As NCISAA teams begin to play in masks, NCHSAA now requires them indoors and out

Beginning Monday, private high school basketball teams in North Carolina will begin to play in masks. Tuesday will mark the first big night of games.

N.C. Governor Roy Cooper recently issued an executive order requiring public and private school athletes to wear masks while playing basketball indoors.

On Tuesday, the N.C. High School Athletic Association sent a note out to member schools informing that them that masks must be worn for skill development sessions, indoors or outdoors.

Previously, only indoor participants in NCHSAA volleyball games or skill workouts for out-of-season sports were required to wear masks. This move will likely mean that when public school basketball begins practice Monday, the athletes will do so in masks. It also means that NCHSAA football teams must wear masks while going through skill development workouts outside.

The Observer obtained a copy of the NCHSAA memo, which said the changes were made based on Cooper’s Executive Order, issued Nov. 23.

The memo says:

▪ Masks must be worn for skill development by all persons, indoors and outdoors.

▪ Six feet of social distancing is required.

▪ Workouts should occur in small groups/pods

▪ Masks must continue to be worn at all times by volleyball participants during practice and competition.

▪ Contest workers and spectators must wear a mask and maintain six feet of social distancing.

▪ Cross country runners must wear a mask at all times until the race begins and put the mask back on once the race ends.

▪ Swimmers and divers must wear a mask until a race or competition starts and put the mask back on once the student-athlete is out of the water.

The memo continued, “As stated during regional meetings, we have a point person with the DHHS (Department of Health and Human Services) who helps us as questions arise and/or we need clarifications relative to the executive order or sports guidelines. The membership should also note that the NCHSAA Sports Medicine Advisory Committee, particularly a COVID-19 subcommittee, continues to be our “go-to” for information, advice, and recommendations as we navigate through this pandemic.

“The NCHSAA will share information relative to the basketball season’s official start once the Winter Meeting of the Board of Directors concludes.”

The NCHSAA Board has its regularly scheduled Winter Meeting Wednesday and Thursday, and a media briefing will be held Thursday afternoon.

The public school basketball season doesn’t begin until Jan. 4. But the private schools are already underway. Many private schools practiced in masks for the first time Monday.

The Observer reached out to private athletic directors in the Mecklenburg and Wake County areas Sunday asking if any school had plans to not play this week in the masks.

As of Monday afternoon, no school had indicated that it would not be playing. There is a full schedule on tap Tuesday after a handful of games Monday.

Here is this week’s schedule in the Mecklenburg and Wake County areas.

Mecklenburg-area schedule

(all are girls-boys doubleheaders unless noted otherwise)

MONDAY

Metrolina Athletic Conference

Gaston Christian at Metrolina Christian

Nonconference

Covenant Classical at Arborbrook Christian

TUESDAY

Metrolina Athletic Conference

Gaston Day at Concord Academy

Nonconference

Cannon School at Northside Christian (boys)

Charlotte Latin at Carmel Christian

Davidson Day at Calvary Day

Lake Norman Christian vs. Covenant Classical, at Raleigh Sports and Event Center (boys)

Legacy Early College at Cannon School (girls)

Moravian Prep at Covenant Day (boys)

New Life Christian at Combine Academy (boys)

South Charlotte Thunder at Arborbrook Christian (boys)

United Faith Christian at Charlotte Christian

Wesleyan Christian at Charlotte Country Day

Woodlawn School at Hickory Christian (boys)

THURSDAY

Battle at the Rock (boys)

(at Rock Hill Sports and Event Center)

York Prep vs. Northside Christian, 6

Legion Collegiate vs. Chattanooga Hamilton Heights Christian, 7:30

Nonconference

Arborbrook Christian at Northwestern (boys)

Tabernacle Christian at Davidson Day

Victory Christian at Charlotte Christian

FRIDAY

Battle at the Rock (boys)

(at Rock Hill Sports and Event Center)

