CHAPEL HILL – North Carolina High School Athletic Association Commissioner Que Tucker announced in a video statement Wednesday that high school football has been rescheduled to begin in February and all other sports schedules will be changed for the 2020-2021 school year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The NCHSAA Board of Directors voted on these changes Tuesday night. No sports will be permitted to hold official tryouts or practices until at least Nov. 4. All seasons will be shortened with football playing 7 games and most other sports playing 14 games.
No decisions have been made about the state playoffs, but the NCHSAA still plans to have playoffs.
“You all have been waiting patiently for a decision from the NCHSAA relative to an amended sport calendar for the 2020-2021 academic year,” stated Tucker. “Please keep in mind that these proposed dates are dependent on COVID-19 conditions improving across the state. However, last night the Board of Directors approved a framework we believe maximizes the opportunities for students in our membership to participate in athletics at some point during this school year, regardless of what plan a school and/or school system operates.”
The first sports to be played will be volleyball and cross country, and they will start practice on Nov. 4 with the first competition slated for Nov. 16.
Basketball practice will begin on Dec. 7 with the first games/scrimmages to start on Jan. 4. The season will end on Feb. 19. Boys soccer’ season will run from Jan. 11 –Mar. 12 with the first competition slated for Jan. 25.
The football season dates are from Feb. 8 until Apr. 9 with the first games scheduled for Feb. 26. Golf, boys’ tennis, girls soccer and softball will start on Mar. 1 and continue until Apr. 30. The first competition for those sports will be on Mar. 15.
Baseball, girls’ tennis, track & field and wrestling will begin on Apr. 12 and end on June 11. First competition will be on Apr. 26.
A cheerleading invitational is scheduled for May 1.
About Author
