The Bladen County Board of Education voted Thursday night to allow middle school and high school athletes and coaches to return to voluntary conditioning workouts starting on Monday, October 12.
Dr. Robert Heavenridge, Director of Athletics for Bladen County Schools, presented the proposal to the Board that was submitted by Bladen County Schools’ athletic directors. The Bladen athletes and coaches will follow Phase 2 of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association guidelines for the workouts.
Dr. Robert Taylor, Superintendent of Bladen County Schools, stressed that the conditioning and workouts are voluntary, not mandatory.
Starting on October 5th, high school coaches will begin contacting students, conducting tryouts, deep cleaning and disinfecting equipment, and preparing workout schedules. The first day for student conditioning and workouts will be October 12.
Cross-country, volleyball and basketball can begin their seasons before the end of the year. Starting in January, 2021 the NCHSAA has approved men’s and women’s soccer, football, golf, men’s and women’s tennis, softball, baseball, and track and field, to begin their seasons according to a NCHSAA calendar approved on September 15. The full schedule of athletics can be read here.
Dr. Heavenridge also shared that for the remainder of the 2020/2021 school year, the Waccamaw Middle School Conference will limit its middle school football games within the home county of conference teams. Bladen schools will play Bladen schools and Columbus and Whiteville schools will play Columbus and Whiteville schools.
Other middle school athletics will be played within the Waccamaw Middle School Conference with Bladen schools playing Columbus and Whiteville schools. Conditioning and tryouts can begin as early as December 7 for basketball and cheerleading however, the first games will not begin until January 2021.
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