Live from NCHSAA news conference Wednesday, July 8 2020
The N.C. High School Athletic Association called a special news conference Wednesday, July 8 to discuss sports. Here are live updates.
- Today’s meeting is to get more information from the association and to ask questions. This is more because they are getting lots of requests for interviews and are planning more videoconferences in future.
No major announcements today
- Commissioner Que Tucker said the NCHSAA believes academics comes first and “we know everyone wnats a decision about whether or not will fall sports start on time...will Friday night lights be on in our state, starting in August or September. We simply cannot give you that answer at this time.”
- Tucker said it’s difficult to return to competition unless students return to schools.
- Tucker said they will do the best they can to give students and opportunity to be onthe field and exploring ways to “make tweaks” to offer scholastic sports opportunities in this climate. She said the NCHSAA has many plans, from inside office, other states and coaches. But “until we know how schools will reopen we’ll work behind scenes to determine the best path forward.”
- Tucker said the association will have to adjust if the state opens under Gov Cooper’s Plan B or C. She said Plan B is most concerning because it says 50 percent in school on rotating basis. If it’s Plan C, remote learning, does that mean they can’t be on campus because it’s unsafe or high school are being used for elementary and middle schools.
“A lot of factors play into decisions we make,” Tucker said.
- Tucker said once Cooper makes his announcement, then they can have “a better feel” of if they can start practice Aug. 1, Aug. 15 or even Sept. 1. She said the association is open to starting the season later with a shortened season, a shortened playoff and even just a conference championship ending the season.
- Asked about football in spring, Tucker said spring athletes are not working out now and said the entire membership would have to buy in to a flip flop of seasons.
- Tucker is aware of athletes participating in live travel sports. “I can’t control what Mommas and Daddies allow their children to do on the weekends. Is that concerning? Yes. Especially if we’re not practicing the three Ws.”
- Tucker said the NCHSAA applied and received a PPP loan to help protect payroll so it would not have to layoff anyone and “provide the same level of member service to member schools.”
Tucker said it was close to a $150,000. She said funds were used to pay staff members and we anticipated the loan will be forgiven.
- Tucker said four cases of COVID-19 have been reported by schools since workouts began June 15 but those cases were traced and determined to not have begun on campus.
- Tucker said schools participating in workouts right now don’t have advantages over schools that are not because teams are not engaging in live activities. She feels like when the official practice date is announced, all schools “will have ample time to catch up.”
-- Tucker: Biggest challenge for fall plans is flexibility given to individual systems. She thinks some might have flex schedules, some remote. Bus concerns could be an issue getting kids from home to practice. How to get teams to games?
- Could kids get an extra year? Tucker said, “Today, I don’t see that as possibility” due to NCHSAA and state rules around age. Said board talked briefly about that in April. Said other state commissioners have discussed but not much traction to allow it at this time.
She said the board would have to address it and membership would have to be questioned about it.
- What’s her message to athletes as they wait to find out if they play? “Just enjoy this moment, knowing there is more to come. When will it come? We really don’t know...Let’s just live in the moment.”
- Tucker said she has spoken with the NCISAA about potential recruiting activity, both ways, and are trying to find ways to mitigate that. Tucker said she also speaks to commissioners in neighboring states. She said the NCHSAA cannot prevent kids from moving inside or outside the state.
- Tucker said if health authorities say contact sports can’t be played this fall, “that’s a moment of reckoning,” and the NCHSAA and its board will have to make a decision about potentially moving sport. Said they might try to play lower risk sports.
- Would NCHSAA consider games with no or few fans? Tucker said it’s a challenge b/c football is bread winner at most schools. Said NCHSAA will get guidance from DHHS about how many fans can come. Hope at least half capacity of stadiums.
- If no football, could coaches put together 7-on-7 teams and play this fall in school gear? Not in school gear or using school equipment, and players would not be covered by NCHSAA catastrophic insurance. Hopes no one will do that.
This story was originally published July 8, 2020 at 11:00 AM.
