After a long wait, some CMS sports teams finally return Monday. What about Wake?
On Monday, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools will finally allow some sports teams to return to campus.
Cross-country and volleyball teams in the district will begin offseason conditioning workouts. CMS teams haven’t played or had any type of workout or practice, in the school setting, since the N.C. High School Athletic Association shut down sports in March due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The NCHSAA allowed teams to begin summer workouts on June 15.
Initially, CMS decided to wait a few weeks, until July 6, to return, but ultimately decided against allowing any workouts at all due to concerns with COVID-19 numbers in Mecklenburg County. Wake County made the same decision.
Several surrounding districts, near Mecklenburg County, have returned to summer workouts and have now begun skill conditioning in all fall sports, including football. CMS has not said when it would allow any other sports to return for workouts and it has not said if it will allow teams to have official practice or play in games while the district is in remote learning.
Wake County has not allowed teams to begin workouts, schools spokeperson Timothy Simmons said. He said, like CMS, the district has not made a decision on whether teams would be allowed to play games or have official practice while in remote learning.
Simmons said athletic participation would be discussed at Tuesday’s Wake County School Board meeting.
The NCHSAA cross-country and volleyball seasons begin with practice Nov. 4, first games Nov. 16 and will finish with state championships Jan. 23.
Due to the pandemic, the NCHSAA pushed back the start of high school sports from August to November. High school basketball will start in December and football begins in February.
