Number of Fans Allowed at Football Games Increased to 30%

Business

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper announced today that the cap on fans at sporting events would be increased.

The new order does not go into effect until Friday at 5 P.M. so this Thursdays games will still be under the 100 spectator rule.

Outdoor sports are allowed to have a maximum of 30% of the venues capacity, so  even though we wont see stadiums filled, we will see an exponential increase in fans.

Indoor venues are also allowed a maximum of 30% capacity, but that is capped at 250 people no matter if 30% of the venue exceeds that number.

2,000 people is my best guess on what local area stadiums can hold. 30% of 2,000 is 600, so you can bounce that number around in your head when considering about how many fans will be allowed inside games.

At least this way all the parents of the kids will get to attend. We are taking steps in the right direction, and we can only hope that things will get back to normal sooner than later.

NCHSAA- No more Little 1a and Big 1a Football in 2021

TeamFYNSports
sports postponed

High School football is going to look entirely different come 2021.

After a 2020 season that will present its own challenges and has already been moved to the spring, don’t expect things to get back to our expected norm in the years to come.

The Board of Directors voted for a complete overhaul of the state football playoffs. Beginning next year there will no longer be any subclassifications, meaning that there will no longer be any Big 1a and Little 1a, instead there will only be the 1a classification.

Previously, there have been 8 state champions crowned in North Carolina. Two in each classification. Now the NCHSAA will only be crowning 4 state champions, as the classifications will no longer be cut in half. This mean 128 less teams in the NCHSAA state playoffs.

The board also voted to reduce the number of regular season games from 11 to 10, including an endowment game.

Realignment for the classifications will happen on December 10th.

 

NCHSAA 1a Preseason Football Rankings

Business
NCHSAA top 10

Football season is right around the corner in North Carolina. What a weird season it will be with games starting at the end of February.

The FYN Sports team has sat down and compiled our North Carolina High School Athletic Association 1A Football Rankings.

We took into account how the teams finished last year, the players that they had returning, and the strength of schedule that they will be playing. It is a shortened 7 game schedule for all North Carolina teams, so that was also taken into account.

  1. East Surry

East Surry throttled Tarboro in the Big 1A State Championship 56-28 last year. They lost a few seniors to college and one impact player who early enrolled since the season was moved, but they also return two division 1 guys and a handful of D2-D3 talent. We’ve got them going into the season ranked at Number 1 for a reason.

Photo From East Surry Athletics Facebook Page

  1. Tarboro

Tarboro advanced to the Big 1A State Championship last year and lost to the aforementioned East Surry Cardinals. That was the only blemish on their schedule last year, and the first loss the Vikings had suffered since 2016! In 2017 and 2018 they won back-to-back State Championships. I have heard rumors of Tarboro being in Little 1A or Big 1A. Same with a few other teams on this list. I would expect Tarboro to compete in either classification.

Photo From @TarboroFotball on Twitter

  1. Robbinsville

Photo From RHS Digital Media on Facebook

The kings of the Smoky Mountain Conference last year, overcoming “big brother’ Murphy twice. They beat Northampton 45-14 in the Little 1A State Championship. They are losing their main offensive weapon and star running back to graduation, but the Black Knights will look to reload as always. Coach Dee Walsh has the Knights competing for a title every year it seems. The Black Knights will look to repeat as State Champions by first winning the SMC again this year, a task some say is harder than winning the State title.

  1. Murphy

10-3 overall record last year, with 2 of those losses coming against defending Little 1A State Champions and Conference rival, Robbinsville. In the third round of the State Playoffs last year, they fell to Robbinsville 24-13 after previously losing to the Black Knights 17-14 at home in the regular season. Coach David Gentry definitely cannot be happy losing to that team across the County Line twice, and seeing them hoist the State Title means the Bulldogs will be out for blood this year. Circle Murphy @ Robbinsville on your calendar!

Photo courtesy of Stacey Posey

  1. John A. Holmes (Edenton)

The John A. Holmes Aces were rolling last year until they ran into Tarboro in the regional championship in Big 1A. 12-1 with a defense that allowed 7 or fewer points in  games last year, I think that they will pose a threat to make a run at the Title, especially if Tarboro moves down and East Surry has lost more talent than it seems.

Photo From Edenton Aces Facebook page

  1. Mountain Island Charter

Photo from Irishsportsdaily.com

Southern Piedmont Conference Champs last year. Lost to East Surry in the Elite 8 in Big 1A. A high powered offense that scored 50 or more in 6 games last and has quite a few Juniors returning on the offensive side of the ball. The Raptors are building something and have finally made it over the hump with last years’ 11-3 season.

