Chapel Hill, NC – The winter meeting of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s Board of Directors concluded on Tuesday, December 2, at the NCHSAA Offices. Over the course of the two-day meeting, the Directors met and discussed agenda items, with action taken on Tuesday. Here’s a summary of the decisions made:
New Member Schools Approved
- The following three schools were accepted for membership in the NCHSAA for the 2026–2027 school year:
- Hawbridge School
- Revolution Academy
- Wilson Mills High School
Budget and Audit Approved
- The board approved the 2024-2025 audit as presented.
- The board also approved the 2025-2026 annual operating budget.
Football Safety & Eligibility Rules Updated
- Approved a rule requiring a minimum 60-hour gap between rescheduled football games (or scrimmages). No contact practices allowed between rescheduled games. Effective 2026–27 season.
- Approved removal of a clause from the handbook dealing with “other reasons” (e.g., suspension, family emergency) for extended school absences before return-to-play protocols. Effective 2026–27.
Officials’ Pay Increase & Payment Process Changes
- All high school sports officials (across all sports) will receive a 5% pay increase (rounded). Implementation begins in the 2026–27 school year.
- Also approved: requirement that regional supervisors accept DragonFly as a payment option for officiating fees. Effective 2026–27.
Golf and Tournament Seeding Adjustments
- For regional and state golf championships, the language “Maximum” was added to the number of qualifiers allowed. Effective 2026–27.
- Male golfers must now play at least five rounds during the season to qualify for the regional tournament. Effective Spring 2026.
- Conference tournament seeding tiebreakers will drop the random draw (former Step 4) in favor of using the NCHSAA RPI ranking. Effective 2026–27.
- Approved the overall 2026–2027 sport season calendar.
- Schools must now submit an opt-out form (signed by the athlete, parent/guardian, and principal/designee) if an individual qualifies for postseason but declines to participate. This takes effect immediately.
What Was Not Approved (or Was Deferred)
- The proposed 35-second shot clock for basketball did not receive approval. The board “punts again,” deciding not to act on it at this meeting.
- The proposal to sanction (or further expand) girls flag football statewide also was not approved this week. The issue remains under discussion.
- The proposal for cooperative (“co-op”) teams — where athletes from two or more schools combine for a single team — was discussed but not adopted at this meeting.
Take Aways
- The addition of three new schools signals continued growth in the NCHSAA membership and reflects the ongoing demand for athletic opportunities in underserved or growing communities.
- The 5% raise for officials is the largest across-the-board pay increase in recent years, showing the Board’s recognition of officiating as a critical and under-supported component of high school sports.
- The new football scheduling and safety rules reflect growing concern for athlete well-being, especially related to injuries and heat/stress from condensed scrimmage or game schedules.
- Tournament and golf qualification changes tighten competitive criteria and bring more structure and fairness to playoff qualification and seeding.
- The lack of action on the shot clock and flag football — two of the highest-profile issues — underscores the ongoing divide and caution within the Board about sweeping changes; both remain on the agenda for future meetings.