Legacy Early College vs. Duncan (SC) Byrnes, 5:30

Combine Academy vs. Dorman, 7

Lake Norman Christian vs. Sunrise Christian, 8:30

Metrolina Athletic Conference

Gaston Day at Gaston Christian

Southlake Christian at Northside Christian

Westminster Catawba at Concord Academy

Nonconference

Arborbrook Christian at Woodlawn School (boys)

Carmel Christian at Christ School (boys)

Clover at Charlotte Latin

Covenant Day at Davidson Day (girls)

Davidson Day at Freedom Christian (boys)

Greensboro Day at Cannon School

Hickory Christian at Caldwell Academy

Hickory Grove Christian at Calvary Day

Providence Day at Ravenscroft

Statesville Christian at Liberty Prep (boys)

Statesville Christian at The Burlington School (girls)

SATURDAY

Battle at the Rock (boys)

(at Rock Hill Sports and Event Center)

United Faith Christian vs. Aiken, 11 a.m.

Westminster Catawba vs. Cannon School, 12:30

Winston-Salem Christian vs. Hamilton Heights Christian, 2

Covenant Day vs. Keenan, 3:30

Combine Academy vs. Blythewood, 5:30

Legacy Early College vs. Sunrise Christian, 7

Lake Norman Christian vs. Northwestern, 8:30

Diamond Classic (girls)

(at Spartanburg Christian)

United Faith Christian vs. Oakbrook Prep, 1:30

Cannon School vs. Covenant Day, 3

Victory Christian vs. Spartanburg Christian, 7:30

Nonconference

Carmel Christian at Rabun Gap (GA)

Charlotte Christian at Wesleyan Christian

Greensboro Day at Charlotte Christian

Providence Day School at Durham Academy

Wake County-area schedule

(all are girls-boys doubleheaders unless noted otherwise)

TUESDAY

Nonconference

Burlington Christian at Thales Academy-Apex

Burlington School at Ravenscroft

Cary Christian at Forsyth Country Day

Faith Christian (Goldsboro) at Raleigh Christian

GRACE Christian at Trinity Academy

Kerr-Vance Academy at St. Thomas More

Lighthouse Christian at Neuse Christian

North Raleigh Christian at Thales Academy-Rolesville

South Wake Sabres at St. David’s School

Trinity Christian at Mount Zion Christian

Wake Christian at Arendell Parrott Academy

Wayne Country Day at Friendship Christian

WEDNESDAY

Nonconference

Cary Academy at St. Thomas More

THURSDAY

Nonconference

Friendship Christian at Neuse Christian

Raleigh Christian at Liberty Heights (boys)

Southside Christian at Wilson Christian

Trinity Academy at Greenfield School (boys)

FRIDAY

Triangle-Triad Athletic Conference

Trinity Academy at Trinity School of Durham/Chapel Hill

Nonconference

Durham Academy at St. David’s School

High Point Christian at GRACE Christian

Metrolina Christian at Wake Christian

Mount Zion Christian at Greenfield School (boys)

Raleigh Hawks at Cary Academy (boys)

Ravenscroft at Providence Day

Southside Christian at Crossroads Christian

Thales Academy-Rolesville at Burlington Christian

SATURDAY

Nonconference

Providence Day at Durham Academy

Word of God at Mount Zion Christian (boys)

Mecklenburg area standings

BOYS

(through Saturday’s games)

CISAA

Metrolina Athletic Conference

Foothills Athletic Conference

Southern Piedmont Athletic

Other N.C.

GIRLS

(through Saturday’s games)

CISAA

Metrolina Athletic Conference

Foothills Athletic Conference

Southern Piedmont Athletic

Other N.C.

Wake County-area standings

BOYS

(through Saturday’s games)

Triangle Independent Schools Conference

Eastern Plains 3A

Raleigh-Area Athletic Conference

Triangle-Triad Athletic Conference

NCCSA District 3 2A

Others

GIRLS

(through Saturday’s games)

Triangle Independent Schools Conference

Eastern Plains 3A

Raleigh-Area Athletic Conference

Triangle-Triad Athletic Conference

NCCSA District 3 2A

Others