Athletic Programs

Basketball game

Northfield High School is proud to offer students more than 20 CHSAA-certified athletic options to choose from (see the list below). Each is designed as an integral component of the Northfield educational experience by providing meaningful learning opportunities outside of our International Baccalaureate classroom curriculum, including sportsmanship, teamwork, commitment, loyalty, self-discipline, pride, responsibility, and leadership. EVERY student at Northfield High School has the opportunity to try out for a team, if they meet school, DPS and CHSAA requirements.

How to Become a Northfield Student-Athlete

Student-athletes (or family) must create a one-time Family ID Account and use it to register for each season of athletic participation, provide a yearly physical using the CHSAA Preparticipation Evaluation form, pay associated fees ($90/sport season; FRL-eligible students pay $25/sport season) and include an emergency contact. These items must be submitted prior to participating in tryouts or practices. Physicals are good for one year and can be obtained through a family doctor, a pharmacy or Denver Health School-Based Health Center.

Students without a Program

If a student wishes to participate in an athletic program not offered by Northfield, they can access the Student Without a Program (SWOP) process and guidelines:

A student is defined as SWOP if their school of attendance or nonpublic home-based educational program does not offer an activity in which the student wishes to participate, the student may participate in the activity at another public school in the student’s school district of attendance or in the student’s school district of residence. 

The student and family should select a school of participation where they will compete in the majority of their interested sports.

In addition to the FamilyID/arbitersports registration, please complete the Student Without a Program form.

If you need help registering or have questions, call the Northfield Athletics Office at 720-423-8011. To be eligible for discounted athletic fees, an FRL application must be completed and the confirmation sent to Northfield Athletics Assistant, John Calderwood.

Fall Sports
Winter Sports
Spring Sports
Lettering Awards and Guidelines

A candidate for lettering in any sport must meet the following requirements:

  1. Meet all requirements set forth by the Denver Public Schools Athletic League.
  2. Meet the individual requirements of the sport
  3. Complete the season in good standing.
  4. Have the recommendation of the coach and the principal.
    Forfeitures and byes are not to count toward winning an award.
    The principal and coach of the school concerned may award a 4-year meritorious service letter to a senior who has never lettered.

Letter Jacket ordering occurs at the end of every season. Be on the lookout for announcements! For additional information please email Northfield Athletics Assistant, John Calderwood.

Sport-Specific Lettering Requirements

  • Baseball
    • See League Standing Rules – General, II, B, C and D Awards. In addition, a player must participate in half of the team’s innings. A pitcher must appear in 35% of the games.
  • Basketball
    • See League Standing Rules – General, II, B, C and D Awards. In addition, a player must appear in 20 quarters throughout a season.
  • Cheer and Dance
    • Cheerleaders should attend 90% of assigned varsity athletic events in uniform. Coaches keep a record of all events and practices attended from fall sports to the end of spirit season. Cheerleaders will conduct themselves at all times in or out of uniform in a manner becoming to their position as leaders and official representatives of their high school.
  • Cross Country
    • See League Standing Rules – General, II, B, C and D Awards. In addition to competing in five varsity meets or placing 1st in any varsity, dual or triangular meet, or placing in the top 10 in the city meet.
  • Dive
    • A swimmer must earn 30 points in dual meet competition or place in the top 3 of the city varsity swimming meet, or qualify for the state meet. Note: Points scored in relays are divided equally among the four relay members. A diver must earn 24 diving points or place in the top 3 places of the city swimming meet or qualify for the state meet.
  • Football
    • See League Standing Rules – General, II, B, C and D Awards. In addition, a player must represent the school in 10 quarters of varsity contests.
  • Golf
    • See League Standing Rules – General, II, B, C and D Awards. In addition, a player must represent the school and win two league matches, play in four matches, or play in two matches as a member of the championship team.
  • Gymnastics
    • See League Standing Rules – General, II, B, C and D Awards. In addition, a gymnast must enter 75% of all scheduled meets, as well as place in the top 4 of 50% of all scheduled meets, or earn team points in 50% of all meets, or place in the top 6 places of the district meet.
  • Lacrosse
    • See League Standing Rules – General, II, B, C and D Awards. In addition, a player must participate in five halves.
  • Soccer
    • See League Standing Rules – General, II, B, C and D Awards. In addition, a player must participate in 10 halves.
  • Softball
    • See League Standing Rules – General, II, B, C and D Awards. In addition, a player must take part in 27 innings. The pitcher must take part in 15 innings.
  • Swimming
    • See League Standing Rules – General, II, B, C and D Awards. In addition:
      • A swimmer must earn 30 points in dual meet competition or place in the top 3 of the city varsity swimming meet, or qualify for the state meet. Points scored in relays are divided equally among the four relay members.
      • A diver must earn 24 diving points or place in the top 3 places of the city swimming meet or qualify for the state meet.
  • Tennis
    • See League Standing Rules – General, II, B, C and D Awards. In addition, a player must represent the school in four league matches and win two, or play in six matches.
  • Track
    • See League Standing Rules – General, II, B, C and D Awards. In addition:
      • A participant must earn three points for each league meet held during the season. Note: In the DPSAL relays, only members of the first, second or third relay teams, for each event will score points or fractions of points for a letter award.
      • A participant must score a point or fraction of a point in an individual event, or be a member of a placing relay team in the DPS district meet, state meet or any meet that includes 10 or more schools.
  • Volleyball
    • See League Standing Rules – General, II, B, C and D Awards. In addition, a player must participate in 50% of all scheduled varsity league games.
PE Waivers and Consideration

Northfield High School student-athlete who participate in CHSAA sanctioned sport and meet the following criteria, may be exempt from the physical education graduation requirement. No grade or credit is given for athletic participation alone; exemptions do not reduce the number of units required to earn a diploma.

PE Waiver Criteria

  1. Participation in ONE FULL Sports Season = Five semester hours of PE Requirement WAIVED.
  2. Student MUST be a 9th-11th grade student.
  3. Student MUST maintain academically eligibility for the ENTIRE Season and MUST complete season.
  4. Students MUST request the waiver through their counselor prior to the first game. If the request is made after the first game, the waiver will be denied. Please see counselor for details.

Criteria governing physical education exemptions for participation in DPS athletics: A student-athlete must complete the season in good standing. One full sport season played at DPS is required to exempt a student from 0.5 unit of PE; two full sport seasons played is required to exempt from one unit of PE. Exempted units must be made up in other subject areas. Exemption must be requested at the beginning of the season in the same semester the sport is played. Seniors who have not yet met the physical education requirements are not allowed to take this exemption and must enroll in physical education course(s). Transfer students are also eligible for an exemption if the same criteria are met and the student participates in a sport sanctioned and regulated by CHSAA. Club sports are excluded whether in state or out. Team managers are not eligible for waved credit/unit.

NCAA Eligibility