CHSAA Releases 2025 Sporting Behavior Manual

The Colorado High School Activities Association has released its 2025 edition of the Sporting Behavior Manual.

This comprehensive, effective, yet simple guide is meant to help CHSAA member schools plan their year with sportsmanship in mind. The goal of the program is to supplement a school’s operation manual with specific procedures that relate to positive sporting behavior.

“There is no doubt that sportsmanship is key to everything we do, but it is more than that,” CHSAA Commissioner Mike Krueger shares in the opening letter. “Sporting behavior speaks to the very ideals of what we aspire to achieve as a membership of high schools in Colorado. Each and every one of our activities are meant to be enjoyable and enrich the educational experience of our student participants, adding significant value to every contest, production and competition. These events are not just about the competition; they are about having fun, building character, promoting physical health, and teaching our students to become positive contributors to society.”

Throughout the manual, schools can find preseason meetings and player, coach, fan and parent expectations conduct guidelines, game management information, ideas for promoting sportsmanship, managing crowd control, a year-end sportsmanship assessment report and more.

“The Sporting Behavior Manual is more than just a resource, it’s a roadmap for creating a culture of respect, responsibility, and fun across every event we host,” said CHSAA Assistant Commissioner Rashaan Davis, who oversees sportsmanship initiatives for the state. “For players, coaches, athletic and activity directors, and school leaders alike, this guide offers clear, practical tools to build programs where competition is meaningful, character is developed, and every participant feels valued. By using this manual intentionally throughout the year, we can align our school communities around a shared vision for positive sporting behavior that enriches the student experience and elevates the purpose of education-based activities.”

In addition to practical resources that can be implemented right away, users can also find a list of books, podcasts and TED Talks to help with teaching acceptance of outcomes, or articles, blog posts and videos addressing the negative effects of “running up the score.”

More sportsmanship resources can be found on CHSAA’s Sportsmanship website.