Fort Worth district taking extra COVID-19 precautions at volleyball, football games
Sports have been delayed, suspended and canceled in 2020 because of the coronavirus.
Some pro sports have returned, including the NBA, MLB and NHL, but the fans haven’t. In their place are virtual fans and cardboard cutouts.
High school sports in Texas have returned as the first month of the fall wraps up for Class 4A and below. Stadiums and gyms are already looking different compared to the typical game day crowd.
The UIL is allowing schools to hold the statewide maximum of 50% capacity.
However, some school districts are taking extra precautions. Fort Worth ISD will not allow fans during the volleyball season and will livestream games on each team’s high school Facebook page.
“Our gymnasiums are too small to attempt to distance fans at the appropriate spacing and still allow 50% capacity,” FWISD said. “So, we are providing fans with the livestream options for now. We will continue to monitor the changing environment and re-evaluate if things change.”
The volleyball season has started for Fort Worth district schools, Benbrook, Western Hills, Eastern Hills, Dunbar, Diamond Hill-Jarvis, Carter-Riverside and Young Women’s Leadership Academy.
“There was an adjustment period because the energy level from the fans was absent so it was more like a scrimmage,” said Benbrook junior Madison Sorrell, who was named to the AVCA Phenom Preseason Watch List. “It’s a different atmosphere and feel to the matches for sure. Our parents and fans are able to watch us play so we’re thankful they have the ability to keep cheering us on even though it’s not in person.”
Added Carter-Riverside coach Mario Carmona: “No fans in the stands allows us to reach the main goal which is the safety and well-being of our athletes, coaches and staff.”
While the smaller schools are playing, Class 5A and 6A schools can’t start practices until Monday and play games on Sept. 14. It includes eight more FWISD teams, Paschal, Arlington Heights, South Hills, Wyatt, Polytechnic, Southwest, North Side and Trimble Tech.
Paschal is the largest FWISD school and the only one in Class 6A.
“Our fan support has always been great. We have a phenomenal student section and support from parents, facility, members of the community and alumni,” Paschal coach Tim Reimann said. “It will definitely be different without a packed gym, but we’re looking forward to playing volleyball.”
Paschal also has the largest gym, but will still not be allowed to have fans.
“Some gyms are larger than others that could accommodate spectators, but we didn’t want any advantages and we wanted to stay consistent throughout the district,” said FWISD assistant athletic director Amanda Atlas.
Mask On
Another precaution FWISD is taking that most others in the state aren’t: players on the court have to wear masks at all times. The UIL guidelines state that anyone actively exercising doesn’t have to wear a mask. Everyone else such as coaches, trainers, anyone on the sideline and fans must.
“Every decision is fluid and we have to be flexible and be able to adapt. We’re starting off virtual in order to meet standards and have the best and safest environment for the kids,” Atlas said. “We took it a step above the UIL to help out. We want the kids to play and be as safe as possible.”
“We’re slowly getting used to the masks,” Sorrell added.
Football
The first football game at a FWISD stadium takes place on Sept. 10 at Farrington Field between Eastern Hills and Diamond Hill-Jarvis. The district also holds games at Clark Stadium and Scarborough-Handley Field.
FWISD will allow 50% capacity at football games, but tickets will only be sold online.
Tickets will be available on the Monday during the week of the game on the district website. The cutoff time for ending ticket sales is still to be determined. If bands, drill teams and dance teams attend the game, the number of participants in those groups will lower the total number of fans that will have the opportunity to purchase tickets.
In a recent junior varsity football scrimmage, each player was issued two tickets for spectators. The district said with the proper social distancing, it seemed to work at a smaller venue.
Each FWISD stadium has a different capacity and will have a different number of total tickets that can be purchased. The particulars of how the tickets will be sold (players’ families have first opportunity, band, general public, etc.) is still to be determined.
Due to the limited crowd, the UIL is allowing games to be livestreamed this season.
This story was originally published September 2, 2020 at 6:00 AM.