  1. Mitchell

Mitchell is the first team on this list where playing in February (and the weather that Febrary brings) could really hurt them. The Mountaineers are no stranger to bad weather in the winter months, and with the way this COVID season will work, they can’t afford any games lost due to inclement weather. Last year, they lost to East Surry in the Big 1A Regional Championship game. Look for them to have another good year, and perhaps find themselves back down in Little 1A.

Photo From sprucepinechevy.com

  1. Swain County

Last year, the Maroon Devils lost to Mitchell in the 2nd round of the Big 1A State Championships. In the regular season, they unfortunately faced Murphy and Robbinsville in back-to-back weeks on their schedule, where they fell to Murphy 15-14 and then were gassed by Robbinsville 43-6. It may be weird to see a team that finished third in their Conference ranked in the Top 10 in the State, but you have to remember what conference they play in, and the fact that these guys just seem to be able to compete year-in and year-out regardless. The Veer is a hard thing to beat in High School football.

Photo From Swain Pride on Facebook

  1. Northampton County

A cinderella story in last years Little 1A State Playoffs, they upset both Rosewood and North Edgecomb to advance to the State Championship before eventually falling to Robbinsville. 11-2 in 2017, then again in 2018 and the number 1 seed entering the playoffs where they lost to Rosewood in the third round. Northampton has produced a pretty good run of football teams here recently and I expect this year to be no different.

Photo from RRSpin.com

  1. Rosewood

The Eagles lost to Northampton 26-20 in the 3rd round of Little 1a playoffs in 2019. They went 11-2 and were the Carolina Conference Champions. In their lone regular season loss, they found themselves in a pretty tight one with 3A/4A C.B. Aycock. With a lot of returners and a good coaching staff, Rosewood is set to make waves yet again.

Photo from HUDL

 

NCHSAA 1a Preseason Football Rankings

Business
NCHSAA top 10

Football season is right around the corner in North Carolina. What a weird season it will be with games starting at the end of February.

The FYN Sports team has sat down and compiled our North Carolina High School Athletic Association 1A Football Rankings.

We took into account how the teams finished last year, the players that they had returning, and the strength of schedule that they will be playing. It is a shortened 7 game schedule for all North Carolina teams, so that was also taken into account.

  1. East Surry

East Surry throttled Tarboro in the Big 1A State Championship 56-28 last year. They lost a few seniors to college and one impact player who early enrolled since the season was moved, but they also return two division 1 guys and a handful of D2-D3 talent. We’ve got them going into the season ranked at Number 1 for a reason.

  1. Tarboro

Tarboro advanced to the Big 1A State Championship last year and lost to the aforementioned East Surry Cardinals. That was the only blemish on their schedule last year, and the first loss the Vikings had suffered since 2016! In 2017 and 2018 they won back-to-back State Championships. I have heard rumors of Tarboro being in Little 1A or Big 1A. Same with a few other teams on this list. I would expect Tarboro to compete in either classification.

  1. Robbinsville

The kings of the Smoky Mountain Conference last year, overcoming “big brother’ Murphy twice. They beat Northampton 45-14 in the Little 1A State Championship. They are losing their main offensive weapon and star running back to graduation, but the Black Knights will look to reload as always. Coach Dee Walsh has the Knights competing for a title every year it seems. The Black Knights will look to repeat as State Champions by first winning the SMC again this year, a task some say is harder than winning the State title.

  1. Murphy

10-3 overall record last year, with 2 of those losses coming against defending Little 1A State Champions and Conference rival, Robbinsville. In the third round of the State Playoffs last year, they fell to Robbinsville 24-13 after previously losing to the Black Knights 17-14 at home in the regular season. Coach David Gentry definitely cannot be happy losing to that team across the County Line twice, and seeing them hoist the State Title means the Bulldogs will be out for blood this year. Circle Murphy @ Robbinsville on your calendar!

  1. John A. Holmes

The John A. Holmes Aces were rolling last year until they ran into Tarboro in the regional championship in Big 1A. 12-1 with a defense that allowed 7 or fewer points in  games last year, I think that they will pose a threat to make a run at the Title, especially if Tarboro moves down and East Surry has lost more talent than it seems.

  1. Mountain Island Charter

Southern Piedmont Conference Champs last year. Lost to East Surry in the Elite 8 in Big 1A. A high powered offense that scored 50 or more in 6 games last and has quite a few Juniors returning on the offensive side of the ball. The Raptors are building something and have finally made it over the hump with last years’ 11-3 season.

  1. Mitchell

Mitchell is the first team on this list where playing in February (and the weather that Febrary brings) could really hurt them. The Mountaineers are no stranger to bad weather in the winter months, and with the way this COVID season will work, they can’t afford any games lost due to inclement weather. Last year, they lost to East Surry in the Big 1A Regional Championship game. Look for them to have another good year, and perhaps find themselves back down in Little 1A.

