Athletic Programs

Northfield High School is proud to offer students more than 22 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.

Lettering Awards and Guidelines

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

Meet all requirements set forth by the Denver Public Schools Athletic League.
Meet the individual requirements of the sport
Complete the season in good standing.
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 John Calderwood.

BASEBALL – Boys
- Requirements for baseball lettering – see League Standing Rules – General, II, B, C and D, Awards. In addition, the following should serve as a guideline for receiving a letter in baseball – a player must participate in half of the team’s innings. A pitcher must appear in 35% of the games.
BASKETBALL – Boys/Girls
- Requirements for basketball lettering – see League Standing Rules – General, II, B, C and D, Awards. In addition, the following should serve as a guideline for receiving a letter in basketball – 20 quarters.
CHEER AND DANCE – Boys/Girls
- Cheerleaders should attend 90% of assigned varsity athletic events in uniform. Cheerleaders should attend 90% of all assigned practices as required by sponsor. Sponsor should 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. In addition, the following should serve as a guideline for receiving a letter in Cheerleading – must be in good standing and meet other requirements as set by coach.
CROSS COUNTRY – Boys/Girls
- Requirements for cross country lettering – see League Standing Rules – General, II, B, C and D Awards. In addition the following should serve as a guideline for receiving a letter in cross country – competing in 5 varsity meets or placing 1^st in any varsity, dual or triangular meet, or placing in the top 10 in the city meet.
DIVE – Boys/Girls
- 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 – Boys
- Requirements for football lettering – see League Standing Rules – General, II, B, C and D, Awards. In addition, the following should serve as a guideline for receiving a letter in football – represent the school in 10 quarters of varsity contests.
GOLF – Boys/Girls
- Requirements for golf lettering – see League Standing Rules – General, II, B, C and D, awards. In addition, the following should serve as a guideline for receiving a letter in golf – representing the school in 2 league matches and winning 2, playing in 4 matches, or playing in 2 matches as a member of the championship team.
GYMNASTICS – Girls
- Requirements for gymnastics lettering – see League Standing Rules – General, II, B, C and D, Awards. In addition, the following should serve as a guideline for receiving a letter in gymnastics – enter 75% of all scheduled meets. 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 – Boys/Girls
- Requirements for lacrosse lettering – see League Standing Rules – General, II, B, C and D, Awards. In addition, the following should serve as a guideline for receiving a letter in lacrosse – participate in 5 halves.
SOCCER – Boys/Girls
- Requirements for soccer lettering – see League Standing Rules – General, II, B, C and D, Awards. In addition, the following should serve as a guideline for receiving a letter in soccer – 10 halves.
SOFTBALL – Girls
- Requirements for softball lettering – see League Standing Rules – General, II, B, C and D, Awards. In addition, the following should serve as a guideline for receiving a letter in softball – a player must take part in 27 innings. The pitcher must take part in 15 innings.
SWIMMING – Boys/Girls
- Requirements for swimming lettering – see League Standing Rules – General, II, B, C and D, Awards. In addition, the following should serve as a guideline for receiving a letter in swimming:
  - 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 4 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 – Boys/Girls
- Requirements for tennis lettering – see League Standing Rules – General, II, B, C and D, Awards. In addition, the following should serve as a guideline for receiving a letter in tennis – representing the school in 4 league matches and winning 2 or playing in 6 matches.
TRACK – Boys/Girls
- Requirements for track lettering – see League Standing Rules – General, II, B, C and D, Awards. In addition, the following should serve as a guideline for receiving a letter in track:
- Average 3 points for each league meet held during the season.
- Note: In the DPSAL Relays, only members of the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd relay teams for each event will score points or fractions of points for a letter award.
- Scoring a point or fraction of a point in an individual event, or being a member of a placing relay team in the Denver Public Schools district meet, state meet or any meet that includes 10 or more schools.
VOLLEYBALL – Girls
- Requirements for volleyball lettering – see League Standing Rules – General, II, B, C and D, Awards. In addition, the following should serve as a guideline for receiving a letter in volleyball – a girl must participate in 50% of all scheduled varsity league games.

PE Waivers

Participation in ONE FULL Sports Season = 5 semester hours of PE Requirement WAIVED
Student MUST be a 9th-11th grade student
Student MUST maintain academically eligibility for the ENTIRE Season and MUST complete season
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.

PE Wavier Guidelines and Consideration

DPS athletics sanctioned by CHSAA and meet the following criteria may exempt a student from the physical education graduation requirement. No grade or credit is given for athletic participation and such exemptions will not reduce the number of units required to earn a diploma. Both semesters of the physical education requirement may be exempted by athletic participation.

Criteria governing physical education exemptions for participation in DPS athletics:
- Student must complete the athletic 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.Student must be a high school freshman, sophomore, or junior.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 still excluded whether in state or out.academic eligibility requirements in order to participate.must be requested within one semester of transferring to DPS.Team managers do not qualify Eligible Sports:
- CHSAA-approved DPS Athletics** that participate in CHSAA sanctioned competitions and culminating events: Baseball, Boys Basketball (boys and girls), Cross Country (boys and girls), Field Hockey (girls), Football, Basketball (boys and girls), Golf (boys and girls), Gymnastics (girls), Ice Hockey, Lacrosse (boys and girls), Soccer (boys and girls), Skiing, Softball (girls), Spirit*, Swimming and Diving (boys and girls), Tennis (boys and girls), Track and Field (boys and girls), Unified Bowling, Volleyball (boys and girls), Wrestling (boys and girls)
  - *Spirit:
    - As of the 2021-22 school year, only teams that participate in DPS League, which is a CHSAA sanctioned event, and only students who are on the roster to compete at the DPS League competition event will be eligible for a PE exemption for Cheer/Spirit.**The list of CHSAA approved athletics will be updated annually based on revisions at the CHSAA state level. The process begins when the student makes a request for the exemption to the counselor or athletic director.

How to Become a Northfield Student-Athlete

You must create a one-time Family ID Account and use it to register for each season you intend to participate, provide a yearly physical, pay associated fees ($60/sport season; FRL-eligible students pay $10/sport season) and include an emergency contact, before you can practice, tryout and compete. Physicals are good for one year and can be obtained through your family doctor, a pharmacy or Denver Health School-Based Health Center.

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 Athletic Secretary John Calderwood.

Northfield Athletics

Fall

Winter

Spring