DragonFly & School Information

• Keep school, administrator, coach, and head coach information up to date in DragonFly.
• Enter and verify home schedules by the required deadlines.
• Complete student registration and maintain required eligibility documentation.
• Keep eligibility information up to date and share the required forms with conference leadership.
• Document eligibility for students outside the attendance zone, including transfers and LEA approvals.
• Notify NCHSAA when adding or eliminating sports.

Coach Requirements

Ensure all coaches complete required education before the applicable practice or contest, including:

• NFHS Fundamentals of Coaching
• NFHS Concussion Course
• CPR/AED certification with hands-on training
• Crash Course in Concussion Video
• Required NFHS/NCCA rules clinics

Important: Head coaches must complete the required rules clinic before coaching in the first contest. Failure to do so may result in penalties, including game forfeiture.

Preseason Preparation

Before each sports season:

• Conduct preseason meetings with all coaches, including volunteers, part-time, and non-faculty coaches.
• Review sport-specific rules, expectations, deadlines, eligibility, sportsmanship, penalties, and the NCHSAA Code of Conduct.
• Review the Gfeller-Waller Concussion Law and required documentation.
• Ensure parents, students, and coaches complete required concussion education/forms before the first practice.
• Review and rehearse the Emergency Action Plan (EAP).
• Conduct required parent meetings.
• https://www.nchsaa.org/student-athlete-eligibility/

Stay Informed

• Regularly review the NCHSAA website, calendar, and weekly/Tuesday memos for deadlines and updates.
• Monitor scholarship, recognition, grant, and Student Services opportunities.
• https://www.nchsaa.org/calendar/

July–August | Prepare for the Season

• Complete After School Safety by July 31 and import the certificate into DragonFly.
• Enter Fall home schedules in DragonFly.
• Verify all school, administrator, and coach information.
• Complete Fall student registration and eligibility documentation.
• Conduct the Fall parent meeting.
• Confirm Fall coaches have completed required education and rules clinics.
• Receive and distribute NFHS Fall sport rule books.
• Review Fall dead periods.
• Monitor heat and humidity when establishing practice schedules.
• Review and rehearse the EAP.
• Attend the NC Coaches Association Clinic and Athletic Director breakfast in Greensboro.
• Attend NCHSAA New School/Athletic Director Orientation, if applicable.

September | Eligibility & Reporting

• Fall Eligibility Summary due September 15 with principal verification.
• Complete Fall master eligibility sheets before the first contest.
• Ensure online scores are current and accurate.
• Attend the NCHSAA Regional Meeting.
• Begin planning Winter preseason meetings.
• Winter home schedules due September 30.

October–November | Playoffs & Winter Preparation

• Monitor Volleyball and Football reporting deadlines.
• Ensure playoff information is current in the NCHSAA reporting platform and MaxPreps.
• Submit required playoff information, photos, and rosters.
• Submit financial forms/payments after hosting Fall playoff contests, if applicable.
• Begin Winter preseason meetings.
• Verify Winter coaches’ education and rules-clinic requirements.
• Monitor wrestling skinfold/hydration requirements.
• Winter Board agenda items due November 1.
• Winter Eligibility Summary and NCHSAA Membership Dues due December 1.

November–December | Prepare for the Season

• Confirm Winter coaches have completed required education and rules clinics.
• Complete Winter eligibility checks and eligibility sheets before the first contest.
• Verify Winter schedules.
• Conduct Winter preseason meetings and parent meetings.
• Review concussion requirements, sportsmanship, EAP, eligibility, and NCHSAA rules.
• Monitor wrestling skinfold and hydration procedures.
• Winter Eligibility Summary due December 1 with principal verification.
• NCHSAA Membership Dues due December 1.
• Remind coaches of semester dead periods.

January–February | Season & Playoffs

• Check Winter eligibility for the second semester.
• Monitor Basketball reporting deadlines.
• Keep playoff information current in MaxPreps.
• Submit required playoff information, photos, and rosters.
• Submit financial forms/payments after hosting playoff contests, if applicable.
• Verify wrestling information in TrackWrestling.
• Monitor applicable swimming, diving, indoor track, and wrestling deadlines.
• Spring home schedules due January 15.
• Plan and conduct the Spring parent meeting.
• Begin Spring preseason preparation.
• https://www.nchsaa.org/calendar/

February–March | Prepare for the Season

• Complete Spring eligibility checks and eligibility sheets before the first contest.
• Pay special attention to transfer and other “red flag” eligibility situations.
• Conduct the Spring parent meeting.
• Confirm Spring coaches have completed required education and rules clinics.
• Conduct Spring preseason meetings.
• Review sport-specific rules, eligibility, concussion requirements, sportsmanship, and EAP.
• Eligibility Summary due March 15 with principal verification.

March–May | Season & Playoffs

• Monitor Spring reporting deadlines.
• Keep playoff information current in MaxPreps.
• Submit required playoff information, photos, and rosters.
• Submit financial forms/payments after hosting playoff contests, if applicable.
• Monitor deadlines for:
  • Student-athlete scholarships
  • Toby Webb Coach of the Year
  • Scholar-Athlete recognition
  • NCHSAA Male and Female Athlete of the Year
• urlView NCHSAA Calendarhttps://www.nchsaa.org/calendar/
• Attend the NC Athletic Director’s Conference in Wilmington.
• Check the date for the NCHSAA Annual Convention.
• Fall home schedules due May 15.
• Prepare for the last 10-day semester dead period.

May–June

• Review and update school, coach, and administrator information.
• Reconcile outstanding payments.
• Review the upcoming NCHSAA Handbook and new information.
• Inform coaches of Summer dead-period dates.
• Plan for the NCCA Coaching Clinic in Greensboro.
• Remind coaches about the NCCA Coaching Clinic.
• Prepare for the upcoming Fall season.