CHSAA notebook: Football players can receive pads in May

Sand Creek AD concerned with concussions

Voters on Thursday approved a measure to bump back the date football players can receive helmets and pads for drills and 7-on-7 competition.

Instead of distribution on July 31, players now can be issued equipment on Memorial Day.

“The biggest thing is head injuries," Sand Creek athletic director Autumn Serreno said. “We live in a concussion world. When guys put a helmet on, they think they can hit, and it’s a couple of more months of contact. But coaches can make that decision, and I can assume what my coach will do.”

Cross country runners get chance to walk state course

For the first time, qualifiers for the state cross country meet can walk the course the night before.

Dave Hogan, Harrison’s athletic director, said it was time to equal the playing field for runners who are unable to run at the pre-state meet early in the season.

“That’s something we needed to do,” Hogan said. “Kids who run at pre-state come away with an inherent advantage at state, and we want to take that away by giving everyone the chance to see the course.”

Also included in the cross country report was a measure to decrease the number of 4A qualifiers. Last year, the 30 teams at the starting line created safety issues. After the vote, the number of 4A teams was pared to 24.

Slight hints of a new classification on the horizon

Although it wasn’t said outright, the prospects of a new class, 6A, were brought up briefly by Windsor athletic director Mark Kanagy.

Kanagy, who gave the classification review report, sought out comments and opinions of other athletic directors and administrators as the exploration and feasibility of such an expansion enters its second year.

Former TCA assistant running show at new charter school

Three years ago, Randy Scherer earned his first high school gig assisting The Classical Academy cross country coach Alan Versaw, running the middle school running program and serving as secondary school band director.

Now, he’s conducting his own show at SkyView Academy, a Highlands Ranch-based charter school that officially joined the CHSAA family Thursday. The 2A school won’t have its first graduating class until 2015.

“It’s been a nice opportunity, but a lot goes into it, more than I thought,” Scherer said. “Membership helps and being in a league makes scheduling easier. Before, every game had to be set up individually.”