Issued by North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper on Nov. 23, Executive Order No. 180 called for expanded face covering requirements. That has trickled down to high school sports, with athletes being required to wear masks during games and skill development sessions whether they are held indoor or outdoor.
The order went into effect Nov. 25 and runs through Dec. 11. According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Servies, it requires that everyone needs to wear a mask whenever they are with someone who is not from the same household. The order also adds the mask requirement to several additional settings including any public indoor space even when maintaining six feet of distance, gyms even when exercising, all schools public and private and all public or private transportation when traveling with people outside of the household.
Basketball practice is scheduled to begin Dec. 7 for NCHSAA-affiliated programs but the NCISAA tipped off last month and has already started to adapt to the new norm for the 2020-21 season in the Tar Heel State.
MaxPreps photographer Matthew Plyler was on hand Monday for a masked-up matchup between
Northwood Temple Academy (Fayetteville) met
Berean Baptist Academy (Fayetteville). Northwood Temple Academy won 69-68.
Brady Rankin of Northwood Temple Academy drives during Monday's games against Berea Baptist Academy.
Photo by Matthew Plyler
"Kids are resilient," Charlotte Country Day head coach David Carrier told the
Charlotte Observer. "Kids adjust to things like this a lot quicker than adults."
The order extends to delayed NCHSAA fall sports that got underway in November like cross country and volleyball. The state reported 5,410 new COVID-19 cases Thursday with 44 deaths.
"We are asking our coaches, student-athletes and administrators for their continued vigilance and cooperation in these measures, including making sure to properly socially distance during skill development sessions and adherence to the mask mandate," NCHSAA executive director
Que Tucker told the Lake Norman Media Group. "We all must do our part."
On the girls basketball side,
Faith Christian Academy (Goldsboro) and
Raleigh Christian Academy (Raleigh) were among the first to take the court Tuesday under the new order. MaxPreps photographer Steven Worthy was there to capture that moment.
Faith Christian Academy takes the floor for a Tuesday game against Raleigh Christian Academy.
Photo by Steven Worthy
