NC's Phase 2 Pause Delays High School Sports Beyond Sept. 1

NORTH CAROLINA — Student participation in all fall high school sports, including football, will be delayed beyond Sept. 1 throughout the state, North Carolina High School Athletic Association announced Thursday.

The news comes one day after North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper announced a delay in going forward with the state's reopening plan. North Carolina will remain under the modified Phase 2 executive order, which was to expire Aug. 7, for another five weeks.

Phase 2 restrictions are now set to expire at 5 p.m. Sept. 11.

“Other states that lifted restrictions quickly have had to go backward as their hospital capacity ran dangerously low and their cases jumped higher. We will not make that mistake in North Carolina,” Governor Roy Cooper said Wednesday. “In keeping with our dimmer switch approach with schools opening, and in order to push for decreasing numbers which will keep people healthier and boost our economy, North Carolina will remain paused in Safer At Home Phase 2 for 5 weeks.”

Among the restrictions, residents are encouraged to stay at home, limit gatherings to no more than 10 indoors or 25 outdoors.

"At his press conference on Wednesday, August 5, 2020, Governor Roy Cooper and his health team extended Phase Two of the state's reopening plan until at least September 11," Que Tucker, NCHSAA commissioner, said in a statement. "Unfortunately, this announcement means that the start of the 2020-2021 school year will be delayed beyond September 1 for NCHSAA member schools."

Tucker said that a review of options is underway and the organization hoped to announce a new calendar for the upcoming school year before Aug. 17.

"We want to play sports during the upcoming school year and are making plans to do so; however, the health and safety of all participants, including coaches and other essential staff, will be a priority as decisions and plans are made," Tucker said.