In 1964, two North Carolina high school basketball teams, Boone Trail and Angier, played what became the longest recorded game in high school history.
The game lasted 13 overtimes.
Long after the crowd expected the final buzzer, the players kept going — pushing through exhaustion, pressure, and one of the most unforgettable nights in high school sports history.
Discover more stories at nfhs.org/stories
**Photo courtesy of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
@nchsaa
Academics and athletics go hand in hand.
How you prepare matters. The same discipline it takes to succeed in sports applies in the classroom and beyond. Accountability, consistency, and effort shape success on and off the field and court.
In education-based athletics, academics come first.
#PlayPerformCompeteTogether #studentathletes #schoolbasedsports
Do you know how education-based activities are supported?
High school sports are built on a partnership.
State associations lead at the state level — organizing competition, setting eligibility standards, and running championships for their member schools.
The NFHS provides national leadership — writing and refining sport rules, supporting student-athlete safety and education, and working alongside our 51 state association members across the country.
Together, this structure keeps education-based athletics and performing arts consistent, safe, and accessible for millions of students, and helps to ensure that high school sports and activities stay focused on what matters most — education, opportunity, and student development.
To learn more about the NFHS visit:
#PlayPerformCompeteTogether
The NFHS was proud to participate in the Team Sports Conference, hosted in partnership with the NFHS, @thesfia and the @ncaa . The event brought together professionals from across the sports and recreation industry for two days of meaningful networking and collaboration.
NFHS leaders Mark Koski and Davis Whitfield took the stage to discuss the evolving landscape of high school sports, highlighting key initiatives, emerging trends, and the future direction of education-based athletics. They were joined on stage by Phil Rison, executive director of the @niaaa.9100
As the school year comes to a close, we’re celebrating the teachers who made a lasting impact on student-athletes and performers.
The lessons from the classroom show up every day in leadership, discipline, and growth on and off the court, field, stage, and performance spaces.
#TeacherAppreciationWeek #EducationBasedAthletics #PlayPerformCompeteTogether
Did you know?
Track and field is the most participated high school sport nationwide, with more than 1.15 million student-athletes involved.
Its accessibility and variety of events create opportunities for broad participation , supporting student engagement, development, and inclusion across school communities.
Leadership doesn’t require a title. It starts with small actions every day.
This week, lead your team by:
✔ Choose your teammate when it’s not easy
✔ Prepare before you’re asked to
✔ Own your role — especially when things don’t go your way
✔ Set the tone, regardless of the outcome
True leadership is built in moments like these.
How will you show up when the opportunity presents itself?
Leadership isn’t defined by a title.
It shows up when a teammate needs encouragement.
When someone takes responsibility.
When preparation happens before anyone is watching.
High school sports and activities create opportunities for students to lead — on the field, on the court, on the stage, and in their communities.
That’s the kind of win that lasts.
#PlayPerformCompeteTogether
The impact of a coach or official goes far beyond the game.
They teach discipline, model leadership, and create environments where student-athletes can grow with confidence. For many, they are mentors who shape life far beyond the whistle.
That influence matters.
Tag a coach or official who has made a difference in the lives of student-athletes below.
Student-athletes show up in more ways than one.
In the classroom.
In competition.
In their communities.
Through their commitment, leadership, and resilience, they represent what education-based athletics are all about.
On National Student-Athlete Day, we recognize student-athletes everywhere and the impact they make beyond the game.
Tag a student-athlete who makes a difference.
#PlayPerformCompeteTogether
