The North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s sports operating calendar for the 2025-26 school year has been released.

Thanks to an all-new realignment process, athletic directors and coaches across the state had to wait longer than normal for key start dates like first practices, first games, and playoffs.

With the operating calendar set, the NCHSAA Board of Directors has approved the framework of a new playoff format for each sport to accomodate the expansion to eight classifications. Details like the playoff qualification process have not been approved. The bylaw committee is set to make a proposal for playoff qualification to the board at the spring meeting.

The NCHSAA has stated there will need to be adjustments to the playoff dates in the calendar as the association reaches agreements with host facilities. The association expects to have to add more state championship dates. The regular season dates as seen below, however, are final.

Schools can now officially sign agreements to schedule contests.

Fall 2025 Sports Calendar

Cross Country

• First Practice Date: Jul. 30
• First Contest Date: Aug. 11
• Regionals: Oct. 25
• State Championships: Nov. 1

Girls Golf

• First Practice Date: Jul. 30
• First Contest Date: Aug. 11
• Regionals: Oct. 20-21
• State Championships: Oct. 27-28

Football

• First Practice Date: Jul. 30
• First Scrimmage: Aug. 8
• First Contest Date: Aug. 22
• Seeding: Nov. 1
• 1st Round Playoffs: Nov. 7
• 2nd Round Playoffs: Nov. 14
• 3rd Round Playoffs: Nov. 21
• 4th Round Playoffs: Nov. 28
• Regionals: Dec. 5
• State Championships: Dec. 12-13

Boys Soccer

• First Practice Date: Jul. 30
• First Contest Date: Aug. 11
• Seeding: Oct. 31
• 1st Round Playoffs: Nov. 3
• 2nd Round Playoffs: Nov. 6
• 3rd Round Playoffs: Nov. 10
• 4th Round Playoffs: Nov. 13
• Regionals: Nov. 18
• State Championships: Noc. 21-22

Girls Tennis

• First Practice Date: Jul. 30
• First Contest Date: Aug. 11
• Dual Team Seeding: Oct. 10
• Dual Team 1st Round: Oct. 13
• Dual Team 2nd Round: Oct. 15
• Individual Regionals: Oct. 17-18
• Dual Team 3rd Round: Oct. 20
• Dual Team 4th Round: Oct. 22
• Individual State Championships: Oct. 24-25
• Dual Team Regionals: Oct. 28
• Dual Team State Championships: Nov. 1

Volleyball

• First Practice Date: Jul. 30
• First Contest Date: Aug. 11
• Seeding: Oct. 16
• 1st Round Playoffs: Oct. 18
• 2nd Round Playoffs: Oct. 21
• 3rd Round Playoffs: Oct. 23
• 4th Round Playoffs: Oct. 25
• Regionals: Oct. 28
• State Championships: Noc. 1

Winter 2025-26 Sports Calendar

Basketball

• First Practice Date (non-football schools): Oct. 22
• First Practice Date (football schools): Oct. 29
• First Contest Date (non-football schools): Nov. 3
• First Contest Date (football schools): Nov. 14
• Conference Tournaments: Feb 16-21
• Seeding: Feb. 21
• 1st Round Playoffs: Feb. 24
• 2nd Round Playoffs: Feb. 27
• 3rd Round Playoffs: Mar. 3
• 4th Round Playoffs: Mar. 6
• Regional Finals/State Championships: Mar. 9-14

Indoor Track & Field

• First Practice Date: Oct. 29
• First Contest Date: Nov. 10
• State Championships: Feb. 11-14

Swimming & Diving

• First Practice Date: Oct. 29
• First Contest Date: Nov. 10
• Regionals: Feb. 5-7
• State Championships: Feb. 11-14

Wrestling

• First Practice Date: Oct. 29
• First Contest Date: Nov. 10
• Dual Team Bracketing Date: Jan. 29
• Dual Team 1st & 2nd Rounds: Jan. 31
• Dual Team 3rd Round & Regionals: Feb. 4
• Girls’ Individual Regionals: Feb. 6-7
• Dual Team State Championships: Feb. 7
• Boys’ Individual Regionals: Feb. 13-14
• Boys Individual State Championships: Feb. 19-21

Spring 2026 Sports Calendar

Baseball

• First Practice Date: Feb. 16
• First Contest Date: Feb. 25
• Seeding: May 4
• 1st Round Playoffs: May 5
• 2nd Round Playoffs: May 8
• 3rd Round Playoffs: May 12
• 4th Round Playoffs: May 15
• Regionals: May 19-23
• State Championships: May 29-30

Boys Golf

• First Practice Date: Feb. 16
• First Contest Date: Feb. 25
• Regionals: May 4-5
• State Championships: May 11-12

Lacrossee

• First Practice Date: Feb. 16
• First Contest Date: Feb. 25
• Seeding: May 8
• 1st Round Playoffs: May 12
• 2nd Round Playoffs: May 16
• 3rd Round Playoffs: May 19
• 4th Round Playoffs: May 22
• Regionals: May 27
• State Championships: May 29-30

Girls Soccer

• First Practice Date: Feb. 16
• First Contest Date: Feb. 25
• Seeding: May 8
• 1st Round Playoffs: May 11
• 2nd Round Playoffs: May 14
• 3rd Round Playoffs: May 18
• 4th Round Playoffs: May 21
• Regionals: May 26
• State Championships: May 29-30

Softball

• First Practice Date: Feb. 16
• First Contest Date: Feb. 25
• Seeding: May 4
• 1st Round Playoffs: May 5
• 2nd Round Playoffs: May 8
• 3rd Round Playoffs: May 12
• 4th Round Playoffs: May 15
• Regionals: May 19-23
• State Championships: May 29-30

Boys Tennis

• First Practice Date: Feb. 16
• First Contest Date: Feb. 25
• Dual Team Seeding: Apr. 24
• Dual Team 1st Round: Apr. 27
• Dual Team 2nd Round: Apr. 29
• Individual Regionals: May 1-2
• Dual Team 3rd Round: May 4
• Dual Team 4th Round: May 6
• Individual State Championships: May 8-9
• Dual Team Regionals: May 12
• Dual Team State Championships: May 16

Track & Field

• First Practice Date: Feb. 16
• First Contest Date: Feb. 25
• Regionals: May 8-9
• State Championships: May 15-16