elevate Colorado basketball to new levels and bring improvements to players and coaches alike.
Overall, these changes reflect CHSAA’s commitment towards promoting gender equality in sports while ensuring consistency and fairness across all sports competitions.