  1. Swain County

Last year, the Maroon Devils lost to Mitchell in the 2nd round of the Big 1A State Championships. In the regular season, they unfortunately faced Murphy and Robbinsville in back-to-back weeks on their schedule, where they fell to Murphy 15-14 and then were gassed by Robbinsville 43-6. It may be weird to see a team that finished third in their Conference ranked in the Top 10 in the State, but you have to remember what conference they play in, and the fact that these guys just seem to be able to compete year-in and year-out regardless. The Veer is a hard thing to beat in High School football.

  1. Northampton County

A cinderella story in last years Little 1A State Playoffs, they upset both Rosewood and North Edgecomb to advance to the State Championship before eventually falling to Robbinsville. 11-2 in 2017, then again in 2018 and the number 1 seed entering the playoffs where they lost to Rosewood in the third round. Northampton has produced a pretty good run of football teams here recently and I expect this year to be no different.

  1. Rosewood

The Eagles lost to Northampton 26-20 in the 3rd round of Little 1a playoffs in 2019. They went 11-2 and were the Carolina Conference Champions. In their lone regular season loss, they found themselves in a pretty tight one with 3A/4A C.B. Aycock. With a lot of returners and a good coaching staff, Rosewood is set to make waves yet again.

 

NCHSAA: Spectators will be required to wear masks at sporting events

TeamFYNSports
sports postponed

The North Carolina High School Athletic Association announced last week some new information regarding health and safety protocols for when NCHSAA sanctioned events finally resume.

Once things ramp back up in North Carolina, spectators will be limited to 30% of venue capacity, or 100 people, whichever is less. Seven people per 1,000 Square feet will be the measurement that is used if an arenas capacity is unknown.

Events at indoor venues will be limited to 25 spectators. That does not include players, coaches or event staff.

Governor Roy Coopers executive orders and mandates are the reason that the NCHSAA has had to make these rules and regulations.

If anyone on a team or any personnel surrounding that team tests positive for COVID, anyone who was around that person and in close personal contact with then for more than fifteen minutes will be required to quarantine for 14 days after the last exposure to the positive individual.

For athletes and coaches/personnel to return to team activities, they must pass this checklist:

  • at least 10 days have passed since a positive test
  • no fever or use of fever-reducing medication;
  • improvement of symptoms, excluding persistent loss of taste or smell;
  • Return to Play form from a licensed health care provider

The NCHSAA will require masks to be worn at all times at contests by everyone except for the athletes that are participating in the contest that is taking place. Those expected to wear face coverings include: officials, spectators, coaches, staff, and others.

If you have attended any Georgia High School sporting events lately while the NCHSAA has been postponed, you will realize that the NCHSAA implemented a lot of rules that the GHSA is not enforcing.

NCHSAA- No more Little 1a and Big 1a Football in 2021

Sports, Team FYN Sports, TeamFYNSports
sports postponed

High School football is going to look entirely different come 2021.

After a 2020 season that will present its own challenges and has already been moved to the spring, don’t expect things to get back to our expected norm in the years to come.

The Board of Directors voted for a complete overhaul of the state football playoffs. Beginning next year there will no longer be any subclassifications, meaning that there will no longer be any Big 1a and Little 1a, instead there will only be the 1a classification.

Previously, there have been 8 state champions crowned in North Carolina. Two in each classification. Now the NCHSAA will only be crowning 4 state champions, as the classifications will no longer be cut in half. This mean 128 less teams in the NCHSAA state playoffs.

The board also voted to reduce the number of regular season games from 11 to 10, including an endowment game.

Realignment for the classifications will happen on December 10th.

 

NCHSAA: Athletes playing indoor sports required to wear masks

Sports, Team FYN Sports, TeamFYNSports
sports postponed

When you enter a High School gym in North Carolina, things will look a lot different than what you have become accustomed to if you have been to sporting events in Tennessee or Georgia.

Not only will the coaches and fans be wearing masks, now the players will be wearing them too.

In an email sent out yesterday to North Carolina High School Athletic Association members, the association announced that players are required to wear face masks during practices and contests, beginning Monday.

Previously, athletes were not required to wear masks when they were actively competing or practicing.

The NCHSAA also said a student with a medical condition that would not allow them to wear a face mask during competition would need medical clearance from a licensed doctor.

Que Tucker, the NCHSAA commisioner wrote in the email:

“NCHSAA staff members have received additional reports of volleyball teams being quarantined, which we know will impact their first contests next week. Collectively we must do everything we can to mitigate against the continuing spread of COVID-19, and it is our belief that the above steps will assist those efforts.”

This decision has been a long time coming, and I would expect it to overflow into sports and activities that are not just inside.

The NCHSAA has already made it known that North Carolina High School sporting events will only be allowed 25 fans total. Most schools are only allowing home team parents.

