Key Topics on Agenda at N.C. High School Athletic Association Meeting in Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, N.C. – The N.C. High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) Board of Directors is set to meet this week for its annual winter meeting, and several important subjects are on the table for discussion. Board members will arrive on Wednesday, with the meeting kicking off at 8:15 a.m..

One of the first actions on the agenda is voting on the consent agenda, which includes admitting three new schools to join the NCHSAA for the next academic year. Following that, the board will move into closed sessions to hold committee meetings.

At around 1 p.m. on Wednesday, the board will dive into critical discussions regarding realignment, the playoffs involving eight classifications, and proposals for future amendments. Among the proposals, the board will consider separating charter and parochial schools from traditional schools in the state playoffs.

Later on Wednesday, the board will hear reports from various committees, including the Finance & Personnel Committee and the Sports Committee. These reports are essential as they will set the stage for voting that occurs on Thursday, which begins at 8:30 a.m..

Thursday’s session will capture the attention of many, as board members will present reports from affiliate members like the N.C. Coaches Association. After a short break, the board will start discussing and voting on proposals from each committee. Press interest is expected to rise with a virtual press conference scheduled for 1 p.m. on Thursday, where Commissioner Que Tucker will field questions from the media about the recent decisions.

Among the notable proposals, Nash Central High School has suggested creating separate playoff brackets for schools without specific attendance zones, aiming to distinguish charter and parochial schools from traditional public schools in playoffs. Dr. Jonathan Tribula from Nash Central noted that many state championships are often clinched by schools lacking clearly defined attendance zones.

Another initiative gaining traction is the push to sanction flag football as an official sport by the 2025-2026 school year. This year alone, an impressive total of 116 schools across North Carolina are expected to field flag football teams. The growing popularity of flag football is fueled in part by support from the Carolina Panthers.

The board will also reassess the RPI (Ratings Percentage Index) formula, which has faced scrutiny since being implemented, with over 51% of coaches expressing dissatisfaction with the current system. With the concerns about playoff ticket pricing, the board is also considering raising ticket prices, as the current rates have remained unchanged for the past seven years.

As the board prepares for a week of significant discussions and decision-making, sports enthusiasts await the outcomes that could greatly influence the high school athletic landscape in North Carolina.