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Fall high school sports in North Carolina delayed until September

NORTH CAROLINA — It looks like fall high school sports in North Carolina will now be delayed until Sept. 1. This comes after the State High School Athletic Association laid out what its Phase Two is going to look like.

This decision will impact thousands of student athletes in the Charlotte area.

Commissioner Que Tucker said the board is committed to safely offering sports programs, but at the same time, they want to ensure the health and safety of students and coaches.

The State High School Athletic Association is still set to move into Phase Two on Aug. 3. Each school district will decide when they will start.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools has not decided yet.

Schools start Aug. 17, but the first five days are considered a “dead period” for all sports.

If practice is outside, it is limited to 25 people.

If the sport is inside, that number goes down to 10 and that includes coaches, players and trainers. There will be social distancing, extensive cleaning and sanitizing.

Temperature checks are required and masks are encouraged when possible. There is no team travel and no spectators.

Commissioner Tucker said while fall sports are expected to resume Sept. 1, that date can be delayed.