Many other actions were taken by the NCHSAA Board of Directors on Wednesday

[Longdayrunner]

Other actions taken by the board
Many other actions were taken by the NCHSAA Board of Directors on Wednesday. Below is a list of many of those actions:

NCHSAA established a Hurricane Florence Relief Fund and distributed $38,000 to schools affected by the storm. Schools requesting aid received at least $1,000 each, some received as much as $5,000.

Board discussed E-Sports, but took no action. It said it will continue to monitor E-Sports.

Approved the adoption of a grant program to support sportsmanship initiatives, character education, student leadership, health & safety initiatives, and equipment and facility needs.

Sinclair contract proposal was approved, extending the contract for three more years and giving the NCHSAA more space on Sinclair properties to tell its story.

Approved requirement that adopted Wilson balls be used in all playoff events for the sports of volleyball, soccer, football, basketball, softball, baseball and tennis. Failure to use an adopted Wilson ball would result in an illegal equipment penalty.

Discussed personnel changes behind closed doors, but no personnel announcements were made.

Proposals for $100 fines for coaches and players ejected from contests did not make it out of committee.

Proposal to eliminate home playoff games for teams who have fans involved in on-field or on-court incidents did not make it out of committee.

A 5 percent increase in officiating fees to be locked in every four years beginning with the 2020-2021 school year was approved.

NCHSAA approved the ability for schools to limit softball & baseball double-headers to five innings by mutual agreement. Single games must be played under the 7-inning rule.

Approved proposal allowing wrestling teams to have athletes participating in two different tournaments on the same day. Such arrangements cannot exceed weekly limitations, must happen on the same day, can only involve varsity teams, and can only happen three times per season.
Wrestling teams must submit these instances to the NCHSAA for approval.

NCHSAA approved a rule allowing a football team to regain an eight quarter position due to a season ending injury, catastrophic event, or transfer.

1A & 2A football teams can now use the eight quarter rule for 11th grade students. This does not apply to 3A & 4A football teams.

Adjusted regional assignments for cross country, golf, swimming, and track & field to be based on conference assignment and not on longitude.
The girls wrestling invitational event will become an annual event.

Review of the soccer tied game procedure was discussed, but no action was taken.

[Longdayrunner]

NCHSAA handbook version on gender is now as follows:

1.2.4 Gender of Player: The NCHSAA allows participation in interscholastic athletics for all students, regardless of gender or gender identification. It is the intent that all students are able to compete on a level playing field in a safe, competitive and friendly environment, free of discrimination. The following rules and regulations are intended to provide every student athlete with equal opportunities to participate in athletics.

a) A student may participate based on the gender noted on the student’s certificate of birth.

I. Women shall not participate on a men’s interscholastic athletic team where the school has a women’s team in the same sport or where a school sends an entry to the women’s state playoffs in the same sport. a) In cases where women are permitted on a men’s team, the school forfeits all participation in the women’s playoffs in the same sport.

b) Men’s rules will be used where women play on men’s teams. b) When a student’s gender identity differs from the gender listed on the student’s certificate of birth, the Gender Identity Request Form must be submitted by the member school to the NCHSAA prior to any participation by the student under circumstances that would constitute ineligibility. The Request should be based on the gender identification of that student in current school records and daily life activities in the school and community.

I. The following information should be submitted with the Request: a) Documentation from individuals such as, but not limited to, parents/legal guardians appointed by a court of competent jurisdiction, friends, and/or teachers, which affirm that the actions, attitudes, and manner demonstrate the student’s consistent gender identification.

b) A complete list of all the student’s prescribed, non-prescribed, or over the counter treatments or medications relative to gender identity.
c) A complete list of interventions that have happened related to the gender identity of the student.

d) Written verification from an appropriate healthcare professional (e.g. physician, psychiatrist, psychologist, school nurse, etc.) of the student’s consistent gender identification. Include any other social/emotional information from health-care professionals that would help the Committee make a decision about the student. This information must be submitted on office letterhead of the healthcare professional who provides verification with contact information and professional title of the individual.

e) Any other pertinent documentation or information which the student or parent(s)/legal guardian(s) appointed by a court of competent jurisdiction believe relevant and appropriate.

c) The NCHSAA will refer the Gender Identity Request to the NCHSAA Gender Identity Committee for consideration. The Committee will approve the Request if it finds that the student genuinely identifies as the gender indicated in the Request.

I. The NCHSAA Gender Identity Committee will consist of the following:

a) Current member of the Board of Directors;

b) LEA or school administrator;

c) Physician with experience in gender identity health care and/or World Professional Association of Transgender Health (WPATH) Standards of Care;

d) Psychiatrist, psychologist, or licensed mental health professional familiar with the WPATH.

II. The Committee will require that the member school has verified that the student is eligible in all other aspects.

III. The Committee will respect and promote the student’s privacy and confidentiality rights under HIPPA and FERPA in the process of considering a Gender Identity Request. Information provided to the Committee will be shared only to the extent necessary to decide the Gender Identity Request; provided that, if a Gender Identity Request is approved, the student’s school may share the student’s gender identity with other schools as necessary to ensure appropriate accommodations when competing at another school.

d) In cases where a Gender Identity Request has been approved:

I. The student will be declared eligible to participate based on the student’s gender identity. a) 1.2.4.a is not in effect.

II. It shall be the responsibility of the school to comply with all state and federal mandates/laws.

[Ironman152]

So this is a major point that I was discussing last year and I am wondering if this change has addressed it... if a girl wrestles in the NCHSAA girl state championship... is she now not allowed to compete in the boys state championship.  Reading this rule where it says girls with their own championship may not be in the boys championship. Is this applying to wrestling also?

[Longdayrunner]

Girls wrestling is not a sponsored sport by the NCHSAA.  The tournament held last Feb. was an invitational or an open tournament.

[jimt]

If it works like last season, matches in the girls' invitational would not count for regional seeding, the same way dual team playoff matches do not count.