In-state players to compete while being masked
The task will require a mask. On Monday, Colorado officials, already overseeing an unprecedented situation, released a series of mandates for the new Season B and one will require everyone in the gymnasium to wear a mask, notably players.…
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The task will require a mask.
On Monday, Colorado officials, already overseeing an unprecedented situation, released a series of mandates for the new Season B and one will require everyone in the gymnasium to wear a mask, notably players.
It’s the first time any in-state student-athletes will have to sport masks during actual competition in the time of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The past March, Colorado didn’t crown a champion in any of the girls five classifications because of COVID-19 and its entire spring season, involving seven sports, was cancelled. In Season A that began the 2020-21 school year, five sports were contested. Masks were mandated until games and events began.
But players in Season B will have to follow the lead of a growing number of college teams that also require masks during play.
So, yes, it will be significantly more difficult to see the facial expressions of, say, Grandview’s Lauren Betts Lauren Betts 6'7" | C Grandview | 2022 State #1 Nation CO or Mullen’s Megan Pohs Megan Pohs 5'3" | PG Mullen | 2021 State CO . And it figures to be a significant adjustment for all players.
The shortened season, which will begin practice in less than two weeks, also must adhere to a series of other significant changes announced Monday.
To wit:
— The first practice will be Jan. 18 and first games on Jan. 25. The end of the regular season will be March 6.
— There will be 14 regular-season games for varsity, 12 for lower levels.
— Players are limited to 76 quarters during the season other than in overtime and the playoffs.
— A minimum of seven games will be required to qualify for the postseason.
— There will be no district rounds for any of the five classifications. The state brackets will be released on March 8 and tournament dates will include March 9, 11, 13 and 16. State finals will be March 19-20 (Class 2A boys and girls, 4A boys and girls, and 5A girls on March 19; and 1A boys and girls, 3A boys and girls, and 5A boys on March 20, if fans are permitted).
— Playoff teams will be determined by the RPI, coaches poll and rankings by MaxPreps and Packard. League champions will automatically qualify for the playoffs that will contain smaller brackets. The normal 48-team brackets for upper classifications, 5A and 4A, will have only 32, and 3A, 2A and 1A will shrink from 32 to 24.
— Before Season B begins, open gyms will need permission from district and health officials. And there can be no contact with other schools prior to Jan. 25.
— Game rosters will be limited to 12 players with three coaches, an athletic trainer and only essential personnel; ditto for practices.