By Duncan Nixon
Correspondent
The Virginia High School League (VHSL) has issued a 39-page compilation of protocols to be followed in the scheduled resumption of high school sports.
There are rules for all sports that all public high schools in Virginia must follow. The rules are intended to minimize close contacts between athletes, coaches, officials and fans. Obviously, not all close contact can be avoided in sports like wrestling and football, for instance. An example of a rule to minimize close contacts is that a baseball player or softball player who has hit a home run, may no longer be mobbed by teammates at home plate after circling the bases. Another example is that there will be no captain’s meeting at mid-field before a football game.
Fluco athletic director Scott Morris said that the plan is still to play abbreviated seasons starting with the winter sports, followed by the fall sports and winding up with spring sports. Under the current plan, practices will start for girls’ and boys’ basketball on Dec.7, with practices for swim, indoor track, wrestling and cheer starting on Dec. 14.
Morris said that attendance will be limited probably to 250 people including team members, coaches and officials. Accordingly, for sports like basketball there may be as few as 75 tickets available for spectators for each team. Parents will have priority, but the number of members of a family that can attend may have to be limited. Social distancing will be highly encouraged, and masks will be required.
For sports like basketball, there will be major set-up changes. Benches and the score table will be distanced. Only one side of the gym may have stands. It is expected that there will still be concessions, but only pre-packaged merchandise will be offered for sale.
Morris said that the seasons will consist of 60 percent of the normal number of contests. So, for basketball that means a 14-game schedule. Morris also said that some sports will be live streamed so that Fluco fans may be able to watch sports like basketball and football at home.
