Cary, NC – High school athletics in Wake County schools will continue indefinitely, but Superintendent Cathy Moore says the district will continue to work to provide a sports experience this year.
In an interview on WRAL-TV, Moore, who is a member of the Board of Directors of the NC High School Athletic Association, said sports play an important role in education and Wake County Schools has plans to provide the opportunity for students to participate if it is safe.
“In Wake County, we have suspended all athletic activities indefinitely, but we know that the High School Athletic Association and the Wake County Public School System have a commitment to ensure that our students have some form of athletic season this year,” even if it can be condensed, and even if it can start later, “Moore said.
Sports in Wake County have been shut down since March 13 when the NCHSAA ceased operations statewide due to the coronavirus pandemic. The NCHSAA allowed limited schools to resume optional summer workouts on June 15, as long as school districts were approved, but Wake County has not yet resumed athletic activity.
As athletic activities return for Wake County students, Moore said safety protocols are in place to keep athletes and coaches safe.
“Currently, the High School Athletics Association has proposed some guidelines that reflect and comply with the guidelines passed by (NC Department of Health & Human Services) on the number of student-athletes who may participate in workouts or conditioning. , “Said Moore. “We have cleaning protocols and security protocols … screens and temperature controls that need to happen. It’s very similar to the type of things that need to happen when students come on site, those things will have to be school systems for every place that at this point in sports activities. “
As a board member of NCHSAA, Moore has been involved in state-level decision-making surrounding sports schools. This week, the board voted to approve a renewal of the 2020-2021 sports calendar, which includes agreeing to move the football season to February and the delay from the start of each season to at least November 4th.
“It’s been a long process since the closure last spring and the cancellation of the rest of the spring season. There have been a lot of talks and meetings held to think about what the state of the pandemic looks like in the state. “North Carolina, we know it’s not the same everywhere,” she said.
Cross country and volleyball will be the first sports to start again on November 4, followed by swimming & diving later in the month, then basketball in December. Boys football and lacrosse will resume in January. Click here to see the full sports calendar for this school year.
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