Colorado High School Activities Association

“Seeking Excellence in Academics, Activities and Athletics”  

Just what is the Colorado High School Activities Association? The following facts should the average person gain a better understanding of the CHSAA and its role in high school sports and activities.  

CHSAA Mission Statement: The mission of the CHSAA is to serve its membership through the advancement of, and the student's participation in, interscholastic activities, which are an integral component and a complement to the educational goals of its member schools.  

A Voluntary Organization: The CHSAA is a voluntary association of 338 member schools, including 297 public and 41 private schools. Of the public schools, 12 are charter schools and three have incarcerated student participants. Of the private schools, 32 are church-related.

Colorado 's Participation Numbers: of the 224,726 students enrolled in the CHSAA's member schools in 2007-08 (the latest statistics) more than 57%, or 131,451 students, participate in music, speech, student leadership and athletics. Colorado 's participation rate is one of the highest in the country. 

 Music Participation Numbers Largest: Nearly 37,000 Students participate in music programs, both vocal and instrumental, across the state making it the largest activity sanctioned by the CHSAA.  Football, with over 17,700 students participating, is the single largest participatory sport. Boys' and Girl's Basketball together have over 16,000 participants.

 CHSAA Legislative Body has 69 Representatives: The CHSAA's Legislative body, its Board of Control, is made up of 69 representatives from local leagues across the state. Each league receives one representative and then two additional representatives are added for having more than 10,000 students in a single league and one having 10-19 schools in a league. An additional representative is given to leagues with 20 or more schools. All representatives are elected to the Board of Control by the individual leagues. The state's superintendents also have three representatives on the Board of Control.  The CHSAA Board of control also has five members of the Colorado Association of School Boars, representing specified areas in the state. School Board representatives from across the state are also members of the Associations sports, administrative and activities advisory committees. 

 CHSAA Executive Committee Monitors Day-to-Day Operations: The CHSAA Executive Committee is the group that monitors the daily operations of the CHSAA office. Its responsibilities include budget oversight, personnel matters and services as the final appeals committee.

 CHSAA Executive Committee Membership: The Executive Committee is made up of elected representatives of nine established districts across the state and representatives from the Colorado Department of Education, North Central Association, Colorado Association of School Boards, Colorado Association of School Executives and the Colorado State Legislature. In all, 14 members make up the committee in 2008-2009.

 School Dues and Fees Make UP Just 18% of CHSAA Budget: As members in the CHSAA, each member school paid a service fee of $740 each, along with a $108 per activity fee for each activity sponsored by the school. The spread in school membership dues and fees this year was from a low of $850 to a high of $3,500. That is approximately 19.0% of the Association Budget. The remainder comes from gate receipts at the state playoff events, along with revenue from corporate sponsorship, merchandise sales and entry fees in music, spirit and speech, in all, the Association has an annual budget of $3.9 million.

Association Returns Over $1.4 Million to Member Schools: under Association policies, the organization cannot hold more than 50% of its budget in reserves, any amount over that 50% figure is returned to the membership. Over the past seven years, the Association will have returned over 980,000 to its membership, including $488,000 for the 2007-2008 school year, $346,000 for 2006-2007, $180,000 for 2005-2006, $185,000 for 2004-2005, $52,000 for school year 2002-2003, $82,000 for school year 2001-2002 and $267,000 for school year 2000-2001. Additionally, the Association reimburses nearly $275,000 in travel expenses to schools in the football, baseball, basketball, wrestling and softball playoffs each year. Any refund for the upcoming school year will be determined by the Association’s final audit.

CU Study reinforces Benefits of High School Activities: A 1992 Study conducted by CU professor Dr. Kevin McCarthy showed that the average activities participant's grade point average was 2.96 compared to the non-participant's 2.35. The study further concluded that student participants missed less school and scored significantly higher on the standardized tests. Further, his study showed that regardless of gender, ethnicity or socio-economic class, students who participated in interscholastic activities performed better in the classroom.

McCarthy's Jefferson County Study Reinforces Earlier Findings: On September 27, 1999. Dr. McCarthy released a study he conducted for Jefferson County and its 16 high schools. In that study, he found that student participants in Jefferson County had an average grade point average of 3.093 compared to the 2,444 of non-participants. This study shows with startling clarity that no matter the students' gender, ethnicity or income level, students involved with interscholastic activities had higher grades and missed school less often.

