The Anti-Defamation League’s Mountain States Regional office expressed its dismay at the Colorado High School Activities Association’s (CHSAA) refusal to accommodate Jewish athletes from Herzl/RMHA school competing in postseason basketball playoffs, saying that CHSAA’s decision forces the athletes to choose between their faith and their participation in postseason play, and noting that CHSAA gives an automatic accommodation to athletes whose Sabbath falls on a Sunday.

Bruce H. DeBoskey, ADL Mountain States Regional Director, issued the following statement:

“The Anti-Defamation League is disappointed by CHSAA’s refusal to reschedule playoff games to reasonably accommodate the religious needs of the Herzl/RHMA athletes who have trained and competed all year to make it to the state playoffs.

“ADL contacted CHSAA earlier this month to request that it reconsider its refusal to reschedule games to accommodate the Jewish team’s religious obligations – which require them to refrain from participation in events between sundown on Friday and sundown on Saturday – in the event that the team qualified for tournament play. Unfortunately, CHSAA refused to reconsider its decision, even though students who observe a Sunday Sabbath are given an automatic religious accommodation.

“CHSAA’s refusal to accommodate Herzl/RHMA’s request to schedule its games at times that do not conflict with the Jewish Sabbath forces young Jewish athletes to choose between following the tenets of their faith or continuing their quest to compete in postseason play. Because CHSAA’s bylaws forbid any games on Sunday, other students who observe Sunday as the Sabbath are not forced to make this difficult and unreasonable choice.

“The Anti-Defamation League calls upon CHSAA to make accommodations for this year’s tournaments if Herzl/RHMA earns the right to compete at the regional and state levels, to allow for flexibility in future tournaments in all competitive sports to avoid these types of conflicts, and to make Colorado’s high school athletic competition inclusive for all who earn the right to play.”