Chapel Hill, N.C. — The Board of Directors of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association completed its two-day winter board meeting on Wednesday with a number of action items.

The Board, consisting of superintendents, principals, athletic directors and coaches from across the state, representing the eight different NCHSAA regions and all four classifications of schools, did committee work all day on Tuesday and then voted on items on Wednesday at the Simon F. Terrell Building, the home offices of the NCHSAA.

One major emphasis of the meeting related to the release of the ejection report from fall sports. There has been a marked increase in ejections from games during the fall seasons as compared to a year ago. From the start of the fall seasons through November 19 of last year, there were 138 total ejections, including 69 for football and a total of 98 for fighting among all fall sports. The numbers for this year include 337 total ejections, including 208 in football and 178 for fighting among all fall sports.

Concerned about the upward trend, the Board of Directors had lengthy discussion that resulted in an increase in the suspension time
due to fighting. Currently the ejection policy calls for an ejection to result in a one-game suspension in football and two games in other sports, but on Wednesday the Board voted to increase the suspension time for fighting to two games in football and four games in other sports, effective with the 2008-09 academic year.

Among other highlights of the Board meeting:
--approved the 2008-09 playoff calendar as presented for fall, winter and spring; the starting date for football practice in 2008 will be August 1, with the first scrimmages allowed August 12 and the first playing date August 22; the state championships will be December 13.On a one time basis, the NCHSAA will work specifically with schools which have contractual obligations already in place with schools in bordering states if the change in calendar creates scheduling problems.
--approved an AED placement project, with a grant from endowment money to help place the defibrillators at 128 NCHSAA member schools in four phases, a move which would enhance safety.
--schools will be surveyed about the start dates of winter and spring sports for the future and the plan is for two-year calendars to be developed.
--approved an increase in admission prices for the NCHSAA invitational cheerleading championship from eight dollars to ten, more in
line with similar competitions
--endorsed the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) lightning policy relative to safety at athletic events
--approved a specific grievance process for officials to follow in terms of working with the booking agents who assign them to games
-- approved the audit report.