Membership of CHSAA Executive Committee (leagues Represented) [term expires]:

District 1 (Mountain, Western Slope): Andy Johnson, Athletic Director ( SoRoCo High School ) [2010]

District 2 (Centennial, Northern): Harry Bull, Administrator ( Cherry Creek School District ) [2012]

District 3 (High Plains, Lower Platte, Mile High, North Central, Patriot, Union Pacific, YWKC): Dennis Tjaden, Athletic Director ( Julesburg High School ) [2011]

District 4 ( Jefferson County , Skyline): Kevin Land, District Athletic Director (Jefferson County Schools) [2009] CHSAA President [2008-2009]

District 5 ( Denver , Metropolitan No. Front Range): Dick Katte, Coach ( Denver Christian High School ) [2009]

District 6 (Continental, Front Range , 5280): Dave Callan, District Athletic Director (Douglas County Schools) [2012]

District 7 (Black Forest, Colorado Springs Metro, Southern, Tri-Peaks, West Central): Shelli Miles, Athletic Director ( Widefield High School ) [2011]

District 8 (Fisher’s Peak, Intermountain, San Juan , Southern Peaks, Southwestern): Steve Strong, Superintendent (Dove Creek Schools) [2009]

District 9 ( Arkansas Valley , Santa Fe , South Central, Southeastern): Richard Hargrove, Principal ( Springfield High School ) [2009]

Colorado Association of School Boards: Tom Sifers ( East Grand School District ) [2012]

Colorado Association of School Executives: Kevin Aten, Principal ( Mountain View High School ) [2011]

Colorado Association of School Executives: Don Anderson, Superintendent (Bethune Schools) [2009]

Colorado Department of Education: John Condie, Colorado Department of Education [2011]

Colorado State Assembly: Nancy Todd, Aurora (State Representative) [2010]

 CHSAA Office Administrative Staff (Staff Assistant) [Key Assignments]:

Commissioner: Bill Reader (Patty Sonnleitner, Donna Welch) [Executive Committee, Board of Control, Personnel, Budget, CLOC, Legislature, Superintendents Council, Colorado Association of School Boards Liaison, Handbook, Waivers.]

Associate Commissioner: Paul Angelico ( Kim Rose ) [Gymnastics, Tennis, Lacrosse, Speech, Skiing, Merchandise Sales, Foreign Waivers, Directory, Sanctioned Events, Tournament, Playoff and Finance, Coaching Registration]

Assistant Commissioner: Bert Borgmann ( Lisa Cunningham Austin ) [Baseball, Basketball, Softball, B. Soccer, Media Relations, Legislature, Programs and Publications, Hall of Fame, Foundation, Records/Championship Results]

Assistant Commissioner: Rhonda Blanford-Green ( Jane Boudreau , Audra Peterson) [Cross Country, Spirit, Ice Hockey, Track and Field, Equity, Title IX Compliance, Corporate Relations, Recognition Programs, Office Manager]

Assistant Commissioner: Tom Robinson (Monica Tillman) [Golf, Officials, Sporting Behavior, Officials’ Fees]

Assistant Commissioner: Bethany Schott ( Michele Sobczyk ) [Volleyball, Field Hockey, Music, Swimming, Cooperative Programs, Competitors’ Brochure, Participation Survey]

Assistant Commissioner: Harry Waterman ( Sharon Aguilar ) [Football, Wrestling Student Leadership, G. Soccer, Playoff Site Confirmation, Trophies/Awards, CADA Liaison]

 Interscholastic Activities Sanctioned by the CHSAA: Music, Speech, Student Leadership, Boys and Girls Cross Country, Girls Field Hockey, Football, Boys and Girls Golf, Girls Gymnastics, Boys and Girls Soccer, Girls Softball, Spirit, Boys and Girls Tennis, Girls Volleyball, Boys and Girls Basketball, Ice Hockey, Boys and Girls Skiing, Wrestling, Baseball, Boys and Girls Lacrosse, Boys and Girls Swimming, Boys and Girls Track and Field.

 Foundation for Colorado High School Student Activities: The FCHSA exists to recognize the intrinsic value of school activities by providing financial support. Its goals are three-fold: 1) To preserve and create opportunities for the students involved in Colorado High School Activities Association programs; 2) To provide a vehicle for Coloradans to become actively involved in supporting quality programs which instill lifelong values in their young citizens; 3) To insure that the CHSAA can continue to provide quality programs and services to its membership.