NCHSAA board to discuss schools combining to form one team, shot clock, more
Could two or more N.C. high schools be allowed to combine athletic teams?
The N.C. High School Athletic Association’s board of directors will hold its winter meetings in Chapel Hill this week, and that’s one of the topics on the agenda.
A proposal from the Four Rivers Conference in eastern North Carolina says that schools are facing declining student populations, which is leading to limited athletic participation and a hardship trying to field competitive teams — or field teams in some sports at all.
The proposal from the conference, if approved, would allow schools to agree to merge to form teams with all participating students having equal opportunities for playing time. The new combined teams would have a no-cut policy.
If approved, the change would go into effect for the 2027-28 school year.
Other topics for discussion include:
— To allow schools to voluntarily use a basketball shot clock during scrimmages, regular-season invitational tournaments and special event games. Phenom Hoops has successfully used shot clocks this season at several weekend tournaments in Mecklenburg County.
— A proposal to reduce the number of weeks in basketball season and increase the number of weeks for baseball season.
— Pay raises for officials in lacrosse, football and volleyball. If approved, these changes would go into effect for the 2026-27 school year.
— A requirement to have a minimum of 60 hours between football games and scrimmages, as well as not allowing contact practice between games to be scheduled close together, usually due to weather-related postponements.
— Eliminating the use of shoulder pads during summer football skill development workouts and 7 on 7 games.
— A discussion, but no vote, on the potential to sanction girls’ flag football as well as discussion about when the sport would be played, fall or spring. According to a survey of member schools, nearly 80 percent of responding schools have played flag football in fall. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools currently offers flag football in the spring.
— A proposal to reward conference champions with favorable playoff seeding, ahead of a team in the same league with a higher RPI.
