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The North Carolina High School Athletic Association has announced schools may now move into Phase 2 of summer practice.

A decision made July 23 by the NCHSAA’s Board of Directors states schools may move into the second phase starting Monday as long as those guidelines are in accordance with the decisions of local education agencies (LEAs) and state guidelines.

In Phase Two, equipment may be shared within small groups or pods, but wearing protective equipment is prohibited. Equipment must be disinfected frequently and may not be shared between pods of student-athletes without disinfecting.

First responders and licensed athletic trainers are not required but should be included when possible.

Any coaches at schools which have not started in Phase One are “strongly encouraged” to start gradually before moving to Phase Two, the statement said. Daily monitoring protocols should be taught by coaches along with the three W’s of COVID-19: wear a mask, wait six feet apart and wash your hands frequently.

With summer temperatures and humidity on the rise, coaches and student-athletes must also follow the normal requirements listed in the handbook with regards to summer workouts and the heat.

Phase Two, the statement said, “is intended to help you continue or begin to navigate a gradual reopening of high school sports while helping mitigate the spread of COVID-19.”

The fall 2020 season will not start until Sept. 1 per the NCHSAA in a previous decision, but the NCHSAA said in an email “decisions relative to the…start date will be made later in August.”