Schools announce updates for sports attendance

After a meeting held Oct. 14, Grand River Conference superintendents approved a pair of changes in the league winter sports calendar.

Due to health concerns, the GRC Wrestling Tournament, scheduled for Jan. 30, 2021, has been cancelled. Currently a schedule is being formulated that will allow all conference wrestling schools to meet one another in a dual meet over the course of four Saturdays in December and January. The conference champion will be determined on the basis of dual meet records.

In place of individual conference medal finishes, an all-conference wrestling team will be chosen at the end of the season.

The GRC Basketball Showcase (league crossover games), scheduled for Feb. 13, 2021, in Milan, has also been cancelled due to concerns over the coronavirus. Instead, crossover games will be held on that date at the Eastern Division sites and times will be staggered so fans of Western Division teams will have time to travel to see both girls and boys games.

Gallatin R-5 to limit fan attendance

Gallatin R-5 has announced plans for indoor activities going forward, including limiting fan attendance to 500 persons.

Visiting and home teams will be allowed a total of 250 tickets each. Tickets will be mailed to each school for them to distribute as they please. Spectators must present this ticket for admission and pay the normal gate fee. Tickets will not be required for those arriving on the bus. Visiting event workers, recorders, scorebook and stat keepers, will also be required to have tickets.

Any child not in high school must be accompanied by an adult and remain with the adult throughout the game. Children unattended will not be allowed. No student section will be available.

All fans must enter through the South main entrance. No other doors will be open. Face masks are recommended for entrance.

Visitor seating will be on the west side of the gym and this is limited because of sectioning off around teams. All fans are asked to sit in family pods and social distance as much as possible. Gallatin fans are asked to sit on the east side of the gym.

Concession stands may be limited to pre-packaged items and bottled drinks only. Concession stand lines will be social distanced and eating areas will be provided.

Home games and matches will be streamed via Facebook live on the Gallatin High School Facebook page.

If these rules and recommendations are not followed, the school will move to the next phase in its plan which will include further limiting fan attendance.

Tri-County changes basketball attendance policy

Tri-County R-VII School has released new COVID-19 policies for junior high basketball attendance. The junior high policy will be reviewed by the school board prior to the start of varsity season to determine its effectiveness.

“We host junior high games starting this week,” said R-VII Superintendent David Probasco.
“It is difficult to project what changes may be necessary for the varsity games,” he added. “We would like to see how things go with junior high first before developing that policy, and then this will be subject to change based on the current landscape of COVID-19 and governmental regulations.”

Admission at T-C junior high games will be limited to family members of players and cheerleaders of Tri-County teams and guest seating will also be limited after school officials communicate the number of available seats to opposing schools prior to contests.

Athletes will be issued a pass for each family member to present upon entrance to home games. Home games will also be streamed on Facebook Live for those who cannot attend.

Separate entrances will be used for Home and Visitor families. Home fans will enter the East entrance and visitors will enter the West entrance. Gatekeepers will track the names of those attending for contract tracing purposes. All fans will be temperature checked at the entrance. Bleachers will be marked with Home and Visitor seating sections.

Also for safety, children must sit with their parents and family units should social distance in the bleachers. Masks are encouraged, but they are not required. A concession stand will be available and partitions will be in place on cafeteria tables.

Families are encouraged to attend only their respective student’s activities.

Pattonsburg R-2 Guidelines

Per the Pattonsburg R-2 School website, there are no limits on fan numbers at indoor home events at this time. Social distancing is stressed, however, and masks are recommended.

Home team fans will use the south bleachers and visiting fans will use the north bleachers. There will be a concession stand on the visitor side.

These guidelines are subject to change as necessary.

Winston R-VI limiting attendance to immediate family

The Winston R-6 School District is asking fans to respect and adhere to guidelines while working to keep players, coaches and fans as safe as possible during the pandemic.

Home game attendance will be limited to immediate family members of participants (parents/guardians, siblings and grandparents) and 7th-12th grade students for both home and visiting teams. Visiting schools will be required to submit a listing of attendees prior to game day. Home games will be live-streamed on the Winston Facebook page for those who cannot attend.

Only fans on the pass list will be admitted to the games at this time. The pass list will also be maintained to provide to the Health Department names of those in attendance if there is a need for contact tracing.

Students in grades 6 and under will only be admitted with parents and must sit with them throughout the games. Fans will be expected to sit in family units and stay socially distanced from other families.

Face mask usage and social distancing throughout the event is requested of all fans, students, coaches, players and cheerleaders not actively participating in the game.

If mask usage and social distancing can be maintained, school officials hope to open up more attendance in future games. If mask usage and social distancing cannot be maintained at this attendance level, further restrictions will be considered for future games.

Home fans are asked to sit on the south half of the bleachers and visiting fans are asked to sit on the north half of the bleachers.

Gilman City encourages social distancing

Gilman City Schools have put out guidelines and expectations for COVID-19 in order to keep players, coaches and fans safe at school-hosted events.

Social distancing is encouraged at all times inside Gilman City School. Face coverings are highly recommended and will be available to those who need them. Concession stands will be open and social distancing is encouraged while waiting in line and sitting at tables.

Fans are asked to leave after events are over and not socialize in hallways. Fans are encouraged to sit in designated areas for home and visiting fans. Gilman City fans are asked to sit on the west side of the gym and visitors are asked to sit on the east side of the gym.

All students and non-athletic participants are required to sit with their parents/family unit. Elementary students are not allowed to attend games without a parent/guardian present.