 

NCHSAA releases offseason guidelines

Sports, Team FYN Sports
nchsaa

Earlier today, the North Carolina High School Athletic Association released guidelines for offseason skill development. These guidelines are eerily similar to and closely follow the previous phase 2 guidelines, while giving a little insight of what coaches can and can not do and expect of their players during the offseason.

“Any coach who promotes the idea that taking part in off-season skill development is required is blatantly out of compliance with the intent and purpose of this rule,” the guidelines say.

The objective for these guidelines as told by the NCHSAA is “To provide guidance for member schools to consider in designing return-to-activity protocols in accordance with state, county and NCHSAA regulations. It allows for a coordinated reopening following the initial stay at home orders and may also be used if conditions dictate the need for increased restrictions in the future; thus, the NCHSAA has developed a multi-phased approach.”

Some key takeaways from the release are:

  • On a given day, an athlete is limited to 90 minutes of skill development or weight training/conditioning during the academic school year calendar, inclusive of all weekends, holidays, workdays, etc. Skill development sessions are not. Sport specific sessions are not to exceed 90 minutes in duration (inclusive of warm-up, cool-down, meetings, video review, breaks, etc.).
  • Eighth graders are not permitted to participate in skill development sessions on high school campuses.
  • Contests or combined practices between member schools are prohibited during off-season skill development
  • Any individual affiliated with an NCHSAA member high school must abide by the skill development, out-of-season workout rules. If this individual also coaches a “non-school” or “club team” outside the sports season but during the school year, and has any students from the high school on that outside team, he or she cannot work with any of them during a dead period and are restricted to the maximum number allowable per sport.
  • Due to possibility of recurrent outbreaks in the coming months, administrators must be prepared for periodic school closures and the possibility of some teams having to isolate for two or more weeks while in-season. The NCHSAA will provide guidance regarding practice and/or competition during temporary school closures, the cancellation of contests during the regular season, and parameters for the cancellation or premature ending to post-season events/competitions.

Dead Periods:

1. 1st five student days of the academic school year

2. Last five student days of 1st semester

3. Last ten student days of 2nd semester

4. Additional sport season dead period will be announced by the Board of Directors

NCHSAA: Spectators will be required to wear masks at sporting events

Sports, TeamFYNSports
sports postponed

The North Carolina High School Athletic Association announced last week some new information regarding health and safety protocols for when NCHSAA sanctioned events finally resume.

Once things ramp back up in North Carolina, spectators will be limited to 30% of venue capacity, or 100 people, whichever is less. Seven people per 1,000 Square feet will be the measurement that is used if an arenas capacity is unknown.

Events at indoor venues will be limited to 25 spectators. That does not include players, coaches or event staff.

Governor Roy Coopers executive orders and mandates are the reason that the NCHSAA has had to make these rules and regulations.

If anyone on a team or any personnel surrounding that team tests positive for COVID, anyone who was around that person and in close personal contact with then for more than fifteen minutes will be required to quarantine for 14 days after the last exposure to the positive individual.

For athletes and coaches/personnel to return to team activities, they must pass this checklist:

  • at least 10 days have passed since a positive test
  • no fever or use of fever-reducing medication;
  • improvement of symptoms, excluding persistent loss of taste or smell;
  • Return to Play form from a licensed health care provider

The NCHSAA will require masks to be worn at all times at contests by everyone except for the athletes that are participating in the contest that is taking place. Those expected to wear face coverings include: officials, spectators, coaches, staff, and others.

If you have attended any Georgia High School sporting events lately while the NCHSAA has been postponed, you will realize that the NCHSAA implemented a lot of rules that the GHSA is not enforcing.

NCHSAA moves into phase 2

Uncategorized
nchsaa

Phase 2 of the reopening plan will begin on August 3rd. The new phase does not change the number of student athletes who will be allowed to practice in groups, but it does introduce some new equipment. Social distancing will still be enforced, however kids will finally be able to start practicing with balls again.

 

Some other new things that come with phase 2 are:

  • Sharing of equipment is permissible within small groups.
  • Wearing protective equipment remains prohibited.
  • Equipment must be disinfected frequently.
  • 1st Responders are not required.

 

The NCHSAA Staff has been working closely with the NCHSAA Sports Medicine Advisory Committee (SMAC) on recommendations for member schools regarding summer activities that align with NC DHHS directives. The guidance utilizes a phased approach for NCHSAA athletes and is intended to help school administrators, coaches, parents, students, and communities navigate a gradual reopening of high school athletic activities.

The health and safety measures outlined in this plan were formed utilizing CDC, DHHS, and NCHSAA information at this time. It is recognized, however, that the information and circumstances concerning COVID-19 remain fluid and variable. Therefore, these guidelines are subject to change in conjunction with new knowledge of COVID-19 or changing social conditions.

Again, these guidelines do not become effective until August 3rd.

Back to Top