CHSAA statement on Fossil Ridge football’s military appreciation

Due to the number of media inquiries into the football uniform situation in Poudre School District, CHSAA would like to relate the following:

The Association joins Poudre School District in supporting and appreciating Fossil Ridge’s desire to honor all branches of the armed services through its football program, including their planned use of camouflage uniforms.

The Association follows the playing rules as determined by the National Federation of State High School Associations, which provide structure for nearly every sport sanctioned by CHSAA. This includes football, and football’s game uniforms.

The specific NFHS rule which applies to this situation is 1-5-1 b. 3. as it relates to the jersey:

3. Players of the home team shall wear jerseys, unaltered from the manufacturer’s original design/production, that meet the following criteria: The body of the jersey (inside the shoulders, inclusive of the yoke of the jersey or the shoulders, below the collar, and to the bottom of the jersey) may not include white, except as stated below. If white appears in the body of the jersey of the home team, it may only appear:

(a) as the jersey number(s) required in 1-5-1c or as the team and/or player name within the body and/or on the shoulders,

(b) either as a decorative stripe placed during production that follows the curve of the raglan sleeve or following the shoulder seam in traditional yoke construction, not to exceed 1 inch at any point within the body of the jersey; or as decorative stripe(s) added in the shoulder area after production, not to exceed 1 inch per stripe and total size of combined stripes not to exceed 3.5 inches,

(c) within the collar, a maximum of 1 inch in width, and/or

(d) as a side seam (insert connecting the back of the jersey to the front), a maximum of 4 inches in width but any white color may not appear within the body of the jersey (inside the shoulders, inclusive of the yoke of the jersey or the shoulders, below the collar, and to the bottom of the jersey). The exception to (d) would be what is stated in (b) above.

(e) The visiting team is responsible for avoidance of similarity of colors, but if there is doubt, the referee
may require players of the home team to change jerseys.

NOTE: One American flag, not to exceed 2 inches by 3 inches, may be worn or occupy space on each item of uniform apparel. By state association adoption, to allow for special occasions, commemorative or memorial patches, not to exceed 4 square inches, may be worn on the uniform without compromising its integrity.

Additionally, contrary to what has been reported, the NFHS allows for no more than one manufacturer’s logo on the game uniform, according to rule 1-5-3, which deals with illegal equipment. Again, CHSAA follows NFHS rules. Not allowed are:

1. Jerseys and pants that have:

(a) A visible logo/trademark or reference exceeding 2¼ square inches and exceeding 2¼ inches in any dimension.

(b) More than one manufacturer’s logo/trademark or reference on the outside of either item. (The same size restriction shall apply to either the manufacturer’s logo/trademark or or reference).

(c) Sizing, garment care or other nonlogo labels on the outside of either item.