2025-2026-NCHSAA_Handbook

(3)

Unless otherwise noted, if an event is held on campus or on school property, the host team is

considered the “home” team.

(4)

Unless otherwise noted, if an event is held off campus (golf course, etc.), the host team is

designated the home team.

(i)

The contest may begin before the last regularly scheduled period if a “host” team is

involved, but schools are still urged to minimize loss of school time.

(ii)

This rule is designed to be used only if the operator of the facility dictates an early

starting time to the host school.

(b)

Playoff Contest - Playoff contests are under the auspices of the NCHSAA.

(1)

Monday-Friday - Contests are set for 7:00 p.m.

(i)

Teams may play at 6:00 p.m. if mutually agreed upon.

(ii)

Game time will be 6:00 p.m. if the visiting team is over 100 miles one-way

(iii)

Any deviation from this must be approved by the NCHSAA.

(2)

Saturday - Teams may play at any time if mutually agreed upon.

(i)

If teams cannot mutually agree, the higher seeded team may choose a starting time

between 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

(ii)

Between 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. if the visiting team is over 100 miles one-way.

(3)

Schools may play earlier than the playoff date designated on the bracket by mutual agree-

ment.

2.2.5

Practice Time - There shall be no athletic practice during the regular school day. This means no individual

or team practice may begin until after the last regularly scheduled instructional period.

(a)

A practice with an outside team during the sport season is a violation.

(b)

No authorized practice, contest, or workouts may occur during the work day for teachers during

the ten-month teaching calendar, and coaches may not use their vacation or leave time to hold a

practice during the teacher work day.

Exception: If a superintendent gives permission for schools in his/her unit to practice prior to the

end of a work day due to inclement weather only.

(c)

On the day following the end of the academic school year calendar, non-mandatory teacher work

days are governed by local policy. This rule also applies to non-faculty coaches.

(d)

Team practice in any sport is prohibited after the sports season ends until the first day following the

final student day of the school year.

2.2.6

Sunday Participation - No participation under the auspices of the NCHSAA may be staged on Sunday, ex­

cept for certain cases approved by the NCHSAA in playoffs and championships.

NOTE: There shall be no Sunday practice, conditioning or skill development in any sport. This includes the as­

sembling of athletic squads (full teams or selected individuals) for purposes of viewing films, chalk talks, or other

materials pertaining to the coaching of the team.

2.2.7

Postponed and Suspended Games - Any single contest postponed because of emergency reasons (bad

weather, epidemics, heating system failure, mid-term exams, or unavoidable mishaps) may be rescheduled and

played.

(a)

No more than three contests may be played in a single week even with postponements and resched-

uling [See weekly limits below and exceptions for volleyball, baseball, tennis, basketball and soft-

ball].

(b)

Postponed games will be made up in the order of postponement on the next possible date; During

the regular season, Saturday will not be used as a makeup day unless mutually agreed upon by the

two schools involved, with the exception of the 11th playing date in football [See Rule 4.5.4 (c) 2].

(1)

Unless approved by the NCHSAA, a postponed game may not be played after the reporting

deadline for playoffs.

(2)

When a playoff game is postponed and then rescheduled, the principals of both schools,

along with the NCHSAA, should be involved with the decision.

(3)

Saturdays must be used as makeup days for playoffs.

(c)

NCHSAA uses the suspended game rule in all sports where appropriate.

(1)

If a contest is suspended at any point, it is resumed from the point of interruption unless the

teams mutually agree to terminate the game with the existing score [See Baseball 4.2.1(n),

Lacrosse 4.7.1(l), Soccer 4.8.1(l) and Softball 4.9.1(l) for specific applications in those sports].

(2)

A suspended game may be continued in another week and not count against the weekly

limitations.

2.2.8

Tie Games - All tie games shall count one-half game won and one-half game lost whenever a conference

champion is determined by percentage standings.

2.2.9

Unplayed and Forfeited Games - If a conference school plays a part of its schedule, and then withdraws

from competition leaving unplayed games, the NCHSAA shall have power, at its discretion, to declare official for-

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