CMS football, other sports will return. Here’s the schedule.

On Monday, volleyball and cross-country teams from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools were allowed to begin offseason skills workouts.

Now, the rest of the district teams — including football — can begin.

A proposal from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools athletic directors has been approved by the district, spokesperson Brian Hacker told the Observer. Under the plan, CMS high school football teams can begin workouts Oct. 12.

CMS athletic director Sue Doran told the Observer earlier this month there are more than 9,000 students who will participate in athletics during the 2020-21 school year.

CMS still has not said whether it will allow teams to participate in official practices or N.C. High School Athletic Association game competitions while in remote learning. At a meeting Wednesday night, the school board voted to begin returning students to the classroom starting Oct. 12.

CMS high school students, however, will not return until at least Dec. 14, for EOC testing. They would return for classroom instruction Jan. 5.

Seven NCHSAA sports begin before Dec. 14. Boys and girls cross country and volleyball practice starts Nov. 4, with games beginning Nov. 14. Boys and girls swim practices begins Nov. 23 with first meets no earlier than Dec. 7. Boys and girls basketball practices starts Dec. 7 with first games on Jan. 4.

The NCHSAA shut down high school sports in March due to the coronavirus pandemic. It allowed teams to begin summer workouts in June, though CMS opted out. Skill workouts were permitted after schools finished five days of in-person or remote learning.

CMS return to workouts schedule

Note: CMS is not allowing off-campus workouts except during an Oct. 12-31 window when gyms are used at high school voting sites. Basketballl and volleyball teams will be allowed to practice off campus during that time....An Oct .12 return date for marching band is under consideration.

This story was originally published September 17, 2020 at 2:54 PM.

Langston Wertz Jr.

The Charlotte Observer

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Langston Wertz Jr. is an award-winning sports journalist who has worked at the Observer since 1988. He’s covered everything from Final Fours and NFL to video games and Britney Spears. Wertz -- a West Charlotte High and UNC grad -- is the rare person who can answer “Charlotte,” when you ask, “What city are you from.” Support my work with a digital subscription