Future discussions drew more attention than current action at last week’s meeting of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association Board of Directors.
Discussion continued on two major topics the board has been considering for some time, the status of transgender athletes in the state’s high school programs and the possibility of allowing home-schooled students to be members of NCHSAA athletic teams.
“Those are huge topics that were discussed,’’ said board member Patty Evers, who is athletic director and girls basketball coach at East Bladen High School.
“There will be more discussion in May (at the board’s spring meeting),’’ Evers said. “Those things are real. They are important issues around our state.’’
Evers said the central point in the home school debate is making sure those students will compete at the school in the district where they reside. “You want them to be involved with other kids on your campus,’’ she said. “I don’t know how it’s all going to come out, but I know something has to be done.’’
The biggest news for Fayetteville to come out of the meeting was the Eastern Regional basketball tournament finals will continue to be held at Fayetteville State’s Capel Arena, with the possibility of East Carolina University holding the other half of the regional finals.
In other action that was taken by the board, a proposal from the N.C. Wrestling Coaches Association was approved to hold a tournament for female wrestlers on a one-year trial basis in Winston-Salem.
“I think that’s a move in the right direction,’’ Evers said. “Hopefully it will bring about other things in the future, like offering the sport in our public schools as a female sport.’’
In a move promoting safety, baseball and softball coaches who are coaching from the box on the field will be required to wear a skull cap or helmet.
Evers coached softball for 13 years at East Bladen and supports the decision. “I think it’s a very smart move that we put that in play,’’ she said.
Because of travel costs, fees for officials assigned to third-round games in the state playoffs with neutral crews will be increased.
Evers, who used to officiate volleyball, once traveled from Elizabethtown to Charlotte for a third-round game.
There will be no limitations placed on seven-on-seven competitions during the summer months. The Sports Medicine Advisory Committee withdrew a tabled proposal that if approved would have put limits on them.
• The N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association recently announced its all-state football teams. The following athletes from NCISAA schools in Cumberland County were selected to the 11-man team.
First team: Cha’von McEachern, RB, Trinity Christian; Zovon Lindsay, OL, Trinity Christian; Jeffrey Woods, DL, Trinity Christian.
Second team: Deumbre Ginyard, WR, Trinity Christian; Jhamal Jackson, DL, Village Christian; Que’won Hilliard, LB, Trinity Christian; Chris Herbert, DB, Trinity Christian.
Honorable mention: Eric Henderson, OL, Village Christian; JaRae King, OL, Trinity Christian; Isaiah Christian, LB, Village Christian; Orlando Flowers, ATH, Village Christian.