NCHSAA adjusts playoff schedules

CHAPEL HILL — The North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s Board of Directors approved a number of modifications to the upcoming fall sports season, giving schools more time to complete their seasons and send in results that will be tabulated for the upcoming playoffs.

The changes came about because of the effects of Hurricane Helene, which has closed numerous schools in the Western part of North Carolina.

“Changes to the fall calendar are difficult as well as complex but necessary,” said NCHSAA President Dr. Stephen Gainey (also the Superintendent of Randolph County School System) and NCHSAA Commissioner Que Tucker in a joint statement. “Keeping our student-athletes safe as we try to minimize risk of injury was central to any decisions made. We commend the work of the NCHSAA staff in its research, the Board of Directors in making time to consider these changes, and the willingness of our host partners to accommodate any changes and make their venues available.”

Changes in football include a minimum of three calendar days (72 hours) in between makeup contests, which will allow teams who missed games to play two games per week. Because the date of reporting final records has been bumped back from Nov. 1 to Nov. 9, other teams will be allowed to schedule an extra game in Week 12. 

Seeding for football playoffs will be held Nov. 10 with the first round set for Nov. 15. The second round will be held Nov. 22, the third round Nov. 29, the fourth round on Dec. 6, the regional finals on Dec. 14 and the state championships will be held on Dec. 20-21.

As usual, teams that advance deep into the playoffs will affect the winter sports programs for their schools. Most winter sports will already be in their conference season when the football season ends.

“I would imagine conference ADs will try to reschedule those early-season conference matchups,” AHS Athletic Director Wes Berrier said. “We would already have had two conference wrestling matches by then. This could really hurt teams that go deep in the playoffs. We already have our winter schedules posted and this could be a real headache for some schools trying to reschedule.”

The other fall sports received modifications as well. 

Girls Tennis

Individual

Dual Team

Volleyball

Effective immediately, the weekly limitation is modified to allow affected schools to make up multiple postponed matches, not to exceed eight in a week. No change was made to the daily limitation.

Cross Country

Boys Soccer

Effective immediately, the weekly limitation is modified to allow affected schools to make up multiple postponed matches, not to exceed four in a week. No change was made to the daily limitation.

Girls Golf

The minimum number of nine-hole scores required to qualify for the Regional Championships was revised from five to three.

Cheerleading

Special Provision

The Board approved one (1) additional contest for all sports with a season limit. To exceed the season limit of contests, the following conditions must be met: