Success now has a price in Colorado high school athletics.

During CHSAA’s April Legislative Council meeting, an administrative proposal passed that would move dominant programs up a classification for a cycle.

The language of the amendment to bylaw 1500 reads as follows:

1500.45

A school’s program will be Placed Up for a two-year cycle if both of the following criteria are met:

(1) The program has won a State Championship in at least three of the last four years in that sport or activity

AND

(2) Additional criteria based on sport type:

Bracket Sports: In the most recent season, the program must have qualified for and competed in at least the semifinal round of the State Championship tournament for that sport or activity.

Non-Bracket Sports: In the most recent season, the program must have placed in the top 4 of the team scoring component of the State Championship event for that sport or activity.

1500.46

Any program that has been Placed Up in a classification for a two-year cycle will remain at that higher classification for the subsequent two-year cycle if the following condition is met:

Bracket Sports: In either of the two seasons of the two-year cycle, the program qualifies for and wins at least one contest in Postseason Competition in the relevant sport or activity.

For Non-Bracket Sports: In either of the two seasons of the two-year cycle, the program places in the top-10 in the state championship event in the relevant sport or activity.

If the program does not meet the above criteria, it will be placed in its classification of enrollment (as defined by bylaw 1500.21) at the start of the next two-year cycle.

**

Perhaps a notable example of a dominant program would be Eaton baseball. If the Reds advance to the Class 3A state semifinals, they would fit all the criteria of being placed up into 4A for the 2026-27 cycle.

Among the other notable votes at the meeting were:

  • 1800.47 (Restricted variety eligibility) was shot down. The amendment reads: “The Appeals Committee and/or Commissioner may grant restricted varsity eligibility during the regular season only to a student athlete that transfers to a school without a sub-varsity program/schedule or a senior transfer student participating in their final year of eligibility.” A note was added that transfers deemed to be motivated by “athletic reason” would not get restricted varsity eligibility.
  • An amendment to bylaw 2200, which would allow for an appeal for an unsportsmanlike ejection based on video evidence (with specific criteria needing to be met) also fell.
  • With the passing of the football committee report, the 3A schedule and playoff structure would line up with 4A and 5A. Additionally, 2A will also go to a 24-team playoff bracket. Those changes take effect at the beginning of the next cycle in 2026.
  • The wrestling committee report was passed meaning team dual state tournaments will take place starting in the 2026-27 season.