The North Carolina High School Athletic Association has issued a reminder to its 386 member schools to take extra caution regarding heat and humidity as schools began practice for fall sports.

Deputy executive director Que Tucker, in a memo to athletic directors across the state, noted that a Kentucky high school football player died last week due to dehydration and heat stroke on the second day of organized practice and with a temperature of just 75 degrees.

“We urge you to overemphasize the necessity of fluid intake, especially water, by your student-athletes. This is especially relevant for all outdoor sports athletes, not just football,” she said.

Additional detailed hot weather guidelines, including a chart for temperature and relative humidity and potential practice adjustments, are on the NCHSAA web site at www.nchsaa.org and also are found in the current edition of the NCHSAA Handbook. In addition, after consultation with the NCHSAA Sports Medicine Committee, an additional rule has been adopted in football. If schools opt for a second light workout, which is allowed beginning with the first day of contact practice and up until the beginning of the 180-day school year, it must be limited to a maximum of 90 minutes. This is in effect immediately.

Over 7,700 individual awards have been earned by students for the spring semester from the North Carolina High School Athletic Association for achievements in the classroom as well as on the playing court or athletic field.

The NCHSAA made the awards in its Scholar-Athlete program, which includes recognition of varsity teams which attain certain grades as well as individual athletes.

A total of 3,858 student-athletes earned the individual Scholar-Athlete award.

Individual Scholar-Athletes attained at least a 3.5 grade point average for the semester in which he or she competed. The award is based on first semester grades for fall and winter sports and second semester grades for spring sports, and the school submits the nomination form verifying the grade point average on behalf of the athlete or team.

In the team division, a varsity team earns Scholar-Athlete recognition by attaining a 3.1 aggregate GPA for that designated semester.

The school receives a certificate from the Association honoring the accomplishment and each member of the squad will also receive a certificate.

A total of 3,918 individual awards were given in this category, and 215 varsity teams captured team honors.

A minimum of five individuals is necessary to constitute a team, and all team members must be included in figuring the team GPA. The team achieving the highest grade point average in the state in its

particular sport and submitting its application by the appropriate deadline

receives a plaque commemorating that achievement.

Ashe County captured three team awards at the state level and North Lincoln

earned two. Concord Jay Robinson?s men?s golf team compiled a brilliant

3.940 grade point average, the highest of any team in any sport in the

spring.

“We are very proud of the achievements of the students

involved in our Scholar-Athlete program,” said Charlie Adams, executive

director of the NCHSAA. “We think this is definite proof that we have a

tremendous number of athletes that are playing sports and succeeding in the

classroom.”

The Scholar-Athlete program recognized over 20,000

individuals during the course of the 2008-2009 academic year. This

recognition has been a part of the NCHSAA program for over 20 years.

NCHSAA SCHOLAR-ATHLETE TEAM AWARD WINNERS

NCHSAA Spring Sports 2008

SPORT SCHOOL GRADE POINT AVERAGE

Softball North Lincoln 3.850

Baseball Ashe County 3.540

Men’s Tennis Ashe County 3.730

Women’s Soccer North Lincoln 3.650

Men’s Track East Rowan 3.420

Women’s Track Ashe County 3.770

Men?s Golf Jay Robinson 3.940